Max Verstappen world champion in Abu Dhabi, the six key moments of his season

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He had no room for error and had to rely on a little help from fate to be sacred in Abu Dhabi. Max Verstappen had an exceptional end of the race, Sunday 12 December, on the Yas Marina circuit. After the crazy scenario during the penultimate Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, Sunday 5 December, which allowed Lewis Hamilton to return to his height tied on points, lThe Dutchman did not flinch against the seven-time world champion and claimed the title of world champion for the first time in his career.

A title he won at the end of an intense season, against his British rival. Franceinfo: sport looks back on the six key moments of its season.

April 18, 2021: first victory for year

From the start of the championship, the rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton took shape. The usual overwhelming dominance of the Silver Arrows is challenged by Red Bull. After coming just behind the Briton in the first GP of the season in Bahrain, Max Verstappen offers his second in Emilia-Romagna on April 18. Despite Hamilton’s pole position, the Dutchman got off to a perfect start, thus depriving the Mercedes driver of victory. A performance that announces a crazy season.

May 23, 2021: he takes the lead in the championship

In the fifth Grand Prix of the season, the battle is tough between the two opponents. As Lewis Hamilton dominates the championship, with three victories, Max Verstappen seizes the opportunity to pass him in Monaco. After setting the second fastest time in qualifying, the Red Bull driver took advantage of the misfortunes of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), author of pole position but forced to retire before the start because of a mechanical problem. A godsend for Verstappen, who won after having spent almost the entire race in the lead.

The Dutchman also took advantage of Lewis Hamilton’s complicated day, forced to settle for a disappointing 7th place (his rank in qualifying), on a circuit where it was very difficult to overtake. This combination of circumstances makes the happiness of Verstappen, who for the first time of the season (and of his career!), Takes the lead of the championship with 105 points, against 101 for Hamilton.

June 6, 2021: big fear … before stringing together three victories

While his start to the season is almost flawless – in five races, he climbs on the podium each time (two wins, three places from 2nd) – Max Verstappen crashed during the Azerbaijani GP. The Red Bull driver seemed to be heading for a third success, but that was without counting the puncture of his left rear tire a few laps from the finish, causing a red flag.

But this first quack is of little consequence for Verstappen, because when the new start is given, Lewis Hamilton, then second in the championship, shoots straight at the first turn and starts back at the back of the pack. “I hit a button that changed the brake balance”, Hamilton explained after the fact, finally ranked 15th.

Despite this big fear, Max Verstappen remains the leader. A kind of shock for the Dutchman since he then offered himself three consecutive victories, allowing him to take a 32 point lead (182 points against 150 for Hamilton) in the championship. The biggest gap of the season.

October 10, 2021: resumption of orders in Turkey

Second behind Valtteri Bottas, Max Verstappen is once again enjoying a bad day for Lewis Hamilton. The Briton has indeed experienced some difficulties in Turkey. Author of the pole position, the leader of the Mercedes team in is dispossessed after being penalized ten places for having changed engine.

Raised from 11th to 3rd place, the Briton finally finished in 5th place of the race, his last pit stop being fatal. This new mishap allows Verstappen to regain the lead in the championship. Full of confidence for the Dutchman, who then won in the United States and Mexico to regain his distance from Lewis Hamilton with four races to go.

November 21, 2021: essential rise in Qatar

The day started badly for the Dutchman Max Verstappen. Ranked second in qualifying, he received a five-place penalty for failing to respect a double yellow flag, which signals significant danger and the obligation to slow down. Verstappen therefore starts from 7th position in Doha. However, more is needed to destabilize it.

At the end of a controlled race – Verstappen had already moved up to fourth after the first two corners – he secures an important second place behind Lewis Hamilton. This victory certainly allows the Briton to get closer to Verstappen, but not to overtake him. Thanks to excellent consistency, the Red Bull driver was able to keep his first place, with an eight point lead.

December 12, 2021: world champion after a crazy race

Max Verstappen thinks he got the very good deal by taking pole position on Saturday 11 December, taking advantage of Sergio Pérez’s aspiration in an exceptional tactical move. But a bad start made this position useless, Lewis Hamilton passing it at the first corner. Next ? The Dutchman remains hopeful, he struggles, far from the Briton, unable to keep up with his pace during the race. Except six laps from the finish, Nicholas Latifi violently collides with the rail, forcing the marshals to bring in the safety car. Max is then more than 10 seconds from Lewis. For four laps, the cars rolled and after having changed their minds, the race marshals allowed the Red Bull driver to pass the retarded to return to the exhaust of his rival, just before the race was restarted for one lap.

A tour of madness, a tour of anthology. Verstappen had changed tires to fit red compounds, while Hamilton struggled with his badly worn tires. An attack, an intractable defense, zig-zag to prevent his opponent from taking his aspiration, this is how Max Verstappen wins, and the world title.


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