MOTORSPORT: Verstappen wins F1 title in thrilling finale

Controversial finish in Abu Dhabi denies Hamilton a record eighth Formula 1 world championship

Max Verstappen ended Lewis Hamilton’s rule at the top of Formula 1 in a sensational and controversial end to the 2021 grand prix season in Abu Dhabi.

The pair’s torrid and bitter battle for this year’s F1 crown boiled down to a one-lap shoot-out under lights in the desert and Verstappen did the deal for Red Bull as he used soft-compound Pirelli tyres to swoop on Hamilton’s Mercedes, which was crippled by a set of worn hard-compound rubber.

But the final chequered flag of the year was not the end to the battle, as Mercedes-AMG launched a two-pronged protest to race stewards over the running of the final restart that triggered the one-lap fight to the finish.

Both were quickly dismissed to confirm the race and championship results.

Daniel Ricciardo’s season ended much as it began, as he could only manage 11th place for eighth in the season standings with McLaren.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s incredible,” Verstappen said of his last-gasp win.

“It’s insane. It’s insane.”

The final chapter of the world title fight began when Verstappen, starting from pole position, was jumped by Hamilton. Once again, the pair ended off the racetrack but were able to continue.

The pair then battled through the whole race before a crash by Nicholas Latifi triggered a safety car period before the controversial restart, where Hamilton was in front but Verstappen pounced to claim the race and the championship.

“I mean, throughout the whole race, I kept fighting and then, of course, that opportunity in the last lap,” said Verstappen.

Despite the protest by his team, and the end of his bid for an eighth world title that would have given him the record ahead of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, Hamilton was calm and considered.

“Firstly, a big congratulations to Max and to his team,” said Hamilton.

“We gave it everything this last part of the season, we gave it absolutely everything and we never gave up. And that’s the most important thing.”

Third place in Abu Dhabi went to Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, although it was Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas – who leaves for Alfa Romeo in season 2022 and is replaced by young Briton George Russell – who was third for the year.

Bottas’ work through the year also helped ensure that Mercedes-AMG retained the F1 manufacturers’ championship, ahead of Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren.

For Ricciardo, who struggled for most of the year despite winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the 2022 season and all-new grand prix cars cannot come soon enough.