Formula 1: A Lewis Hamilton record came to an end in Baku
By Asher Fair
Lewis Hamilton’s lock-up on the final restart in Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit brought to an end a record Formula 1 streak.
A chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix resulted in three drivers who had not yet been on the podium in the 2021 Formula 1 season standing on the podium at Baku City Circuit following two separate incidents involving the two championship rivals.
On lap 46 of 51 around the 20-turn, 3.73-mile (6.003-kilometer) temporary street circuit in Azadliq Square, Baku, Azerbaijan, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was leading the race comfortably ahead of teammate Sergio Perez in second place, and he appeared to be well on his way to his third win of the year and his second in a row.
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But a tire issue, with no warning whatsoever, led to Verstappen crashing on the front straightaway, resulting in his first finish outside of the top two through six races this season.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who entered the race trailing Verstappen by four points in the driver standings, was running in third place at the time.
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As a result, Hamilton was promoted to second place ahead of the ensuing red flag for track clean-up — a favorable position, considering the ground he was set to lose to Verstappen in the championship battle had Verstappen won.
But it didn’t last. On the standing restart with two laps remaining, Hamilton got away well and briefly took the lead from Perez heading into turn one, but he locked up his brakes and went into the turn one runoff area.
He rejoined the race, but at the back of the pack. He finished in 15th place, marking his first non-points finish in nearly three years.
Hamilton had recorded 54 consecutive points finishes heading into this weekend’s race, an all-time record.
He had scored points in every race going back to the 2018 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit. His most recent non-points finish had taken place in the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring when he was knocked out late with a fuel pressure issue.
This 54-race streak is 21 races higher than the next highest streak of all-time, a streak which is also held by Hamilton.
Prior to his Austrian Grand Prix retirement from three years ago, Hamilton had scored points in 33 consecutive races going back to the 2016 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit.
An engine issue had knocked him out of the previous race, the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit.
McLaren’s Lando Norris is now the only driver who has scored points in every race so far this season, and he has now scored points in a series-high 11 consecutive races going back to last year’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
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Verstappen leads Hamilton 105-101 in the driver standings heading into the 2021 season’s seventh race, the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard. This race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 20.