Verstappen claims maiden title after victory in Abu Dhabi season finale following late Safety Car drama
Call it a miracle or call it controversial, whatever side you land on with the final lap of the Formula 1 season, we can all agree that this season was one of the best in the past decade.
There was drama, there was intense racing, there was controversy and for the first time in a long time, there was an actual title chase.
The 2021 Formula 1 season came down to two drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, and one race. And in the end, the world championship literally came down to the LAST LAP between the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers in the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Max Verstappen secured his maiden World Championship with victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton finishing second as the race ended in a nail-biting one-lap sprint after a late Safety Car. The result, which saw Valtteri Bottas finish sixth and Sergio Perez retire, means Mercedes have clinched a record eighth consecutive constructors’ championship.
With both drivers tied in overall points heading into Sunday’s winner-take-all race, Hamilton held a comfortable lead heading into the 53rd lap of the 58-lap race, but a crash by Nicholas Latifi (Williams Racing) led to a safety car coming out onto the track.
Hamilton, who was still using hard tires (he hadn’t pitted since lap 17), was at a disadvantage after Verstappen switched back to soft tires during the safety car laps. Soft tires, in general, provide better grip to the track but are not as durable as hard tires, which don’t grip as well. So, with one lap to go, Verstappen had an edge, as the soft tires he was using didn’t have to stand the test of more laps.
Under the yellow caution, it left the race with just one lap of green flag racing remaining, producing another memorable moment in this epic season. Due to lapped cars, there were five cars between first-place Hamilton and second-place Verstappen, though all of those cars were behind the two race leaders in overall time. Race officials initially decided those lapped cars could not overtake the safety car. Then, in a surprising twist, officials then told the lapped cars they could pass he safety car, putting Verstappen directly behind his rival for a one-lap dash to the finish.
Verstappen did make the pass on Hamilton, and while Hamilton attempted to come back towards Turn 9, there was nothing doing. History was made, as it was always going to be, and the trophy went to the Dutchman for the first time.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202112120550 // Usage for editorial use only //
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with his team after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202112120636 // Usage for editorial use only //
“Before the last lap, of course, it was hard to believe. But you always have to keep believing; I kept on pushing the whole race to try and stay within the gaps. That helped me, they couldn’t pit for a free stop, and we could because I had no pressure from behind. Then at the end, of course, that gave me the opportunity with the fresh tires to attack and go for the move in that last lap."
Verstappen continued; “my goal when I was little was, of course, to become a Formula One driver and you hope for wins and you hope to be on the podium. They play the national anthem and one day you hope they play yours. When you stand here and they tell you, you are the world champion, it is incredible especially with my Dad (Jos) and the special moment we had here. Throughout all the years we spent together travelling for that goal and then everything comes together in the last lap. My whole team, my family, my friends, the people I grew up with go-karting, they wanted to push me to where I am today and most of them were here."
“It is incredible to see all this orange here and all over the world. They have supported me throughout my whole career and the support is just incredible. I tried to keep on pushing and believe in it, even though it didn’t look like it. Sometimes miracles happen."
That extraordinary final lap of the 2021 title race in full 😮#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/kknTMDfpAF
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
Needless to say, an angry Toto Wolff, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Team Principle, lodged multiple appeals of that decision that put Hamilton in the position to lose the race.
Both appeals were rejected by the race stewards.
BREAKING: Mercedes have protested “against the classification established at the end of the Competition", relating to alleged breaches of Articles 48.8 and 48.12 of the FIA Sporting Regulations#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/bO6BLN8lv5
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
BREAKING: The FIA Stewards have dismissed Mercedes’ protests against the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final classification #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/VPNIfaFDMC
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
While Hamilton came away without a record eighth championship, Mercedes did, however take a record eighth consecutive constructors’ championship in an unforgettable finish to 2021.
Formula 1’s new era dawns in 2022 for another teams’ and drivers’ title fight. Who will reign supreme next season? The next season begins with the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix next March.
