Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won his first Formula One world title in dramatic circumstances at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
His opponent, Lewis Hamilton, appeared to take control of the race and claim the title, despite controversy in the first round, until a late safety car.
The race was restarted with a lap to go with Verstappen on the new tyre and Hamilton on the old and the Dutchman raced ahead to win the race.
In many ways, it’s a fitting end to one of the greatest and most controversial seasons in Formula 1 history – and the controversy over right and wrong will flare up for some time to come.
At the end of the race, while Verstappen shouted for joy and Red Bull celebrated, Briton Hamilton sat in his Mercedes for several minutes, not believing how events had turned against him in the final minutes.
However, Mercedes launched two protests – one protesting Verstappen overtaking Hamilton in safe vehicle conditions shortly before the restart, and another protesting what it believes officials did not follow the rules properly. about safe vehicle procedures.
Both Red Bull and Mercedes will meet with managers to discuss sides of the argument and a decision will be made afterwards.
How does one decide which historical title opens
The race appeared to have surrendered to Hamilton after he was controversially allowed to hold on to the lead he had won with a better start than Verstappen, despite deviating off course to keep his spot when the Dutchman tried to overtake him at the end of the first straight. .
Red Bull and Verstappen were furious and didn’t believe it, but Hamilton has since become incredibly brave as he passed a pit stop and a virtual safety car, until Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams. We have five more rounds.
Mercedes feel that they cannot afford to pit Hamilton because doing so could have given up the lead if Verstappen hadn’t done the same – and he also might not have done it because of his tyres. relatively new after the second stop.
But when Hamilton didn’t stop for a new tire, Verstappen did and it was the decisive blow.
There was more controversy when race director Michael Masi initially said cars that overturned between Hamilton and Verstappen would not be allowed to steer themselves, as is normal practice.
Red Bull complained and Masi changed his mind, which left Verstappen behind Hamilton for one lap remaining.
Verstappen overtook Hamilton in the Fifth Round and halted his attempt to get through two straight legs later and completed the lap before bursting with joy.
However, no matter how anyone views the incidents in the race, few can deny the Verstappen title after a season he and Hamilton have faced during one of the remarkable F1 seasons. best idea ever.
Hamilton, meanwhile, will have to console himself with Mercedes’ victory in the constructors’ championship – for an unprecedented eighth year in a row.
The same goes for the first drama
At the same time, it was an appropriate way to end a season characterized by on-track clashes and off-track controversies between Hamilton, Verstappen and their teams.
The race went on as the season went, with Hamilton and Verstappen in a race and tournament of their own, and for a long time the fortunes of the year seemed to be in Hamilton’s favor.
There was drama right from the opening lap, after Verstappen had a bad start from the post, Hamilton struck from second into the net, and the Mercedes took the lead on the first corner.
Verstappen tracked him through the first few corners, threading him down the long, straight first, and diving inside the mysterious area at the junction of six and seven.
Verstappen exited inside Hamilton but went deep into the corner, his pace sending him to the outside curb long before the second right-hand part of the corner.
Hamilton avoided him, as he has so many times this season, and overcame the difficulty, retaining the lead.
He slowed down a bit for the rest of the lap to give back the advantage he thought he had, and the debates began to rage.
Verstappen said over the radio: “He has to give it back.”
Red Bull race director Michael Masi insisted that Verstappen was “ahead and always on the right track”.
Masi replied: “He forced him away. All advantages were returned before the end of the first round.”
Officials decided there was no need for an investigation, and when Verstappen was informed of the decision, he said: “It’s unbelievable. What are they doing there?”
The re-nomination is sure to continue for a while, especially as Verstappen at the weekend complained he was being treated differently by management than other drivers after the controversial Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. controversy last weekend, and Red Bull has caused tension between the teams. with a series of controversial statements in the media.
Hamilton had the race – until luck intervened
On the track, however, the basic truth for much of the race was that once Hamilton had passed, he and Mercedes simply had too much speed ahead of Red Bull and Verstappen, as they did in four last race.
Red Bull threw everything they could at Hamilton.
After Hamilton and Verstappen were pitted against the new tyres, they let Perez out and ordered him to keep Hamilton.
Hamilton overtook Perez to get to Turn Six in lap 20, but was then pushed down the next.
Perez was then ordered to “assist him” through the marina section of the track, and Verstappen closed the short 8.7 seconds down to 1.7 seconds by the time Hamilton finally overtook Perez. a round later.
But Hamilton shied away once again, until a virtual safety car deployed to clear the way for the stuck Antonio Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo gave Red Bull an opportunity.
They pitted Verstappen for new tyres, hoping to return to Hamilton for the final 20 laps.
But Hamilton was so strong that Verstappen was only able to move into a very small lead, and the race seemed to be over until the last movie robbed it – and this would be his eighth world title – from Hamilton’s hands.
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