Within the Driver’s Seat: One in all closest title battles in historical past ends in confusion, controversy, Formulation One Information & High Tales

Lewis Hamilton went into the ultimate race of one of the vital controversial seasons of F1 believing he was combating a Dutchman for his report eighth World Championship title. However in a race that was as contentious as something beforehand seen the result was finally selected the final racing lap of the 12 months – by a Canadian and an Australian.

It started with one other close to collision between Hamilton and arch-rival Max Verstappen. The latter had taken a surprising pole place, however was compelled to start out on the softer Pirelli tyres after flat-spotting considered one of his mediums. Hamilton, in opposition to expectations, grabbed the lead on his harder-compound medium tyres and bought so far as Flip 6 earlier than Verstappen dived for the within. It was a trademark Verstappen transfer, insofar because it was spectacular however relied on anyone else transferring over. Hamilton needed to jink extensive to keep away from a collision and run throughout the nook because of this. Contentiously, the stewards determined he didn’t want to present the place again, as Verstappen needed to for a barely completely different transfer in Jeddah the earlier week, as a result of he had been compelled to go extensive quite than doing so intentionally.