Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Max Verstappen snatches title from Lewis Hamilton in chaotic race

It will go down as the most toxic title decider ever. It should not be decided in court. The UK media has savaged the sport of F1 after Lewis Hamilton was denied. WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen

We knew all week in the build up to the Abu Dhabi season finale it was never going to end smoothly.

There’s been nothing smooth about Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s rivalry all season and it certainly took a bitter turn in the weeks leading up to someone winning the title.

It could not have been closer. Tied on points going into the final race. It’s competition that F1 has not seen in years and a rivalry Prost and Senna would be proud of.

And boy did it deliver on the drama front.

It more than delivered, with the controversial final lap leading to more headlines being written and more focus being placed on what happened off the track than on it.

Max Verstappen made his move on turn four of the final lap with everything on the line for he and his rival – and the Dutchman came out on top.

And then came the protests, appeals and complaints.

Do they have substance? To a degree yes.

Michael Masi, the man in charge of races, rules and regulations made some huge calls. It was always going to be controversial.

Two decisions stand out.

No penalty for Verstappen seemingly overtaking Hamilton while the safety car was out and the indecision about lapped cars being allowed to pass and when eventually they were, not all of them did.

While Mercedes had their protests rejected, the team has since launched an appeal.

This title fight could go all the way to court.

And the British media lost their collective minds over their man Hamilton being robbed of a historic eighth world title.

‘Hamilton robbed’ says the UK Telegraph. ‘Max Pain’ says the Daily Express while the Daily Mail went with ‘Robbed at 200mph’ and ‘Grand Theft Auto’.

British media were up in arms about Hamilton’s defeat

One British reporter who found space to congratulate and acknowledge the world champion Verstappen, however, was Oliver Brown.

“Amid all Toto Wolff’s lobbying of the race director, and all Mercedes’ desperate efforts to have the result of a stupefying Abu Dhabi Grand Prix overturned, one essential fact remains. It is that Max Verstappen is the rightful world champion at the climax of the wildest, most tumultuous season Formula One has ever known,” Brown wrote.

“There is an easy temptation, given the acrimony around Verstappen’s snatching of a victory that looked for 57 laps like a lost cause, to portray his championship as somehow tainted. But this does him the gravest disservice.

“He won the most races this year, amassed the most pole positions, led the most laps, and was on the podium more times than any other driver in F1 history. If consistency is the defining virtue of a champion, then he delivered it in abundance. He also showed superlative race-craft to shade the last-lap shoot-out as Hamilton defended for all his worth.

“It is a great pity the fall-out has become so toxic, when the two central protagonists took their talents to such heights under the fading desert sun.

“This was a duel that deserved to be resolved purely on the track, not dragged out in conference rooms with lawyers scouring arcane pieces of FIA sporting code.”

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED?

Mercedes’ bid to overturn the result of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen’s win the world championship, suffered a major blow when stewards rejected their two protests.

But the team took little time in announcing an appeal of the stewards’ decision.

Mercedes claimed that Verstappen overtook Hamilton during the safety car period at the end of the race, just prior to a last lap sprint that resulted in the Dutchman winning the race and the title.

Mercedes claimed that Verstappen was in breach of Article 48.8 of the “sporting regulations”.

Red Bull argued that both cars were “on and off the throttle” and that there were “a million precedents” under safety car conditions where cars had pulled alongside and then moved back behind the car that was in front.

That extraordinary final lap of the 2021 title race in full 😮#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1pic.twitter.com/TlxulpV5yW

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021

The stewards concluded that although Verstappen did briefly move in front of Hamilton, he was not in front at the end of the safety car period.

A second appeal concerning safety car procedure remains under consideration. Hamilton had been coasting to victory, his eighth world title seemingly in the bag.

Four laps from the end, however, Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams, bringing out the safety car and prompting Verstappen to make a pit stop for fresh tyres.

When racing resumed for the 58th and closing lap Verstappen barged past Hamilton to take the chequered flag and the title.

Just caught up with the F1 finale - if that’s the best the organisers could come up with then that’s pathetic. What a contrived shambles.

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) December 12, 2021

“This is not right!” Mercedes boss Totto Wolff said regarding the decision about lapped cars.

Mercedes 2022 driver George Russell agreed tweeting: “THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

“Max is an absolutely fantastic driver who has had an incredible season and I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely unacceptable. I cannot believe what we’ve just seen.”

