Last action hero! Max Verstappen wins maiden F1 title in dramatic final lap decider

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins maiden World Championship with dramatic final-lap victory over reigning champ Lewis Hamilton in season-ending Abu Dhabi GP; Mercedes bag record eighth constructors’ championship

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched his maiden Formula One title after winning Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a last-lap overtake on Lewis Hamilton. The Dutchman was on course to finish second behind his Mercedes rival and in need of a “miracle” in team boss Christian Horner’s words to stop the Briton clinching an unprecedented eighth championship.

The racing gods duly smiled on him on the 53rd of 58 laps when a safety car to clear the crashed Williams of Nicholas Latifi turned the race on his head. Verstappen, 24, pitted under the safety car to fit a set of grippy soft compound tyres, Hamilton, meanwhile, to keep track position stayed out on worn hards. That gave Verstappen the edge he needed, as racing resumed for one final flat out blast, with a lunge into the Turn 5 hairpin sealing the win and the championship.

“Max Verstappen, you are the world champion, the world champion!” Horner exclaimed over the radio. “You have driven like a champion all year, you deserve that. We needed a bit of luck, you got it, you made it happen and we love you. We absolutely love you,” said Horner, as Verstappen, scoring his tenth win of the season, whooped in delight with his voice breaking with emotion. “It’s unbelievable,” said Verstappen. “Throughout the whole race I kept fighting and then of course that opportunity on the last lap. I’m still having a cramp! It’s insane, it’s insane.” Hamilton, 36, who saw his run of four straight titles ended, said: “A big congratulations to Max and to his team. 

Ham backs team

“I think we did an amazing job this year. This whole year has been the most difficult of seasons. We gave it everything, this last part of the season we gave it absolutely everything,” the Briton who had to settle for second, added. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari was third. Hamilton and Verstappen had gone into the race even on points after the closest season in years over the course of which they had collided thrice. Controversy wasn’t slow to strike yesterday, igniting less than a lap into the race.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton, starting second, got the better start and led pole-sitter Verstappen into the first corner. The Red Bull made a lunge for the lead into the Turn 6-7 chicane. Hamilton took to the runoff and kept the lead. But, much to Red Bull’s frustration, stewards, happy that Hamilton had handed back the advantage he gained, deemed there was no investigation necessary. From there on the Briton set about establishing control of the race. 

Red Bull pitted Verstappen under a brief Virtual Safety Car but Hamilton appeared to have him covered, only for the late-race safety car to swing the race back in Red Bull’s favour.  But there was controversy there too. Hamilton had slower cars between him and Verstappen. Race director Michael Masi, in the interest of resuming the race, initially said they wouldn’t be allowed to pass and rejoin at the back of the pack.

He then relented, however, allowing the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to pass the safety car, putting the Red Bull right on the tail of the Mercedes for the restart. “No Michael! No no! This is not right,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said in exasperation to Masi on the radio. “Toto, it’s called a motor race, okay?” Masi responded. 

Verstappen’s title success makes him Red Bull’s first drivers’ champion since Sebastian Vettel’s run of four successive championship triumphs was ended in 2014. It also handed engine supplier Honda, leaving the sport after this race, their first drivers’ title since 1989 and their first since their return to the sport in 2015. Mercedes clinched an eighth straight constructors’ championship but their streak of seven successive title doubles came to an end.

Mercedes lodge appeal

Meanwhile, Mercedes have lodged an appeal over Verstappen’s win. Mercedes are contesting safety car procedure which resulted in Verstappen overtaking Hamilton on the final lap to clinch the world championship.

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