F1®'s Thriller Moments Are Upon Us!

 

For me, the next three weeks in Formula 1® are set to deliver the most exciting racing we've seen in a long, long time.

I genuinely believe that turning points are going to be met up and down the grid, and that's precisely what I want to talk about today.

Hamilton's Home Charge: Silverstone Beckons

Lewis Hamilton isn't getting the start he wanted at Ferrari; that much is clear. But as I keep reflecting, it took him a while – at least two to three seasons at Mercedes – to become a World Drivers' Champion. Similarly, it took him a couple of years at McLaren to clinch his first WDC. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are championship-winning partnerships.

Being a seven-time WDC, the record-breaking podium-finisher and race-winner that he is, Lewis will undoubtedly be in intense meetings about how he can win his home race: the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

It’s going to be a captivating sight, watching those loyal British fans, who for years have sported Mercedes' black and silver, now become a sea of vibrant Ferrari red.

Lewis will be telling his team one thing: this is the race. Everything in his engine mode will be turned up, and the car will be set up for him to win. If he only wins one race this season, you can bet the British Grand Prix at Silverstone will be the one that he wants.

Verstappen's Austrian Ambition: Red Bull's Home Turf

Moving on to Max Verstappen, the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring is just around the corner.

As the home of the Red Bull energy drinks company, with the racetrack quite literally named after the global brand, Max Verstappen will again be holding crucial meetings with his team and the top brass at Red Bull Racing.

The added pressure from Red Bull Energy Drinks will undoubtedly fuel his desire to win this race. This intense focus on home victories for drivers and teams could mean we'll see a Red Bull race winner in Austria, and Max will be keen to get his WDC title race back on form.

McLaren's Minefield: Brown's Biggest Test

But where does this leave the papaya McLaren team and Zak Brown's leadership? 

Brown was noticeably absent from the Canadian Grand Prix as his two cars came together and crashed.

Oscar Piastri was extremely lucky to come out of that incident the way he did, and Lando Norris was indeed unfortunate. But after watching the replay many times, the entire incident from beginning to end was, frankly, ridiculous. I can't help but think that if Zak Brown had been there, he would have explicitly told his drivers to bring home the points, no matter what.

So, where does this leave the World Drivers' Championship?

It could mean that McLaren misses out on podiums in the coming races, though I highly doubt that, given their pace. But with Mercedes' recent surge, exemplified by George Russell's victory and Kimi Antonelli's impressive podium, could this mean the second half of the season won't go all Zak Brown's way? 

If the two papaya-orange McLarens have another clash, they'll undoubtedly be fighting tooth and nail for every single point now. Watching two McLarens consume their tyres and drain the water from their gearboxes and engines would be the perfect scenario for someone like Christian Horner to observe, meticulously plan, and devise strategies for.

The Chess Game Unfolds: Opportunity Knocks

Could this open the back door for Max Verstappen to collect a few more race wins and close the gap in the championship? 

Could Lewis Hamilton upset the order in Silverstone? The politics, the F1® carnival, and the intriguing factors that will come into play over the next two races are fascinating.

If I were a betting man, it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that Max Verstappen will take a win in Austria, and that the two McLarens could have another costly coming together.

Charles Leclerc could continue his strong run of scoring podiums this year, or Mercedes, with "the Professor" George Russell steadily chipping away at points, could become a deciding factor.

All I know is that it's not going to be all McLaren's way in the second half of this season.

The other teams are catching up fast, and they have a distinct advantage: they don't have two drivers at the very top of the World Drivers' Championship leaderboard, both looking to take points from each other and chess masters like Christian Horner and Toto Wolff will know this. They will plan, watch, and adapt their strategy.

Could this deciding factor open up the back door for Max Verstappen to close that gap? I certainly hope so!

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!