In an unpredictable and breathtaking finish to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, Max Verstappen was crowned Formula 1 world champion for the first time in his career.
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While all seemed lost for the driver of the Red Bull team and his great rival Lewis Hamilton headed for an eighth coronation, the event took an unexpected turn when Nicholas Latifi interrupted the proceedings, with a little less six laps to go, following an accident.
Race management had no choice but to deploy the safety car to free the Williams from its precarious position on the circuit.
Cooler tires
The bottles of champagne were ready to be uncorked for the German team. Hamilton had an almost insurmountable 12-second lead when the Canadian rider made his blunder.
After which, it was decided that the last lap of the season was not going to be completed under the yellow flag. On the restart, Verstappen who, to the benefit of a successful strategy of his team, was able to attack the Briton with a car wearing cooler tires.
Despite his resistance, Hamilton had to admit defeat, giving the winner just over two seconds when the checkered flag was waved.
“It’s amazing,” said Verstappen. My goal as a kid was to become an F1 driver and hope to win races one day. “
Mercedes contests
Verstappen, 34th champion in F1 history, made no secret that his chances of dethroning Hamilton at the end of the race were rather limited even though he was faster than him.
“Like what miracles can happen, he added. I want to stay with Red Bull for the rest of my life. “
However, it was not until a few hours after the curtain fell on a thrilling season to confirm the consecration of Verstappen who, at 24 years, two months and 12 days, became the fourth youngest champion in the discipline. The record still belongs to Sebastian Vettel in 2010 (23 years, 4 months and 11 days) ahead of Hamilton in 2008 (23 years, 9 months and 26 days) and Fernando Alonso in 2005 (24 years, 1 month and 27 days).
The Mercedes team has indeed made two complaints at the end of this incredible event, claiming that the track marshals had erred in their decisions. In particular that of not having left enough time for all the cars showing one lap behind to overtake the two leaders and the safety car. But they were rejected.
Thanks to Masi and … Latifi
Verstappen found himself immediately behind Hamilton when the last lap was launched as five single-seaters were grouped between the two belligerents during the neutralization.
Mercedes announced its intention to appeal on Sunday evening. She has three days to file this new complaint. The only consolation was that it secured an eighth consecutive constructors’ title.
“Max drove with passion and determination,” said Christian Horner on the airwaves of the British network Sky Sports. It is true that he had some luck with the safety car. But the race is thus made.
“We didn’t want the season to end in the marshals office. They made the right decision, ”continued the boss of the Red Bull team. He can also say thank you to Michael Masi, the F1 race director, and especially to Latifi for opening the door to his driver.
Congratulations
After spending long seconds in his car after his deceleration lap, Hamilton came to greet the new champion. The Briton will have to wait to become the record holder exclusive of F1 titles. So he remains at seven crowns, like Michael Schumacher.
“I have to congratulate Max and his team,” said Hamilton. I think we have done a remarkable job. I admit having had the most difficult season of my F1 career. ”
Even if his year ends on a disappointing note, it will be remembered that he was able to close a 32 point delay after the Austrian Grand Prix, held on July 4, by winning eight victories and reaching the podium on 17 occasions. .
Hard on canadians
Poor Latifi, he found himself at the heart of the controversy, despite himself.
“I never intended to influence the end of the championship, but I made a mistake and ruined my race. “
The irony is that Williams is one of the four teams on the plateau to be powered by … Mercedes! His compatriot, Lance Stroll, put an end to a disastrous season to say the least when he had to settle for 13th place at the finish, aboard an Aston Martin, in clear decline.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz accompanied the two F1 champions to the podium in Abu Dhabi. As for the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, he ended his rookie season by finishing fourth, the best result of his young career.
His teammate at AlphaTauri, Frenchman Pierre Gasly, finished 5th while Finnish Valtteri Bottas, in his last race at Mercedes, could not do better than 6th position.
See you next year: the F1 circus will now meet at the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20 for the first of 23 scheduled events. A 2022 season that marks the renewal with the arrival of new redesigned single-seaters and the return, hopefully, of the Canadian GP (June 19) forced to be canceled for two years due to the pandemic.
