If you are a Formula 1 fanatic, 2021 was probably the most thrilling year you can remember in this sport. 21 races were played right through the season and we went into the 22nd and final race with the top two players tied on the Driver’s Standings, at 369.5 points each. We’re talking about the most exciting and sensational battle of Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen.
It all boiled down to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which was the final race of the season; the last time we reached the final race with a tie at the top was all the way back in 1974. A month ago, everyone would’ve expected an easy victory for Verstappen in the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship but Hamilton showed what a legend he is, winning three consecutive races in Brazil, Qatar and Jeddah.
He needed to make it four on the trot if he had to go on to win the title which would become the 8th world championship of his career but he couldn’t. While Verstappen had pole position from yesterday’s qualifier, Hamilton took an early lead right at the kick off. From there, there was no looking back for the British race car driver. Until of course, a controversial last lap.
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The 19th and 20th laps were the most exciting of the race as after Hamilton and Verstappen pitted, Sergio Perez went to the lead. And he wanted to give his Red Bull teammate the best chance of winning, so he stalled Hamilton as much as he could. And right enough, Max could bring the gap down considerably because of how much Hamilton was slowed down during those two laps.
It was a big lead of 10+ seconds for most of the last 15 laps but with Hamilton pitting only once, he pushed his second set of tyres to 40+ laps, which made it a nervous and anxious finish for the Brit. And while a virtual safety car didn’t allow any racing in the last few laps, the two raced side by side in one last racing lap announced.
One might say it was unfair because Hamilton was clearly leading and it wasn’t fair and super controversial that he had to begin side by side against Verstappen in the final lap. After leading for so long, Hamilton had to finish in second place. Newer tyres allowed Verstappen to overtake in the single lap and win, in a thrilling finish. While Verstappen yelled out in his car that he’s world champion (first career title), all Hamilton could say from his car is, “I’m speechless.”
Eventually, 14 drivers finished the race with Latifi crashing out and Perez retiring his car in the 56th lap. Earlier in the race, Kimi Raikkonen crashed out of the race due to a braking issue and it was an unfortunate way to end his F1 career, as the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP was the last race of his long and illustrious career. For similar Formula 1 updates from around the world, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com…
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