The Empire Strikes Back as the Force Awakens

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Star Wars creator and long-time F1 fan George Lucas was among the first to congratulate Sir Lewis following his dominant win in Qatar on Sunday evening.

Hamilton – endorsing the role of the ultimate starfighter pilot, as imagined by Lucas – didn't need to deploy his Mercedes' inertial dampeners, repulsorlifts or deflector shield at Losail, but the Briton was indeed in hyperdrive all evening.

After the Mercedes empire struck back in Brazil, the force awakened and slowly but surely, Hamilton is creeping up on arch-rival Max Verstappen, with the pair potentially set for an amazing showdown in Abu Dhabi next month.

But in the interim, there's a battle to be fought in Jeddah for F1's knightly Jedi.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.