Lewis Hamilton now odds-on for eighth title in topsy-turvy F1 season

Henry ValantineHenry Valantine8 December 2021
Lewis Hamilton after Saudi Arabian GP

Lewis Hamilton after Saudi Arabian GP

After taking a third consecutive victory, Lewis Hamilton is now odds-on to become Formula 1 World Champion for a record-breaking eighth time.

Hamilton won an eventful and controversial Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, after a race-long battle with title rival Max Verstappen.

Having come to blows on several occasions this season, the pair collided again when Hamilton ran into the back of the Red Bull driver as he slowed down to let him by after being told to do so.

The tension off the track had been increasing anyway, but the title challengers now have one more race to put their name in the history books as Drivers' Champion in what has been an all-time classic year of Formula 1.

Hamilton's odds of retaining the title have shortened to 4/9 from 8/11 after winning his third race in a row with victory in Jeddah, and he appears to have the momentum heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Verstappen and Hamilton go into the final race level on points - the first time this has happened in Formula 1 for 47 years - but the young pretender officially leads by virtue of having an extra race victory in 2021 over Hamilton.
The equation for the title is extremely simple on the surface: whichever driver finishes ahead in the race will be World Champion at the end of the race.
However, because of the fact Verstappen officially leads the standings with his extra win, if neither driver finishes or both drivers finish outside the points, he will become champion for the first time.

His odds of 7/4 to win the title reflect the fact his Red Bull car has been ever-so-slightly inferior to the Mercedes of late in race trim, but he goes into the race knowing that a double DNF would make him champion, should they collide with each other or with other cars on track.

Whatever happens, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is not to be missed at the weekend, and you can follow the action and get all the most important news and views over on PlanetF1.

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