We arrived at a historic Sunday, with two geniuses tied on point, and we ended up experiencing something that exceeded all expectations and that no one who has experienced it will ever forget. On the last lap of the Abu Dhabi GP after a Safety Car that changed everything, Verstappen won the battle against Hamilton with a winning overtake and a fierce position defense to take his first title in extremis , becoming the 34th world champion of history
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Hamilton had Verstappen the wallet at the start and, when the Dutchman tried to retake the lead at Turn 7 with a limit brake, the Englishman ended up holding the lead off the track.
In a maneuver that many times this year (the last one just a week ago) had been resolved by asking the driver who skipped the corner to return the position, this time the FIA decided that there was no need to intervene, and the protests of Max Verstappen and Red Bull were in vain: Hamilton held the first position.
However, Formula 1 always has more, it always surprises, it always amazes, and an accident with Nicholas Latifi in the last laps changed everything. The hard blow made the Safety Car come out, which Verstappen took advantage of to put in for the third time and put on soft tires . The wait was long and finally, after retiring the Williams and cleaning the track at Yas Marina, with just one lap to the checkered flag, the action resumed.
There Verstappen smelled blood and launched himself inside Hamilton in an overtaking that was worth a world championship. The seven-time champion tried to return it later but the #33 was not surprised and stoically endured until the finish line.
The second moment appeared when an Antonio Giovinazzi retirement in his last weekend in Formula 1 caused a Virtual Safety Car that Verstappen took advantage of to make his second stop. Thus, in the last 20 laps the Dutchman had fresh tires to get closer to his rival, but not enough to even threaten first place.
However, the final blow was still missing, the Safety Car that brought the peloton together and allowed Verstappen to overtake to become the first Dutch F1 champion.
Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari SF21, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF2
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Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari SF21, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF2
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21, Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT02, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, Fernando Alonso, Alpine A521
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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M
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Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, Fernando Alonso, Alpine A521
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Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, Fernando Alonso, Alpine A521
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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images
Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing C41, spins and collides with a barrier
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Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing C41, spins and collides with a barrier
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21
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Foto de: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21
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Foto de: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21 Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21, Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21, Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing C41
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21, Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21, Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43B
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21, Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21, Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43B
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Foto de: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21
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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB16B
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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12
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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12
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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12
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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B
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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B
Mick Schumacher, Haas VF-21, fights Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43B
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Mick Schumacher, Haas VF-21, fights Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43B
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Mick Schumacher, Haas VF-21, fights Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43B
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Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21
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Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21
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Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, Fernando Alonso, Alpine A521, Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri AT02, Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo Racing C41, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21, Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21
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Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21
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Foto de: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, goes through the inside of the corner while Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B
The Red Bull rider launched from far away, but staying inside, and after touching Hamilton cut the corner to come out ahead. However, despite the fact that he was expected to be asked to return the position and the lead to his rival, the FIA decided that no investigation was necessary and Hamilton, despite Max’s anger and everyone’s surprise, remained first.
Red Bull puts Verstappen and Mercedes in Hamilton, first stops in Abu Dhabi
On lap 14, Verstappen made his pitstop to install hard and go all the way. He rejoined the track after Norris and very little ahead of a Leclerc who had to skip a corner to avoid taking the #33 ahead, losing position with Tsunoda at times.
Verstappen was able to quickly pass Norris, who was struggling with his gearbox, and Mercedes reacted by bringing in Hamilton on lap 15, leaving Perez in front, with Hamilton second, Sainz third and Verstappen fourth.
But with clean air, Hamilton for the moment proved to have a superior car, and tenth by tenth he distanced himself. From behind the stops continued to occur, leaving Bottas third and Alonso fifth, both still without making their pitstop. On lap 26, Raikkonen spun in which he touched the wall, and when he returned to the box his team informed him that he had to leave, ending his last Formula 1 race beforehand. A peculiar guy is leaving and a brilliant pilot.
Almost at the same time, George Russell suffered another problem in his Williams and became the second retirement of the day.
Bottas finally stopped on lap 31, dropping to ninth between Leclerc and Tsunoda, leaving Alonso fourth and Sainz sixth. The Finn began to chase down Leclerc, who despite a sensational defense eventually had to give up to a faster car and newer tyres.
Virtual Safety Car in Abu Dhabi and Verstappen’s change of strategy
Alonso had a tough battle with Tsunoda fighting for seventh place. And despite the fact that the Spaniard gained the position at times by going off the track, the Japanese recovered that place by using the DRS.
Then, Alonso saw how Gasly also overtook him with a superior AlphaTauri, while ahead Verstappen cut Hamilton’s time lap by lap with fresher tires, although not enough as both were dodging lapped.
Lando Norris suffered a slow puncture and had to make a second stop, leaving Sainz fourth and Bottas fifth.
Drama after the Safety Car in Abu Dhabi
There were six laps remaining when Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams after a mistake on lap 14 and caused the safety car to go out. While Hamilton protested that Mercedes did not stop him, Red Bull did bring Verstappen in and equipped him with soft ones. That left a movie ending, with the two rivals stuck and the Red Bull with new tires… and soft.
And the end of the story arrived. Verstappen was patient enough to wait for the turn 5 braking, the clear point where to overtake, and go ahead to be champion.
Danni Büchner is invited to Sam Dylan's Halloween party. But the "Goodbye Germany" emigrant has no desire for many other party guests. And find clear words.