. At about 5.30am AEDT, the stewards made their first decision, throwing out Mercedes’ protest about Verstappen overtaking under the safety car. In a statement, they said: “Having considered the various statements made by the parties the Stewards determine that although Car 33 (Verstappen) did at one stage, for a very short period of time, move slightly in front of Car 44 (Hamilton), at a time when both cars where accelerating and braking, it moved back behind Car 44 and it was not in front when the Safety Car period ended (ie at the line).”

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!

— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) December 12, 2021

A short time later, 6:15am AEDT, the second protest was kicked out along with the following statement.

“Article 15.3 allows the race director to control the use of the safety car. Article 48.12 not applied fully, in relation to s/c returning to pits at end of following lap, 48.13 overrides it. Once message “s/c in this lap” displayed, mandatory to withdraw s/c at end of lap.”

Just after 7am AEDT, Mercedes released a short statement confirming they would be appealing the decisions “under article 15 of the sporting code and article 10 of the judicial and disciplinary rules”.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner joked he would have to start attending races with a barrister if things continued to be taken to the stewards.

“We never wanted to end up in front of the stewards,” he said.

“We don’t go racing with barristers. It was a shame it ended up there but the stewards made the right call.

“We have talked about let them race. Niki Lauda was the guy who pushed hard for it and we’ve always talked about not finishing races under safety cars. The race director in difficult circumstances made absolutely the right call.”

VERSTAPPEN’S JOY

“My goal when I was little was to be a Formula One driver,” said Verstappen after the finish in Abu Dhabi. “You dream of podiums and victories. But when they tell you that you are world champion, it’s incredible.”

The 36-year-old Hamilton has been a sensational champion with Mercedes but Verstappen’s victory suggests the arrival of a new world order.

His pace and talent has long been evident but it is his calmness under pressure and willingness to go toe to toe with a genuine F1 great, even when things got hairy, that has marked out this season’s rise to the top.

At Silverstone, Verstappen ended up in the crash barriers; at Monza he crash-landed his Red Bull on top of the Mercedes. In Saudi Arabia, Hamilton crunched into the back of the Red Bull after Verstappen braked to let him pass.

The incidents on the track have led to a war of words off it. The Dutchman labelled the seven-time world champion a “stupid idiot” while Hamilton accused the young pretender of being “over the limit” in Jeddah.

In Abu Dhabi, Verstappen produced one of the most unlikely wins imaginable with a last lap dash that confounded the experienced Hamilton.

Not once, though, did the challenger take a step back or wilt under the pressure.

“He seems to deal with the pressure better than other people,” said two-time world champion Fernando Alonso earlier in the season.

ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴄʜᴀᴍᴘɪᴏɴ!!!!

This is just unbelievable. I started racing with my dad many years ago. We dreamed of becoming a World Champion and now we are.

(1/3) pic.twitter.com/sQ3WBEjWZ6

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 12, 2021

Max Verstappen takes a moment after the race to let it all sink in.

“Everyone is different, but it seems that for him it is not a big deal.” – Racing pedigree –

Verstappen is used to the spotlight, the pressure and, with already 20 years on the track, is experienced beyond his years as a racing driver.

According to his father Jos Verstappen, who raced in over a hundred Grand Prix between 1994 and 2003, Max first clambered into a go-kart when he was four and a half years old.

“He was keen, watching all my races, he knew what was going on. He was brought up with racing,” Jos told the official F1 podcast Beyond the Grid in 2019.

“I never had to tell him racing lines, he knew.” In Abu Dhabi, the two shared what Max called a “special” moment. His dad was in no doubt about his son’s achievement.

“I am very proud of him,” said Jos. “Max was the driver this year and he deserved it.”

WHAT A SEASON

By Rebecca Clancy

Formula One. Bloody hell. In a season filled with tension, drama and controversy it was fitting that the final lap of the final race was packed full of the same as Max Verstappen emerged victorious as world champion.

Lewis Hamilton could do nothing about the late move from his rival and, just like when he himself won his maiden world title on the very last lap of the very last race, so too did Verstappen.

A safety car in the closing stages wiped out Hamilton’s lead over Verstappen, with Red Bull choosing to pit their driver for fresh tyres.

