WATCH: All the drama as Verstappen crowned F1 champ
In a season of high drama, Verstappen claimed his maiden driver’s championship, with the Dutch driver outpacing Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the final race on Sunday.
Mercedes immediately protested against the dramatic safety car procedure that allowed one final opportunity for Verstappen to overtake Hamilton to clinch the world championship.
However, this appeal was ultimately dismissed by the stewards, with Verstappen crowned champion.
BREAKING: The FIA Stewards have dismissed Mercedes' protests against the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final classification #AbuDhabiGP
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021#F1 pic.twitter.com/VPNIfaFDMC
"MAX VERSTAPPEN YOU ARE THE WORLD CHAMPION!"
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
Listen to the full radio after Max Verstappen crossed the line to clinch his first world title in the most dramatic of circumstances#AbuDhabiGP
INCREDIBLE SCENES AS MAX VERSTAPPEN SNATCHES F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON FINAL LAP
Verstappen had taken advantage of a safety car after Nicholas Latifi crashed
With the race director instructing only certain “lapped” cars to go past Hamilton, it resulted in competitive race conditions for the two title contenders to battle it out under a green light for one final lap.
Verstappen and Hamilton, who went into the race level on points, went wheel to wheel to the chequered flag with the Dutchman edging the race.
Until then, Hamilton had been coasting, his eighth world title seemingly in the bag, but Red Bull then received an unlikely “miracle” after Latifi crashed.
It allowed Red Bull to enforce a pit stop for Verstappen, who put on fresh tyres, while Hamilton didn’t pit as Mercedes didn’t want him to lose pole position if the race ended under the safety car.
Although Red Bull and Verstappen celebrated the Dutch driver’s maiden title, Mercedes have lodged an appeal, but it won’t alter the end result.
The journey to the top of the world for @Max33Verstappen
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021#AbuDhabiGP
| POS | NO | DRIVER | CAR | LAPS | TIME/RETIRED | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Max Verstappen | RED BULL RACING HONDA | 58 | 1:30:17.345 | 26 |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | MERCEDES | 58 | +2.256s | 18 |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | FERRARI | 58 | +5.173s | 15 |
| 4 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | ALPHATAURI HONDA | 58 | +5.692s | 12 |
| 5 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | ALPHATAURI HONDA | 58 | +6.531s | 10 |
| 6 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | MERCEDES | 58 | +7.463s | 8 |
| 7 | 4 | Lando Norris | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 58 | +59.200s | 6 |
| 8 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | ALPINE RENAULT | 58 | +61.708s | 4 |
| 9 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | ALPINE RENAULT | 58 | +64.026s | 2 |
| 10 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | FERRARI | 58 | +66.057s | 1 |
| 11 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | ASTON MARTIN MERCEDES | 58 | +67.527s | 0 |
| 12 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 57 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 13 | 18 | Lance Stroll | ASTON MARTIN MERCEDES | 57 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 14 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | HAAS FERRARI | 57 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 15 | 11 | Sergio Perez | RED BULL RACING HONDA | 55 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 50 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 99 | Antonio Giovinazzi | ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI | 33 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 63 | George Russell | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 26 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 7 | Kimi Räikkönen | ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI | 25 | DNF | 0 |
Max Verstappen wins WDC
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