The fight between Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) has been unprecedentedly exciting all season. On paper, Max was the better this year. He was on the podium 18 out of 22 races. He won the race ten times and crossed the line in second eight times. He led more than 600 laps and took pole position 10 times. But despite these resounding numbers, it still came down to the very last race of the season. Both drivers started the final race weekend of 2021 with the same number of points.

Top round in qualifying

The free practice sessions went pretty well for Red Bull Racing with fast times for both Max Verstappen and teammate Sergio Pérez. Yet Mercedes seemed to do just that little bit better on the beautiful circuit in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Hamilton was also the better in qualifying. Until Q3. On his fast lap, Max was a fraction faster than the Briton and quite unexpectedly took pole position. On the second row there was also a surprise: Lando Norris (McLaren) took his best starting position of the season with P3. And Max could expect backing from Pérez in P4.
Valtteri Bottas, who was on his last race weekend for Mercedes, did less well on the desert track with P6. It was a beautiful day for Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri). He would start from P8; no fewer than four positions ahead of his teammate Pierre Gasly.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The races at the Abu Dhabi circuit are not known for their excitement. What is special is the start in daylight and the finish after sunset. The layout of the circuit has been changed this year, with a number of corners replaced by fast twisters. However, overtaking is still difficult. Verstappen was supported by a few thousand Orange fans, who made themselves heard from their stands.

For Nikita Mazepin (Haas), the weekend ended early: he tested positive for corona and was not allowed to show up at the track on Sunday. Nineteen cars reported to the start.

Millions of eyes were on Verstappen and Hamilton. When the lights went out, the Briton had a top start and led into the first corner. Verstappen dropped to P2, with Pérez and Norris behind him, who briefly missed the track, but returned safely. Only once did Verstappen get the opportunity to overtake Hamilton, which did not work out well. Hamilton got off track and cut a bit, keeping his lead. Shouldn't Hamilton give that position back to Verstappen? No, race officials let Hamilton go. Fortunately, there was no penalty for Verstappen either.

Pérez makes himself immortal

The Briton then drove away from the Dutchman. The hole got bigger and bigger every lap. This didn't look good. On the 14th lap, Verstappen came in for the first time for a tire change. A lap later Hamilton followed, who handed over the lead to Sergio Pérez. Of course, the Briton quickly closed the gap with the leader on new tires, but once behind Pérez's Red Bull a beautiful fight ensued. Pérez defended, overtook, broadened and slowed things down. This enabled Verstappen to close the gap and rejoin Lewis. In the end, Pérez had to give in. His tires were finally finished! First Hamilton passed and then Verstappen too. Pérez went to the pit lane for a set of fresh tires.

Bad luck for Alfa Romeo and Williams

While Hamilton was driving away from Verstappen again at the front of the race, disaster struck for the Alfa Romeo and Williams drivers. First Kimi Räikkönen parked his car with engine problems in the pit garage. A special moment, because this was the last race for the 42-year-old Finn.
Then George Russell (Williams) dropped out with engine problems. Moments later, Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) also had bad luck. He didn't make the pit lane and had to stop his car along the track. This resulted in a virtual safety car, which many drivers used to change tires. So is Verstappen. But Hamilton stayed out. That seemed like a good choice. The gap with Verstappen had increased to no less than seventeen seconds due to the Dutchman's pit stop.
The virtual safety car ended and the race started again. Very slowly Verstappen crept closer to Hamilton, but it seemed impossible that the Dutchman would get to the tail of the Briton in time for lap 58. He needed a miracle to be able to become champion…

Latifi plays key role

With five laps to go, the Verstappen fans had already lost all hope of a good outcome. Until… Nicholas Latifi (Williams) crashed and a safety car came on track. Verstappen immediately dived back into the pit lane for a set of red tires. Pérez also made another change, but had to give up definitively a lap later. And Hamilton? He stayed outside again!

The Williams wreck had to be towed away as quickly as possible. The laps ticked by as the field stayed behind the safety car. Four stragglers drove between Hamilton and Verstappen, who had been put on a lap by the Briton. A discussion arose between the top teams and race management about whether those lagging behind were allowed to overtake the safety car. That would be to the advantage of Verstappen, who would be directly behind Hamilton. And a disadvantage for Hamilton, who of course preferred a buffer of four cars. Only three more rounds to go. The season finale wouldn't take place behind a safety car, would it? The decision was made: the laggards were allowed to drive past the safety car. The wreckage was gone. Halfway through lap 57 the safety car disappeared and Hamilton was able to determine when to get back on the gas. Verstappen even drove next to him; intimidating, threatening. And there Hamilton left, for the final decisive lap. All or nothing, that was the only tactic for Verstappen. He overtook Hamilton and this time it went well! The Briton made a few more attempts to regain the lead, but Verstappen defended successfully. Encouraged by his fans – in the stands, in living rooms and cafes around the world – he kept his car on the track and crossed the finish line as the 2021 World Champion. Lewis Hamilton was second and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) surprisingly third.

Dream come true

Miracles do happen! A long cherished dream of father Jos and son Max Verstappen has become reality. Max Verstappen is world champion Formula 1, season 2021. With a very big Thank You to Sergio Pérez and Nicholas Latifi.

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