Hamilton 8 points behind Verstappen in title race Qatar GP win

Formula 1 2021:  Lewis Hamilton wins Qatar Grand Prix closes on Max Verstappen just 8 points behind in title race.





 Lewis Hamilton took a comfortable win in the Qatar Grand Prix to close the gap to Max Verstappen in their fight for the drivers' world championship.




Lewis Hamilton inched closer to the Formula One championship lead with a dominating victory Sunday in the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix to earn back-to-back wins and chip away at Max Verstappen’s points advantage.



Hamilton, who also won last week in Brazil, has trimmed 11 points from Verstappen’s lead in the title race in seven days. Verstappen still holds an eight-point lead with two races remaining in one of the most dramatic F1 title fights in at least a decade.

The seven-time champion started from pole for Mercedes and was never challenged on the Losail International Circuit as Hamilton won his 102nd career race. It was his seventh victory of the season.


Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, nearly 25 seconds behind Hamilton.



Hamilton, winner of four straight titles, has all the momentum now. The British driver is seeking a record eighth F1 title, which would move him past Michael Schumacher.




Fernando Alonso of Alpine finished third for his first podium since 2014. He was aided by the pre-race penalties to Verstappen and Bottas.

He was moved to third on the starting grid.

It was only the second podium of the season for Alpine, which was a surprise win for Esteban Ocon in Hungary.



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