In a season filled with drama and controversy, it nearly feels becoming the championship title was selected the ultimate lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton entered the race degree on factors — a feat that has solely occurred as soon as earlier than within the sport’s 71-year historical past, when Emerson Fittipaldi and Clay Regazzoni entered the 1974 finale degree. It was winner-takes-all.

And in spite of everything the joy and buildup, the race didn’t disappoint. There was controversy from the primary lap, with each title contenders having their very own share of the luck. However in the long run, 24-year-old Verstappen claimed the race and the championship title.

Right here is the way it all unfolded.

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Lap 1: Hamilton made a significantly better begin than Verstappen to guide into Flip 1, however the controversy started at Flip 6.

With a lot at stake, it was inevitable to see drama from lights out. Hamilton leaping forward of his title rival was an enormous second, however the greatest occasion of the lap got here at Flip 6.

Verstappen had closed in and tried to go up the within of Hamilton. His transfer was late, however his braking timed properly sufficient to make the nook and keep on the monitor. Hamilton, nevertheless, was compelled broad and lower the nook on the chicane earlier than retaking the lead.

“He has to offer that again,” Verstappen stated over the radio, however the stewards don’t notice the incident till two laps later.

Lap 3: The controversy continued because the stewards confirmed no investigation was essential for the Lap 1 incident.

The stewards’ overview determined Verstappen gained a bonus by forcing Hamilton off, which Hamilton merely neutralised by slicing the nook.

Pink Bull had been livid, and confused. They stated it was merely exhausting racing — Verstappen was forward on the apex and made the nook. All by way of this, Hamilton’s lead was slowly growing.

Lap 13: After struggling along with his tender tyres, Verstappen was compelled into early change.

He had gone out on the softs, however by Lap 9 was combating rear tyre degradation. He waited till Lap 13 to vary to hards, popping out behind Lando Norris in sixth.

Pink Bull needed to hope these compounds had stronger tempo if he was to meet up with Hamilton.

Lap 15: Mercedes introduced Hamilton into the pit, switching from medium tyres to hards.

Bringing Hamilton in was a logical determination for Mercedes to neutralise the race and canopy off their rival. He rejoined behind Sergio Perez, however crucially, nonetheless 4.8s forward of Verstappen.

Lap 18: With Carlos Sainz the one driver separating the title contenders, Hamilton set a brand new quickest lap.

Some clear racing from Hamilton allowed him to increase his hole with Verstappen to eight.0s, whereas his rival was struggling to cross the Ferrari.

Nonetheless, at Flip 6, Verstappen took his likelihood and overtook Sainz and sit behind his rival.

Lap 20: Hamilton had closed in on Perez, however the Pink Bull put up a combat for his teammate.

Understanding that Verstappen wanted to make up time, Perez put up an incredible defence towards the seven-time world champion. Hamilton handed him out of Flip 5 and into Flip 6, earlier than Perez retook the lead out of Flip 7.

And when Hamilton lastly handed the Pink Bull within the following lap, Verstappen was simply 1.2s behind.

“Checo is a legend,” Verstappen stated over the group radio.

Lap 22 to 34: Regardless of the great work from his teammate, Verstappen struggled to maintain up with Hamilton’s tempo, the Dutchman’s championship showing to slide away barely after each lap.

Kimi Raikkonen’s F1 profession got here to a tragic shut when he stopped on Lap 26, however the ensuing yellow flag didn’t change a lot as Hamilton continued to storm away from his rival.

Lap 37: A Digital Security Automobile was deployed after Antonio Giovinazzi’s automobile stopped on the monitor on the high-speed Flip 9.

The VSC, which requires the drivers to drive at a slower velocity to permit marshals to hold out security work, gave Verstappen a chance to pit and alter to a different set of exhausting tyres.

Nonetheless, Hamilton stayed put, with Mercedes later explaining the potential to lose monitor place was too excessive for him to pit. In different phrases, if he had pitted, Verstappen would have stayed out and brought the lead.

The choice left Hamilton with tyres 22 laps older than Verstappen’s for the remaining 20 laps of the race.

Lap 38 to 52: Verstappen’s likelihood of the championship title appeared nearly sure to be misplaced, with Hamilton sustaining his tempo, and the hole between them.

It simply was not working for the Dutchman. Hamilton had the tempo benefit, and his tyres had been nonetheless holding up.

Lap 53: However simply as all appeared misplaced for Verstappen, Nicholas Latifi crashed out!

The Williams driver hits the wall below the resort after working broad at Flip 15, with a security automobile wanted to clear the harm.

This was the stroke of luck Pink Bull wanted. The deployment of the protection automobile would cut back the hole between the title contenders to zero.

Lap 54: With the protection automobile deployed, Hamilton was unable to pit, leaving him with no choice however to see out the remaining 4 laps along with his previous tyres.

“That is unbelievable, man,” Hamilton stated over his group radio.

Verstappen, nevertheless, was capable of be introduced in, switching to recent, tender tyres to shut out the Grand Prix.

At this level, Mercedes may need regretted not taking the chance to pit earlier within the race.

Lap 56: That is the place it received controversial — once more.

The preliminary message from race management stated lapped automobiles wouldn’t be allowed to overhaul the protection, presumably to hurry up the restart.

There have been 5 automobiles between Hamilton and Verstappen, and the Dutchman must cross all of them to get near Hamilton. One other blow to Pink Bull — or so it appeared.

Lap 57: Pink Bull had been livid. The security automobile was nonetheless out, and the lapped automobiles had been nonetheless between the title rivals.

Pink Bull boss Horner requested race director Michael Masi: “Why aren’t we getting these automobiles out of the best way? We solely want one racing lap.”

And below this stress, Massi appeared to crumble, permitting the 5 automobiles to be let by way of and bringing Verstappen proper up behind his rival.

This made it a straight combat till the tip. A one-lap shootout. A battle between the 2 drivers who’ve headlined this whole season.

Lap 58: Verstappen made his transfer into Flip 5, and crossed the road first to safe the victory and the championship after an unbelievable race. Hamilton had a go at repassing the Pink Bull spherical the surface of Flip 9, however on his older tyres, he couldn’t make it stick.

On crossing the road Verstappen appeared in disbelief, screaming down his radio: “Oh my God, oh my God.”

Sainz claimed the ultimate podium spot, forward of Yuki Tsunoda.

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Postrace

This was a race filled with controversy on so many ranges — a narrative that appears to mirror the whole lot of this F1 season.

As Verstappen and Pink Bull celebrated the exceptional ultimate lap, Mercedes had been livid. Boss Toto Wolff was screaming at Masi over the radio at what had transpired.

“Michael! Michael! You must return a lap,” Wolff stated, saying the outcomes ought to rely from solely the lap earlier than the Security Automobile got here in.

Masi replied: “Toto … Toto … this can be a motor race.”

Mercedes subsequently submitted a protest over the outcome, which was later rejected by the FIA.

Verstappen, nevertheless, was overjoyed at his first championship title.

“It is unbelievable. It is insane,” he stated. “Lastly a little bit of luck for me. I additionally need to say a giant thanks to Checo, he drove his coronary heart out at present.”

“To my group, I feel they know they love them. I hope I can stick with them for 10 or 15 years for the remainder of my life.”

ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴄʜᴀᴍᴘɪᴏɴ!!!!

That is simply unbelievable. I began racing with my dad a few years in the past. We dreamed of changing into a World Champion and now we’re.

(1/3) pic.twitter.com/sQ3WBEjWZ6

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 12, 2021