Max Verstappen won his 1st Formula 1 world champion title in the last lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 22nd and final round of the 2021 championship. Lewis Hamilton finished 2nd in the race and the drivers’ championship. Mercedes seizes the crown on the constructors side.
They kept us going until the last lap of the 22nd and final Grand Prix of the 2021 Formula 1 season. At the end of a memorable race, Max Verstappen takes victory in Abu Dhabi and at the same time offers himself at the age of 24 his 1er title of world champion of the main discipline.
It all happened in the last lap
The two drivers – leading the championship – arrived with an equal number of points at the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This configuration had not occurred since 1974. While the victory and the title seemed promised to Lewis Hamilton who dominated 99% of the race, the violent exit of track of the Canadian Nicholas Latifi (Williams), with five laps of the l ‘arrival, reshuffled the cards. For the benefit of a safety car and tires that are much cooler and more efficient than those of Hamilton, the young Dutchman made short work of a seven-time world champion just a few bends from the finish line. Lewis Hamilton finished 2.3 seconds behind the leader and was 8 points behind in the championship.
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“Sometimes miracles happen”
” Sometimes miracles happen »Reacted the son of Jos Verstappen, ex-F1 driver, when he got out of the car. ” It’s crazy, I finally got lucky, I want to relive that with this team for the next ten to fifteen years ” he added. Max Verstappen made his debut in 2015 at Toro Rosso before joining the Red Bull team in the 2016 season. Max is the fourth youngest driver to win a world title at 24 years, 2 months and 12 days behind Sebastian Vettel in 2010 (23 years, 4 months and 11 days), Lewis Hamilton in 2008 (23 years, 9 months and 26 days) and Fernando Alonso in 2005 (24 years, 1 month and 27 days).
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Mercedes wins constructor title
Despite the bitter taste of his defeat, Lewis Hamilton praised the performance of his young opponent. Max also highlighted the talents of his opponent who “ made life very difficult for us. Our two teams have given each other a hard time “. Little consolation for Mercedes, it won the constructors’ title for the eighth time in a row.
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