- Max Verstappen is the Formula One world champion after a dramatic race in Abu Dhabi.
- The Dutchman overtook Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the final race of the season to win.
- His victory will be marred in controversy by a contentious last-minute call from race control.
Max Verstappen won the Formula One world championship in the most dramatic fashion imaginable in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The Red Bull driver overtook his championship rival Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to win the tightest title race in decades by the barest of margins.
Having jumped the Dutchman into the first corner, Hamilton looked set for an eighth world title with the Mercedes car showing a pace advantage over the Red Bulls but a late safety car proved to be his downfall.
After Williams’ Nicholas Latifi crashed in the 54th of the 58-lap race, a safety car was deploted during which Verstappen pitted for a pair of fresh tires.
This meant the race would likely in end in one of two circumstances. The first would be the race would end under a safety cars as the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen would be allowed to reovertake. The second option is these cars would not be allowed to overtake and Verstappen would have to battle through them to catch Hamilton in the final lap.
In the end, the lapped cars inbetween Hamilton and Verstappen were allowed to quickly overtake the safety car before the start of the final lap meaning Verstappen had to simply overtake Hamilton in the final lap to be named world champion.
With fresher tires, Hamilton could not do much to prevent the Dutchman who eventually overtook the seven-time world champion on his way to a maiden world title.
Mercedes complained furiosuly and the debate will no doubt rumble on but Red Bull and the sport’s newest world champion will not care.
It was not the first incident of the race with the two title contenders almost coming together, resulting in Hamilton leaving the track. Red Bull took issue but the stewards decided Hamilton had not gained an advantage.
Later, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez produced some excellent driving to keep Hamilton at bay. After both Verstappen and Hamilton had pitted for new tires, Perez was the race leader tasked with slowing Hamilton and allowing Verstappen a chance to catch up.