The laps ticked down as the marshals cleared the stricken Williams of Nicholas Latifi and, with only two laps remaining, it was decided that lapped cars could not unlap themselves. That meant Verstappen would not be directly behind Hamilton, hurting his chances to get by.

Red Bull got straight on to Michael Masi, the FIA race director, and moments later the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were told to get out of the way. Mercedes were furious, but it was done, though after the race they lodged a protest with the stewards (both of which were thrown out).

But how long will he own the title?

With one lap remaining, the safety car peeled off and they were back racing. Hamilton managed to hold Verstappen off for a couple of corners but the 24-year-old Dutchman bided his time and made the move that would give him the lead, and the world championship.

“It’s unbelievable. Throughout the whole race I kept fighting and to have an opportunity on the last lap, it’s incredible. I’m having cramp. It’s insane,” Verstappen said.

“I don’t know what to say. My team and Honda, they deserve it. I love them so much and I really really enjoy working with them. This year has been incredible. Finally a bit of luck for me.”

He added: “My team know I love them and I hope we can do this for 10-15 years together. There’s no reason to change ever, I want to stay with them for the rest of my life. I hope they let me.

“Christian [Horner, Red Bull’s team principal] and Helmut [Marko, Red Bull’s head of driver development] trusted me to be in the team in 2016, our goal was to be world champion, and now we’ve done that.”

SPORTSMANSHIP TO THE END

Hamilton went to Verstappen as they emerged from their cars to congratulate his rival, while their fathers also embraced.

Hamilton, understandably, was distraught. “Firstly, congratulations to Max and to his team,” he said. “I think we did an amazing job this year. My team, everyone back at the factory, have worked so hard this whole year, it’s been the most difficult of seasons. I’m so proud of them and I’m so grateful to be a part of the journey with them,” he said.

“This last part of the season we gave it absolutely everything and never gave up.”

Verstappen’s maiden Formula One world title concludes one of the most thrilling seasons ever. He could barely contain his emotions after taking the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi after his long and gruelling battle with Hamilton and now joins only 33 other men who can call themselves an F1 world champion.

The Orange Army, who have loyally followed their man when travel rules allowed, arrived at the Yas Marina Circuit in their thousands to support the most famous sports star in the Netherlands and basked in his glory as the fireworks exploded over the harbour.

No hard feelings. Lewis Hamilton congratulates Verstappen after his big win.

One of those 33 men is Hamilton, who had been hunting a record eighth title, never before achieved in F1 and a feat that will have to wait until next year, if he can find a way past this most excellent 24-year-old Dutchman.

The battle between these two has been one for the ages. Scintillating, thrilling, controversial and explosive as they went wheel to wheel over the course of 22 races in 19 countries across the globe, but with nothing to separate them as the final lights went out.

A RIVALRY THAT TURNED BITTER

It has not only been confined to the track, with angry words directed at each other after each of their crashes this season. After Silverstone, Verstappen accused Hamilton of “unsportsmanlike behaviour”; after Monza, Mercedes accused Red Bull of a “tactical foul” when Verstappen crashed into Hamilton and landed on his car. Then, after Saudi last weekend, Hamilton called his rival “f--king crazy” after their latest incident.

So it was that they arrived at the finale level on 369.5 points in a winner-takes-all “Decider in the Desert” — the first time the two title protagonists had arrived at the final race on equal points in nearly half a century. Hamilton had won the previous three races before arriving here and appeared to have all the momentum as he wiped out his rival’s title lead.

There was much talk in the run-up to this week as to how this championship would be won. Verstappen knew that if neither man finished, then he would be champion by virtue of countback, with nine wins to Hamilton’s eight, and questions were asked as to whether Verstappen would re-enact the controversy caused by Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, who both deliberately crashed at the final race to make themselves world champion.

We came close to a crash, but it was not to be after a superb start by Hamilton, who jumped Verstappen in pole off the line to be leading into turn one.

It’s a shame that this Abu Dhabi track, which lacks soul and racing, hosts the season finale, but it has been the case this season that Hamilton and Verstappen can make any track interesting.

To cap off this most wondrous of years, there was controversy on the first lap.

Verstappen on pole with the faster tyre had been expected to drive off into the distance, with Mercedes needing strategy to get their man in front, as this track is almost impossible to pass on, but Hamilton was not leaving his fate in the hands of anyone other than himself.

