Why the battle between Verstappen and Hamilton will continue throughout 2021

Verstappen versus Hamilton

Whereas Hamilton received the most points for his victory in Bahrain, it was Imola that Verstappen took the honours. Again, it wasn't the man on pole who won, but this time it was the man who started from third place that had a phenomenal start and took victory. Formula 1 chief Ross Brawn was impressed Verstappen's excellent start.

''The race was a bit hairy for Verstappen at times and he had a few moments - such as when he nearly lost the car ahead of the restart, however, he drove assuredly, stamped his mark and thoroughly deserved the victory. The fight into the first corner at the start, between him and Hamilton, was significant and set the tone for the race. I believe it was Max’s corner. He had the line, he had the place on the track. Lewis in retrospect may wish he backed out of it, especially considering the conditions,'' said Brawn in his column for Formula1.com.

Titans fight in F1

''This is going to be a tough championship fight – which is fantastic for Formula 1. In Hamilton and Verstappen, you have two guys at very different stages of their careers, battling it out with cars that are very well matched. It has all the hallmarks of a titanic battle, not least because I don’t think teams will be able to throw a lot of resources at this year’s car with the 2022 car in the works.''

The budget cap and emerging new regulations are therefore the reason Brawn thinks this fight will continue. ''There is so much focus on 2022, as the regulations are changing so dramatically, that I think what we see now is what we will get all season. This could be a golden year'', Brawn concluded.