History shows a Verstappen-Hamilton front row guarantees fireworks

The two multiple world champions will share the front row of the grid at Sepang, setting up another potentially explosive opening lap between two drivers whose battles have produced some of Formula 1's most memorable moments in recent years.

The pair have started alongside each other on the front row on numerous occasions, but it was during their extraordinary 2021 title fight that those encounters became particularly intense. Spain, Silverstone, Austin and Abu Dhabi all provided examples of just how little either driver was willing to concede when the other appeared alongside them.

One of the first major warnings came at the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton started from pole position with Verstappen alongside him, but the Red Bull driver immediately went on the attack. Verstappen launched his car down the inside into Turn 1, braking extremely late and forcing Hamilton to give him room as he grabbed the lead. It set the tone for a race that Hamilton would eventually win through Mercedes' strategy, but Verstappen had made his intentions clear within seconds of the start.

If Barcelona was aggressive, Silverstone took their rivalry to another level. Verstappen and Hamilton lined up together at the front for the British Grand Prix and produced one of the most dramatic opening laps of the season. Hamilton repeatedly attacked the championship leader as the two ran side by side through several sections of the circuit.

Everything came to a head at Copse. Hamilton attempted to pass down the inside of the high-speed right-hander and the two made contact, sending Verstappen heavily into the barriers while Hamilton continued. The race was red-flagged and Hamilton was handed a ten-second penalty, but recovered to win his home Grand Prix. It became one of the defining incidents of their rivalry.

Austin provided another spectacular start later that year. Verstappen had secured pole position, with Hamilton alongside him in second, but the Mercedes driver reacted better when the lights went out. Verstappen immediately moved across to defend, squeezing Hamilton towards the inside on the run to Turn 1.

Hamilton refused to back out. The seven-time world champion kept his car alongside the Red Bull, took the inside line into the uphill left-hander and emerged in the lead. Verstappen eventually regained the advantage through strategy and won the race, but once again the opening seconds had delivered a direct fight between the two.

With the 2021 world championship on the line and the two drivers level on points, Verstappen started from pole with Hamilton alongside him. Hamilton made the significantly better getaway and immediately swept into the lead, but Verstappen was not prepared to let him escape.

At Turn 6, the Dutchman launched a late move down the inside. Hamilton ran off the circuit, cut across the corner and retained the position, with the stewards deciding that no further investigation was necessary. It was only the beginning of a race that would ultimately produce one of the most controversial conclusions to a Formula 1 season.

Even when the championship was no longer directly between them, the pattern continued. At the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton ended Verstappen's run of pole positions by beating him by just 0.003 seconds in qualifying. Verstappen therefore started alongside his former title rival once again.

Hamilton's advantage lasted only until Turn 1. Verstappen attacked immediately, took the inside line and emerged in front, while Hamilton's compromised opening sequence also allowed other cars to get ahead.

Now, at Sepang, they are back together on the front row. Their circumstances may be very different from those of 2021, but history offers plenty of evidence of what can happen when Verstappen and Hamilton arrive at the first corner side by side. From Barcelona to Silverstone, Austin, Abu Dhabi and Budapest, neither has built a reputation for willingly surrendering ground to the other. If their past starts are anything to go by, all eyes will be on the run to Turn 1.