When the lights go out in Bahrain for the first race of the new Formula One season next Sunday, the rolling thunder of engines will presage a mighty storm. For the reigning champion, Max Verstappen, and the seven-times title-winner Lewis Hamilton this is battle rejoined, a tempest to revel in. After the pair went head to head for 22 races last year, they will surely once more be at the centre of this championship fight.
Hamilton’s pedigree is well known: at 37 he is the most successful F1 driver of all time. On last season’s form the Briton is at the top of his game and this time motivated perhaps like never before after he and his Mercedes team felt they were robbed of the title in the controversy of last year’s final round in Abu Dhabi, when Verstappen secured the win and his first championship.
