Abu Dhabi, Dec 12 (BUS): The most dramatic Formula 1 season in years ended, of course, in one of the most dramatic ends possible when Max Verstappen snatched the world championship away from Lewis Hamilton with a last-lap pass for the Abu Dhabi GP.
The Associated Press reported that Mercedes lodged two protests after the race.
Hamilton was five laps away from overtaking Michael Schumacher in the eighth championship record books on Sunday until a crash gave Verstappen and Red Bull a last chance.
Whatever Hamilton said over his radio as Nicholas Latifi crashed to get the safety car out, it only played out as a long beep to cover the swearing.
Formula 1 race director Michael Massey took his time figuring out how to finish the race before controversially settling for one final lap of the race to decide the title.
Verstappen started the last lap just behind Hamilton, and chased him through the first four laps.
Verstappen made a pass in the fifth round and Hamilton had the last shot. He pulled his Mercedes even with Red Bull but couldn’t turn away Verstappen, who went on to become the first Dutch world champion.
“It’s just crazy, I mean, my goal when I was young was to be a Formula 1 driver and to get wins, to be on the podium,” Verstappen said. “When they play the national anthem, you want it to be yours and when you stand here and they tell you you’re the world champion, that’s unbelievable and special.”
It was a fitting end to a season that saw competitors on wheels race 22 races across four continents and reach Abu Dhabi tied for the championship standings. It was the first time the contenders had tied for a season finale since 1974.
“Congratulations to Max and his team, I think he has done a great job this year,” said Hamilton.
This bitter rivalry between Mercedes and Red Bull got the finish it deserved – which left the victor speechless.
“Gosh!” Verstappen shouted over his radio as he crossed the finish line.
“You are world champion! World champion!” cried Red Bull boss Christian Horner’s back.
“Let’s do this for another 10 or 15 years!” Verstappen replied.
Red Bull won its first F1 title since 2013; Mercedes has won every championship since then.
The mood was quite different at the Mercedes camp, with Hamilton sitting motionless in his car for several moments while the other drivers made their way to congratulate Verstappen.
The defeat ended his reign of four consecutive titles and deprived Hamilton of an opportunity to pass Schumacher as the best player ever in Formula One.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was skeptical on the radio, demanding to “take back the last lap”.
“Toto, that’s called motor racing,” Massey replied succinctly. “We want a car race.”
Hamilton received a long hug from his father, who then went to the Red Bull garage and hugged both Verstappen and Verstappen’s father.
Jos Verstappen was himself a former F1 driver and raised his 24-year-old son to become world champion.
Mission accomplished and Red Bull celebrated by playing “We Are the Champions” in their garage.
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