Max Verstappen claimed the win and his first Formula 1 championship in a chaotic ending to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton had led the race quite comfortably throughout after taking the lead at the start, but a Virtual Safety Car had Verstappen closing in before a controversial Safety Car put the Red Bull back on the Mercedes’ tail with one lap to go.
And with fresh soft tyres versus old hards on Hamilton’s car, the Dutchman made a move into Turn 5 before successfully defending on the two long straights to take the chequered flag
Hamilton had to settle for second, with Carlos Sainz capitalising on a late retirement for Sergio Perez to finish third.
Race Review
At the start, it was Hamilton with the better launch to take the lead into Turn 1. Verstappen would then dive down the inside into Turn 6 but the Brit stayed ahead after cutting the chicane.
The stewards though ruled no investigation was necessary because Max had forced the Mercedes wide.
Behind, Perez moved up to third, with Lando Norris losing two places down to fifth behind Sainz.
After losing the start, Verstappen couldn’t live with the pace of Hamilton, pitting on Lap 13 for hard tyres, Lewis responded by stopping a lap later.
The gap increased to eight seconds between the title rivals as the Dutchman was held up behind Sainz for a few laps after his pit-stop.
But he was brought right back into play by Perez who cost Hamilton six seconds by staying ahead on the straights and slowing up in the final sector.
Once ahead of the Mexican, Hamilton was able to pull away again as the Mercedes clearly held an advantage over the Red Bull.
Behind, an apparent brake problem spun Kimi Raikkonen into the run-off area at Turn 6, with the Finn returning to the garage to retire in his final race.
LAP 29/58
Kimi is out ?
His final F1 race finishes early with reported brake issues – and he’s back in the garage #AbuDhabiGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/w1uBe1UbIV
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
George Russell also pulled in after losing drive in his Williams.
Hamilton was then denied n easy drive to an eighth title by a Virtual Safety Car caused by Antonio Giovinazzi retiring at Turn 9.
Both Red Bulls would pit again for hard tyres while Hamilton stayed out, giving Verstappen 20 laps to catch and pass for the championship.
Though Max was faster, Lewis was still able to keep a strong enough pace that he wasn’t gaining quickly enough as the laps ticked down.
A final twist came when Nicholas Latifi crashed at Turn 14 causing a Safety Car, Red Bull responded by pitting Verstappen again for softs.
With a race against time to avoid finishing behind the Safety Car, race director Michael Masi had initially stated lapped cars would not be allowed to overtake.
However, later, he signalled the four cars between Hamilton and Verstappen could overtake, ensuring a battle on the final lap.
That extraordinary final lap of the 2021 title race in full ?#AbuDhabiGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/kknTMDfpAF
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
And Max duly capitalised on his substantial tyre advantage, passing for the lead at Turn 5 and holding on to take the win and become the first Dutch world champion and first non-Mercedes driver to win the title in the hybrid era.
Hamilton came home a disappointing second, but Mercedes did secure the Constructors’ Championship for an eighth straight year.
Perez had been on course for third but was forced to retire behind the Safety Car promoting Sainz into third for Ferrari.
Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly made late stops for soft tyres work as they claimed fourth and fifth in the AlphaTauris, ahead of Valtteri Bottas in a disappointing final race for Mercedes.
Norris had gearing issues en route to seventh, with the two Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso eighth and ninth.
Charles Leclerc was 10th. Sebastian Vettel secured the award for most overtakes during the season in 11th, Daniel Ricciardo was 12th.
Lance Stroll was 13th, just ahead of Mick Schumacher, who passed Latifi moments before the Canadian’s race-shifting crash.
Both Williams and both Alfa Romeo’s retired, while Nikita Mazepin didn’t take part after testing positive for Covid-19.
And with that, history was made by Verstappen, although Mercedes are currently protesting the results due to the controversial decisions by Masi during the late Safety Car.
Let’s look forward to it all beginning again next March in Bahrain!
A title battle we will never forget
Thank you#AbuDhabiGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/aDYvg00KuQ
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021