F1’s most up-to-date title battle went to the wire after a titanic duel between Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Hamilton had gained the Brazilian and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix within the lead as much as Abu Dhabi, placing him degree on factors with Verstappen heading into the finale.
Verstappen led on countback (extra victories than Hamilton) nevertheless it was a case of winner takes all on race day.
The race
Verstappen stormed to yet one more breathtaking pole place forward of Hamilton, with McLaren’s Lando Norris in third.
Pink Bull teammate Sergio Perez – who would later play an integral position – certified fourth, whereas the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas solely managed seventh, hampered by an previous energy unit.
Quick ahead to the race, Hamilton made a lightning begin from second on the grid, powering previous Verstappen into Flip 1.
Nevertheless, the battle wasn’t over as Verstappen – who was faster in a straight-line – tried to move Hamilton into the Flip 6 chicane.
Hamilton took evasive motion and was pressured to chop the nook however crucially, retained the lead of the race.
Pink Bull felt aggrieved as Hamilton wasn’t penalised by the stewards, permitting the seven-time champion to dominate the race within the opening levels.
As soon as the primary pit stops performed out, Hamilton discovered himself behind Perez, who was instructed to carry the Mercedes driver up.
The Mexican did to sensible impact, incomes him the title ‘Mexico’s minister of defence’, permitting Verstappen to cut back Hamilton’s 11-second result in simply over one-second.
It wasn’t sufficient although as Mercedes’ race tempo – like in Qatar, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, was too sturdy, giving Hamilton a commanding lead.
Security Automobile adjustments all the pieces
On Lap 53, Nicholas Latifi crashed at Flip 14, bringing out the Security Automobile.
This decreased Hamilton’s 13-second lead over Verstappen however with lapped site visitors between the pair (5 automobiles), the British driver was secure from the Pink Bull, who had simply stopped for recent smooth tyres (Hamilton was nonetheless on the laborious tyres).
The lapped automobiles have been knowledgeable they wouldn’t be allowed to overhaul the Security Automobile and thus give Hamilton an important buffer over Verstappen.
Hamilton was on track to turn into an eight-time champion with the race set to complete behind the Security Automobile.
Nevertheless, on Lap 57, Masi allowed 5 of the seven lapped automobiles to unlap themselves, permitting Verstappen to have a free run at Hamilton.
The race resumed with only one lap remaining, giving Verstappen sufficient time to benefit from his more energizing tyres to take the lead and thus safe the 2021 F1 world championship.
It was a outstanding ending to an unforgettable season however the fallout would quickly start with Toto Wolff complaining to race director Michael Masi over workforce radio through the closing lap and once more, on the finish of the race.
The post-race fallout
Mercedes have been fast to protest the end result, alleging that Verstappen had overtaken Hamilton below the Security Automobile, and Masi failing to comply with the FIA’s sporting rules appropriately.
Verstappen was in the end cleared by the stewards nevertheless it wouldn’t cease there with Mercedes threatening additional enchantment by going to the Worldwide Courtroom of Attraction due to Masi’s ill-handling of the finale.
The purpose of rivalry was that Masi solely allowed a handful of the lapped automobiles to overhaul the Security Automobile reasonably than all of them – as the foundations state.
Nevertheless, forward of the FIA’s prize giving gala, Mercedes withdrew their intention to enchantment as Wolff and Hamilton opted in opposition to attending the ceremony.
The FIA would conduct their very own investigation over the winter, in the end deciding to sack Michael Masi forward of the 2022 F1 season.
It was clear that Masi didn’t comply with the Security Automobile guidelines appropriately however the end result and consequence remained unchanged.
A bitter finish to a legendary F1 season.