Stewart: Hamilton has the edge

Never in Formula 1, since 1974 - when Emerson Fittipaldi and Clay Regazzoni entered the final race of the season at Watkins Glen equal on points - have two Title Contenders reached the final race of the season even on points, as is the case with Hamilton and Verstappen this year.

With a new set of aero regulations set to be implemented in 2022, and radically new cars being unleashed, the gripping 2021 F1 season has been building up in the best way across the already-contested 21 races towards the 22nd and final race, that will hopefully be the best send-off of the current regulations era into the history books.

Naturally, the main topic being discussed this weekend is the one-million-dollar question: Who will it be? Max or Lewis?

The Daily Mail asked Stewart, as well as others, about their expectations from this year's title showdown, the triple F1 World Champion, believing it will be Hamilton who prevails.

The Scot historically wasn't very complementary of Hamilton, but said this time around: "The car, the engine — it gives Lewis the edge.

"I’d prefer it to be Max, just because that’s what the sport needs, a new champion, and I’d love to see it from that wider perspective," he explained.

"Max has a slight tendency to overdrive and that may count against him," the 82-year-old concluded.

Damon Hill, the 1996 F1 Champion agreed with Stewart that Hamilton has the better chance of securing this year's Drivers' Crown.

"I have to say on form that it will be Lewis, all things being equal," he said to The Daily Mail.

"But it’s not always a straight fight and both drivers will be doing everything they can to get the better of the other one," he cautioned.

Former F1 driver followed the same line of expectations, claiming Hamilton will prevail this year, and said: "I would always want to be the hunter rather than the hunted, which is the way it has been for Lewis.

"He trailed by 32 points at Silverstone.

"But he has the qualities that allow him to analyse the situation and not overreact, as Max did at Jeddah," Watson revealed. "He has the complete package he needs."

Hamilton's teammate from 2022 onwards, George Russell never hid the fact that he is a great fan of his compatriot, and also told The Daily Mail, that he believes the seven-time F1 World Champion will make it eight.

"I’d love to see Lewis win," Russell began. "What he has achieved, especially recently, is pretty exceptional.

"To be in the fight at all when Red Bull had such a superior car at the start of the year is amazing," he went on.

"Max has done a fabulous job," the Williams driver admitted. "You can argue that they both deserve to win for different reasons, but hopefully it’s a clean and fair race."

Double F1 Champion Fernando Alonso, however was singing Verstappen's praises, and believes he is the one who deserves to earn his maiden F1 Title.

"It will depend on the package a little bit," the Spaniard said.

"Mercedes have been performing better and they’ve won three races in a row now, but Max is driving — in my opinion — one step ahead of all of us," Alonso claimed.

"We saw the qualifying lap in Jeddah until he touched the wall at the last corner.

"That lap was coming from Max, not the Red Bull," the Alpine driver insisted. "It’s not that I support Max; it’s that he deserves it."

Opinions will vary, but the fact remains, that the two title contenders are the best of their generations, Hamilton representing the old guard, while Verstappen leading a generation of young guns looking to have their stamp on the sport.

The two have delivered a titanic battle all season long this year, and we can only hope that their final round of battle around the renewed Yas Marina Circuit, will be fitting of their epic duel so far.