SM
Arsenal vs. Juventus: 3 hrs 45 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Max Verstappen becomes world champion after controversial Abu Dhabi win

:Headline: Max Verstappen becomes world champion after controversial Abu Dhabi win:
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen wins the 2021 Formula 1 title after winning a controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the final lap.
Sports Mole

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has won the 2021 Formula 1 title after winning a controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton appeared to be on course for his eighth world title having led from start to finish, but a safety car was required with six laps remaining after a crash involving Nicolas Lafiti.

Race control initially ruled that cars which had been overtaken by Hamilton would stay ahead of Verstappen, a ruling which was initially deemed necessary to ensure that one more lap of racing could take place.

However, the decision changed on the penultimate lap and Verstappen, on by far the fresher tyres, was able to pass Hamilton and stay ahead with DRS not an option.

Mercedes filed two protests to the stewards regarding an illegal overtake under safety car conditions and why only a number of lapped cars were able to overtake the safety car, but both were rejected.

Verstappen becomes world champion for the first time, winning by a margin of six points, and ends Hamilton's four-year dominance in the process.

All eyes were on the race down to the first corner, Hamilton fastest off the mark in his Mercedes to edge ahead, but the drama started several corners later as Verstappen made an ambitious move which forced Hamilton off the track.

Despite Verstappen remaining within the allowed parameters, stewards decided that Hamilton did not have to concede first place, ruling that no investigation was required.

Verstappen and Red Bull were frustrated, a feeling which worsened when the Dutchman complained about his rear tyres and was forced to come in earlier than scheduled.

Hamilton followed suit and maintained his advantage, but the Briton soon caught fellow Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, who valiantly kept Hamilton at bay and allowed Verstappen to close the gap to a couple of seconds.

The middle part of the race was relatively uneventful until the introduction of the virtual safety car, Verstappen taking the opportunity to pit for fresher tyres.

With a lead of 21 seconds, Mercedes made the decision to keep Hamilton out, but Verstappen was quickly taking just under a second off the race leader per lap with 20 laps remaining.

At 10 laps left, Verstappen had moved to within 12-and-a-half seconds of Hamilton, but the pair of them having to lap several of the middle-order helped the leader more so than his pursuer.

However, the drama intensified as Nicolas Latifi crashed, resulting in a safety car and effectively giving Verstappen a free pit stop when Hamilton was unable to do so if he was to keep track position.

At one stage, it appeared that Hamilton may be crowned world champion behind the safety car, but the decision to deliver one lap of racing will go down in the sport's folklore.

With Sergio Perez having retired before the drama unfolded, Carlos Sainz Jr was able to claim the last place on the podium.

body check tags ::

amp_article__472676 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-12-13 01:05:20:
html db last update - 2021-12-13 01:05:20 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Max Verstappen

Click here for more stories about Red Bull

Share this article now:
MV
Read Next:
Verstappen on pole in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton second
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Sergio Perez Nicolas Latifi Carlos Sainz Jr Formula 1
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Verstappen on pole in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton second
"Arsenal have got people in mind" - When could Edu's replacement be hired?
Not again! Chelsea boss Maresca reveals new injury to James ahead of Leicester game

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Leicester vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PL

Man United 'planning stunning swap deal' for Inter's prolific striker Martinez

2

MU

The 1975 to headline Friday night at Glastonbury 2025?

NEW

3

T1

Preview: Shrewsbury vs. Birmingham - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PS

Leicester vs. Chelsea: Head-to-head record and past meetings

5

LV

Preview: Everton vs. Brentford - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PE

Preview: Arsenal vs. Nott'm Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PA

James blow, Palmer decision, Lavia to start? Chelsea predicted XI against Leicester

8

JB

Preview: Man City vs. Spurs - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PM

Cooper's attacking crisis: Leicester predicted XI against Chelsea

10

CA


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .