[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by artemis

as the top drivers are so darn good, the smallest pilot error, car issue, pit crew mistake or questionable team order, can significantly compromise qualifying or race results. Verstappen, leclerc, perez and sainz had their share of tough luck this season, to the benefit of hamilton and russell (who would have indisputably scored less points if the top 4 had managed to end all races in a decent way).

In my book, the best qualifying lap of 2021 was one that did not get to the finish line (and so without time): Verstappen taking his car to the very limit in q3 at 2021 jeddah in an incredibly bold fashion. Some may say that he was recklessly on a crash course. Others (including myself) may say that he deserves respect for having tried to perform a brilliant lap around that very dangerous circuit. True that he could have kept his car safe from harm by taking less risks, but he accepted the risk. Most drivers don't, out of fear to throw it all away.

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