The Formula 1 Championship Finale in Abu Dhabi
All eyes were on Abu Dhabi this weekend as the Formula 1 Championship drew its dramatic conclusion amidst intense rivalries, crashes, and controversy. In one of the most anticipated races in Formula 1 history, everything was on the line as Red Bull and Mercedes frontmen, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton went into the race on level points for the driver’s championship. With bookmakers unable to split the two, both men were at evens money to take the title at lights out.
Max Verstappen was the winner of this year’s Formula 1 championship, edging out Hamilton in a controversial final lap to claim his first ever title at 24 years old. ©randomwinner/Pixabay
In the buildup to this race commentators around the world kept referring to this season as the greatest in living memory. This season has proven to be exhilarating, high-stakes, and action-packed. At every race Verstappen and Hamilton have gone nose to nose, frantically trading places at the top of the driver’s championship. At one point it looked as if Verstappen was running away with it, but as Hamilton has proven countless times throughout his career, he never gives up and will fight to the very end. A trait that has earned him 7 Championships in his legendary career.
Verstappen has been trying to overthrow Hamilton’s dominant reign in Formula 1 for many years. Often finding himself on the slower side of the monster car Mercedes manage to assemble year after year, the Flying Dutchman relied on his tenacity and aggressive yet calculated driving style to narrow the odds. This season Verstappen stepped things up another gear and made a genuine bid for the World Championship, with the seven-time British world champion hunting him at every corner.
Following Hamilton’s late resurgence in the last few races of the season, taking several key victories, Abu Dhabi was teed up to be an absolute classic. The outcome of the race would decide the championship, in a rare winner takes all moment for Formula 1, it would come down to the very last race, and ultimately it came down to the very last lap to determine the 2020-2021 Formula 1 World Champion.
Final Lap Controversy Shrouds Verstappen’s First Title
While Verstappen fans were celebrating, Mercedes was assembling a legal case against the FIA for what they perceived to be an incorrect application of the rulebook to the detriment of Hamilton. Race Director Michael Masi had a very short window to react to on-track incidents, and due to his decision-making process in the aftermath of Latifi’s 54th lap crash, Red Bull’s frontman was gifted a wonderful opportunity to close a massive gap that Hamilton had held for almost the entire race.
With the safety car out on the track, Hamilton’s nightmare came true. Unable to risk losing track position the British driver was unable to go to the pit lane. Verstappen on the other hand, with nothing to lose and everything to gain, took the no-brainer decision to switch to the softer compound tires and try to get as close to Hamilton before the race restarted. As the cars circled the track the laps ticked past the race director announced that the five lapped cars separating Hamilton and Verstappen would be allowed to pass, leaving the championship in a neck & neck 1-lap shootout between the Red Bull and Mercedes.
Verstappen, capitalizing on the gift from the racing gods, easily picked off Hamilton just 5 turns into the final lap. The Mercedes was a sitting duck to the Red Bull’s superior grip and cornering speed on the new tires. Following the overtake, Hamilton valiantly fought back, riding a slipstream and almost edging past Verstappen on the outside. But it wasn’t to be, and the Dutchman would close out the lap 2 seconds ahead of Hamilton and claim his first-ever Formula 1 Championship.
It will go down as one of the most stunning and controversial moments in modern sports history. For Verstappen and Red Bull, pure jubilation at their first title after years and years toiling away, for Mercedes and Hamilton utter heartbreak. The British Champion proved why he has won 7 titles and is true to the spirit of this great driver, Hamilton immediately congratulated Max Verstappen on his win. The Mercedes management, on the other hand, was not so quick to congratulate.
Legal Fight Brewing and Race Aftermath
Mercedes began the complaints at Michael Masi’s decision-making even before the race had finished. Toto Wolf was screaming through the radio at the race director, in shock at the decision to allow only 5 cars past Hamilton, completely undermining Hamilton’s track position and forfeiting the major advantage he had to the Red Bull. As the race ended in Verstappen’s favor and Red Bull celebrations begun, Mercedes had already submitted two official complaints against the application of the rules, and flanked by two lawyers, occupied the FIA office at the track attempting to throw the book at the race director and overturn the decision.
Both complaints were dismissed, and the race directors upheld their decision. But as the narrative of this F1 season has shown us time and time again, there is still more action to come until a formal conclusion is arrived at. Mercedes now has the option to appeal the decision, and will have until Thursday evening to confirm if they want to press ahead with their legal fight against the FIA.
It is a crazy set of circumstances for sure, and whilst the victory has been officially handed to Verstappen, under the FIA code it will not be irreversible until the trophy ceremony on Thursday. It remains to be seen if Mercedes will press ahead with their legal fight or if Verstappen will in fact lift the trophy for the first time in his career.
