A Formula 1 race without Lewis Hamilton for the first time since 2006, and therefore without this season’s already-crowned drivers’ champion, but in his absence F1 still delivered something special.
While the circumstances were far from ideal and Hamilton is wished a speedy recovery from Covid-19, his absence created a whole new dynamic at Mercedes and a ripple effect across the whole grid. It wasn’t just about George Russell and Valtteri Bottas, or about Jack Aitken stepping in at Williams, but Hamilton has been imperious this year and suddenly Mercedes were vulnerable, with Max Verstappen waiting to pounce.
It resulted in a hugely dramatic night under the lights on Bahrain’s outer circuit.
