Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen has been crowned the new Formula 1 world champion thanks to his victory at the season-closing 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Verstappen and seven-time Lewis Hamilton were tied at 369.5 for the race, with the former taking pole position before becoming the first Dutchman ever to win the title.
However, it was Hamilton who, despite his eight-meter lead over Verstappen, got out of the blocks early and survived a collision with his closest rival to march forward.
The race, like the season, came down to the final lap with Verstappen leading Hamilton in the final few seconds.
The Red Bull driver took a 10th win of the season when he used a second safety car to overtake seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton on the final lap after Nicholas Latifi crashed.
Verstappen and Hamilton, who entered the race level on points, whistled for the checkered flag as the Dutchman turned the race around.
Hamilton, who had won the previous three races, made the perfect start when he overtook Verstappen in the first corner earlier.
The two got caught up on lap one with Verstappen overtaking him and forcing Hamilton off the track, but the Mercedes driver cut over and took the lead again.
He delayed to return time, but the stewards decided not to investigate the incident.
Hamilton built up a lead which was then threatened when Red Bull used a virtual safety car on lap 36 of 58 to switch to a new set of hard tires.
Hamilton stayed out and saw the Dutchman erode his lead with every lap. Another safety car on lap 54 enabled Verstappen to go back into the pits and switch to soft tires.
When the safety car came out there was only one dramatic lap left and the two started neck and neck. But the fresh tires paid off for 24-year-old Verstappen who pulled through to win the race and the title to roar from the stands in the Yas Marina stands.
With AFP inputs
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