What a season! It was only in the very, very, very last lap of the very last race that it became clear who could call themselves Formula 1 world champion. And that's Max Verstappen! It took a miracle at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
You know that joke from that Formula 1 race in Belgium? That's right, it didn't work! The Grand Prix on the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit was completely rained out and, except for a few laps behind the safety car, it never started. The drivers drove just enough laps to declare a winner. At the end of a long and cold day, Max Verstappen was rewarded with 12.5 points for his 'victory'.
Two weeks after Max Verstappen's unfortunate elimination at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Dutchman is again driven off the track on the first lap. It is thanks to his mechanics that he can continue the race, albeit with half a car! For Esteban Ocon (Alpine) a childhood dream comes true: he takes the win in Hungary.
After his victories in France and Austria, Max Verstappen also completely controlled the second Austrian Grand Prix. Three out of three, a true hat trick. The Dutchman is 32 points ahead of his rival, Lewis Hamilton. This weekend the Red Bull Ring finally turned orange again.
It is perhaps the most beautiful victory of his Formula 1 career so far: Max Verstappen wins the Grand Prix of Styria. And that on the home circuit of Red Bull Racing in Austria. Lewis Hamilton could only watch as his great rival took the win. For Valtteri Bottas there was finally another podium place.