A dramatic and controversial season ends with a dramatic and controversial final lap after a late Safety Car wipes out Hamilton’s lead and gives Verstappen an unexpected chance to overtake his British rival and claim the 2021 title; Mercedes left livid by late Safety Car procedure
By James Galloway
Last Updated: 12/12/21 3:20pm
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Watch the incredible end to the Abu Dhabi GP and the 2021 title fight as Max Verstappen passes Lewis Hamilton on the final lap for the F1 world championship.
Max Verstappen has become Formula 1 world champion for the first time after an extraordinary, controversial finish to the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP which saw him overtake Lewis Hamilton on the final lap after a dramatic late Safety Car.
Hamilton appeared to be heading for his record eighth crown after overtaking the polesitting Verstappen at the start but a crash for Nicholas Latifi in the Williams brought out the Safety Car with five laps to go and created all manner of drama to end an absolutely incredible season.
Red Bull pitted Verstappen for new soft tyres, while Hamilton stayed out in the lead to keep track position on his older set.
While there were initially five lapped cars between the contenders in the queue behind the Safety Car, Race Control instructed that pack to join the back of the queue on the penultimate tour and that recreated the Hamilton-Verstappen one-two for a blockbuster final-lap restart.
Amid protestations from an angry Mercedes pit wall to FIA race director Michael Masi, the race resumed on the 58th and final lap of the race – and gripping season – and Verstappen overtook Hamilton down the inside at Turn Five to take the win and the crown away from his Mercedes rival.
Verstappen becomes the first Dutchman to win the title and the second champion for Red Bull after Sebastian Vettel, the last non-Mercedes driver to take the championship in 2013.
“It’s unbelievable,” said a disbelieving Verstappen, who at 24 is the sport’s fourth-youngest world champion. “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.”
Despite the huge disappointment of the stunning late turnaround just as he appeared on the cusp of yet more history, Hamilton sportingly went straight to congratulate Verstappen in parc ferme.
“Firstly congratulations to Max and to his team. I think we did an amazing job this year,” said F1’s outgoing champion. “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.
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Podium reactions from the top three as Max Verstappen took the win in Abu Dhabi ahead of title rival Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz.
“This last part of the season we gave it absolutely everything and never gave up.”
Hamilton had hoped to become the sport’s eight-time world champion but remains tied with Michael Schumacher on seven for now.
Mercedes still clinched a record-extending eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship from Red Bull, but that impressive achievement is likely to offer little solace in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s remarkable and contentious finish.
Abu Dhabi GP result: Top 10
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4) Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
5) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
6) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
7) Lando Norris, McLaren
8) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
9) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
10) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
More to follow…