Four days after winning a dramatic Abu Dhabi GP and his maiden title, Verstappen, got his hands on the Drivers’ Championship trophy.
Max Verstappen clinched his maiden championship with a final lap overtake on title rival Lewis Hamilton, having changed tyres under a late Safety Car, at Yas Marina Circuit.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team launched two protests against the outcomes of the race – the majority of which was led by the seven-time world champion – but both were dismissed, while Mercedes then opted not to pursue an appeal.
The set-up for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was remarkable. It was the climax of a season-long battle between two elite-level drivers, one a proven all-time great and the other a great-in-the-making, with the two dead level – save for Max Verstappen’s countback advantage. Not since 1974 had the top two title protagonists gone into the final race on equal terms.
Regardless of the circumstances and the uneven grip levels, this was an unbelievable way for the championship to be resolved. Verstappen fans cheered, Hamilton fans were angry but the neutrals were left amazed by how it all played out.
Abu Dhabi 2021 will be talked about in terms of the controversy, which is hardly the most pure of reasons. But that debate is a little more complex than many present it as – reflecting poorly on race control and the determination to ensure a grandstand finish but falling short of the deliberate attempt to swing the championship against Hamilton that some make it out to be.
That last-lap battle will also be remembered because it was unprecedented and might very well not happen again. And when it comes to the most celebrated and discussed title deciders, it’s the ones with the late drama and controversy that are lodged in the memory.
It come down to the old saying, “let them race” and for the fans, it was 1 lap of pure excitement.
Hollywoodbets has Lewis Hamilton at 5/4, Max Verstappen at 19/10 and George Russell at 6/1 for the 2022 Drivers Championship.
My Goat Sports 