2021 FIA Components One World Champion Pink Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen (R) greets second-placed Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) after the Abu Dhabi Components One Grand Prix on the Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021. Max Verstappen turned the primary Dutchman ever to win the Components One world championship title when he gained a dramatic season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. (Photograph by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP)
Lewis Hamilton was gracious in defeat after Pink Bull rival Max Verstappen ended the Briton’s quest for an unprecedented eighth Components One title with a safety-car aided, last-lap cross for championship glory on the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 36-year-old, who began second alongside pole-sitter Verstappen, appeared to have the race effectively beneath management after seizing the lead into the primary nook and escaping sanction for staying forward by taking to the run-off in an opening-lap battle together with his Pink Bull rival.
Absolutely the class of the sector
18 wins between them in 2021, and so they battled till the final lap of the season ⚔️
The Verstappen-Hamilton rivalry will all the time be remembered#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/BsCqbA5GXm
— Components 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
However a security automotive 5 laps from the top, that handed Verstappen the chance to pit for contemporary tires, turned the race on its head and put an finish to Hamilton’s hopes of changing into the primary driver to win eight world championships.
“Firstly, a giant congratulations to Max and to his crew,” mentioned Hamilton, his eyes moist, after the race.
“I believe we did a tremendous job this 12 months. My crew, everybody again on the manufacturing facility… all of the women and men… have labored so onerous this entire 12 months. It’s been probably the most troublesome of seasons.
“I’m so happy with them, so grateful to be part of the journey with them,” added the Briton, who has gained the title for the final 4 years in a row and ended the season with eight wins to his Pink Bull rival’s 10.
However, at the same time as Verstappen celebrated and Hamilton got here to phrases with defeat, the Briton’s Mercedes crew lodged two safety-car associated protests.
One needed to do with Verstappen pulling up alongside and edging forward of Hamilton; the opposite with the resumption of racing.
Race management initially mentioned the lapped vehicles, appearing as a buffer between Hamilton and Verstappen wouldn’t be allowed to overhaul, a lot to Pink Bull’s frustration.
However they later determined to let solely these vehicles by way of, placing Verstappen proper on Hamilton’s tail for one ultimate flat-out lap, with the Dutchman seizing his probability on his contemporary comfortable tires to cross Hamilton for the lead.
Stewards dismissed each protests. Mercedes lodged their intention to enchantment in opposition to the dismissal of their protest associated to the protection automotive restart.
“We gave it every part, this final a part of the season we gave it completely every part and we by no means gave up,” mentioned Hamilton. “That’s an important factor.”
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