He did one interview before the victory podium and congratulated Verstappen and Red Bull. Hamilton did not participate in the post-race news conference with Verstappen and third-placed finisher Carlos Sainz. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in action in Abu Dhabi.

'When everything is clear, you have to release the track, so I think that's a fair point from the race director. 'I think (the track) was clear, so why would you run it out behind the safety car?' Verstappen said. He repeated that he wanted race control to play no role in the finale, but when Masi did, it went in Verstappen's favor with the final one lap of racing to decide the title. Verstappen had complained all weekend that he'd been treated unfairly by the race stewards, who he believed held him to a higher standard than other drivers. The two crashed three times this season and Verstappen was sent to the hospital for evaluation following one incident at Silverstone. Verstappen led an F1-high 652 of the 1,211 laps this year and scored 18 podium finishes.īut he's been criticised in 2021 over his aggressive driving, with Hamilton himself saying Verstappen was over the edge. The two combined for 18 of the victories, with Verstappen winning 10 times - equalling the number of wins scored over his first six seasons in F1. Max Verstappen won the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in controversial fashion, after race director Michael Masi effectively restarted the race ahead of the final lap. F1 title decided by dramatic final-lap shootout The fans also chanted Latifi's name as they exited the circuit. The 'Orange army' of Dutch fans erupted in joy and fired off their traditional orange flares. Verstappen and Red Bull celebrated in a champagne soak, received hugs from his fellow competitors - including Hamilton and Hamilton's father - and made his way to the DJ to jump wildly up and down to the music. And Hamilton, on hard tyres he had had since lap 14, realistically had no chance of staving off Verstappen on his fresh slicks. Masi made the polarising call to allow the cars placed between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake the safety car, just about bringing the two title rivals neck and neck for the return to 'racing'. He pulled his Mercedes even with the Red Bull in turn nine but couldn't clear Verstappen, who surged ahead to become the first Dutch world champion.

The 24-year-old made his pass on the fifth turn and Hamilton had one last shot. Verstappen started the final lap just behind Hamilton, chasing him through the first four turns. That leaves the Dutchman with a 14 point lead over Hamilton with three races left in the 2021 season.Max Verstappen is the 2021 Formula 1 world champion. The main flashpoint came 10 laps prior to the eventual overtake as Hamilton tried to go round the Red Bull into turn four, Verstappen was having none of it, braking later and seeing both cars go off the road. The Brit battled hard with his title rival Max Verstappen and after two side-by-side battles, made the move with 12 laps to go and surged into the distance to close the gap in the points battle. Lewis Hamilton put the qualifying disqualification behind him as he charged from 10th on the grid to victory in the 2021 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix.

F1 2021 results