A few years ago the 36-year-old had problems with his starts but he has practised and practised and we have seen the outcome of that with his quick reactions this year, and again this evening.

As the lights went out for the final time this year, Hamilton dropped the clutch a fraction quicker than his rival and it was enough to be leading into turn one. Verstappen was not done and was fighting back when he saw his opportunity on the inside. Hamilton had left the door slightly open and Verstappen stuck his nose in, but it left the Mercedes with nowhere to go and Hamilton went wide off track and rejoined still in the lead.

The stewards immediately noted it but shortly after decided no investigation was necessary. Red Bull were straight on to the FIA race director, Masi, to express their displeasure, which was politely rebuffed. A few laps later they were back on again, and again the Australian referee told them the decision was made.

Verstappen won in controversial circumstances.

With Verstappen on the faster but less durable tyre, Red Bull blinked first and brought their driver in for fresh boots. Mercedes responded a lap later with Hamilton in the box.

The other Red Bull, of Sergio Pérez, was now leading and yet to stop, and the instruction to the Mexican was clear: he was to hold Hamilton up. As the Mercedes filled his wing mirrors, Pérez fought him off. They went wheel to wheel, exchanging places at the front for more than a lap in heart-stopping moments.

Hamilton eventually got past but it had cost him five seconds, and, moments after he had passed Pérez, the Mexican let his teammate through, with Verstappen now within two seconds of his championship rival.

CHANGING THE STRATEGY

Hamilton extended his lead but a late virtual safety led Red Bull to roll the dice and pit. They knew Mercedes could not pit Hamilton and risk track position, and so Verstappen on fresher tyres had 20 laps to close the 17-second gap.

Hamilton became increasingly worried on the radio, questioning if it was right to stay out and concerned he could not keep up his pace on older tyres.

Verstappen hunted him down, though with ten laps to go his task looked almost impossible. He would need a slice of luck, and he got it with the introduction of the safety car.

Red Bull brought their driver in for fresh tyres, anticipating one last chance to race, and the gamble paid off: with a lap to go, the safety car departed, leaving Hamilton and Verstappen in a straight shootout for the title.

This season has been defined by the young pretender taking the fight to the elder statesman. Mercedes had dominated this sport for seven years, winning both the drivers’ and constructors’ title, but that has now ended.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

What we have witnessed this season is a changing of the guard. Hamilton is still brilliant and defeat will not tarnish his legacy. The 36-year-old remains the most successful Formula One driver in history and his skills and talent remain as abundant as when he made his debut at 22. Only a fool would write him off next season, but for now he must watch as Verstappen takes his crown.

The youngest driver in F1 history, making his debut at 17 and becoming the youngest grand prix winner at 18, was always destined for this glory.

Since the moment he stepped into the paddock, it was clear he was a champion-in-waiting. F1 runs in the blood, with his father, Jos, enjoying a career in the sport for eight years but with far less success than his son, with only two podiums to his name and perhaps his most famous moment being when he escaped a burning Benetton in 1994.

The 49-year-old turned his sights on his son and trod the line between love and pushy parent very thinly.

He put Verstappen in karts from the age of four and would deliberately set it up so the kart had an issue and his son would have to battle through.

The most famous story is the time Verstappen crashed a kart during a race and was made to clear up all the pieces himself.

On the silent journey home, Jos finally decided how to punish his son and dropped him off at a petrol station in the middle of nowhere.

The story told now is that Jos knew Verstappen’s mother was driving a few kilometres behind, though whether she knew her son was there is another matter.

Eventually Jos turned back to collect his son, they drove 1,000km in silence, and they did not speak for a week after.

Jos was tough on his son and much of the aggressive driving style we see of Verstappen is influenced by his father, but there is no doubt that Verstappen has raw talent and speed, which he has honed to now be world champion, and deservedly so.

Verstappen and Hamilton’s battle this season has been one of the greatest and their rivalry will now be uttered in the same breath as Senna/Prost, Hunt/Lauda and Schumacher/Hill.

The prospect of these two racing each other for another two years, at least, is good for the soul, but for now we must savour this most brilliant of seasons and its victor, Verstappen.

He adds his name to an elite list of drivers to be able to call themselves world champion and there is little doubt he will also join the even more elite club of multiple champions.