F1 BALLET: ANTHONY DAVIDSON EXPLAINS WHY MAX VERSTAPPEN IS ABU DHABI'S PEAK
Sky F1's Anthony Davidson called Max Verstappen's driving "ballet," explaining why his smooth style makes him the peak threat in the Abu Dhabi title showdown.
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This weekend, the 2025 Formula 1 champion will be decided, and Anthony Davidson believes Max Verstappen is entering the Abu Dhabi race at his peak.
The current world champion has a shot at his fifth F1 title, but he needs to overturn Lando Norris’ 12-point lead.
After 23 races, it all comes down to the 58 laps at the Yas Marina circuit this Sunday.
Anyone could win, and it’s really anyone’s guess until the race is over.
Max Verstappen might be trying to get into his rivals' heads, but Anthony Davidson thinks the Dutchman already showed his superiority during FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Anthony Davidson praises Max Verstappen’s driving style before the F1 title showdown in Abu Dhabi.
Davidson, a commentator for Sky Sports F1, was impressed while commentating on the first practice session that featured young drivers. He was full of praise as Verstappen appeared on screen during a fast lap.
The ex-F1 driver talked about Verstappen’s driving, saying, “You’ve got the grip, you’ve got the grip, then you haven’t got the grip. Max can sense that.
“He can ride right on that edge because he’s used to the car feeling like that. He’s smooth, and that’s why I think he does better on tracks like this.
“No one’s perfect, and I don’t think street circuits suit his style.
“His style is naturally smooth. Sometimes on street tracks, you have to manhandle the car to get it to do what you want.
“Max isn’t really that kind of driver. He has a natural feel for when the car might lose control, which others don’t.
Davidson also likened his precise driving to ballet, adding, “He flows from one corner to the next.
“Like a slalom skier or a ballet dancer, he does it all from inside the car, which is hard to see if you’re not trained.
Lewis Hamilton’s reaction to Max Verstappen winning the Qatar Grand Prix
“How is Max only 12 points behind? Max won? Wow, I didn’t know.
“Seriously? I thought Piastri won; I had no clue.
“Lando was fourth? Where’s Piastri? So Oscar’s third now? It’s going down to the wire!”
“We all know Max is amazing. He’s got an awesome team behind him, and there’s no denying they’ve had the best car for the past four years.
“Maybe not so much at the start of this year, but they turned it around. He’s clearly got a great car and does a wonderful job with it, so I can’t fault him.”
Lewis Hamilton’s reaction to finding out Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
