BREAKING: Max Verstappen is the 2021 Formula 1 World Champion
Max Verstappen is the 2021 Formula 1 World Champion after a dramatic final lap sprint to the finish in Abu Dhabi.
Max Verstappen is the 2021 Formula 1 World Champion. (Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)
Verstappen and Hamilton went into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix level on points, with the championship to be decided on track at Yas Marina.
Hamilton took the lead off the start before a controversial incident in turn six where Verstappen dived down the inside of Hamilton, with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver running off into the next corner.
The seven-time world champion held the upper hand throughout the race, until a lap virtual safety car allowed Verstappen to change tyres to chase down Hamilton.
A safety car in the dying stages after Nicholas Latifi hit the wall meant Verstappen was able to change onto fresh soft tyres while Hamilton was forced to stay out to maintain track position.
With the race controversially restarted with one lap remaining, Hamilton and Verstappen went wheel-to-wheel throughout the final lap, but Verstappen’s pace advantage was simply too much.
Verstappen is the 2021 World Champion, finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz.
Lewis Hamilton was second in the standings, with Mercedes-AMG Petronas taking out the Constructors’ Championship.
Max Verstappen is the 2021 World Champion! Get your Formula 1 World Championship gear now!
