Verstappen sealed a first world title in controversial fashion in Abu Dhabi.
In a tense and competitive season, it came right down to the wire as Verstappen's final lap overtake earned the 24 year old his first title.
Lewis Hamilton was unable to successfully defend the final lap move from the Dutchman, as just like when the 7 time Champion himself won his maiden title, the championship was decided on the final lap of the final race.
In an action packed title decider, the Brit took an early lead as his medium tires proved quicker off the mark than the polesitter Verstappen. However, an opportunistic move at turn 9 saw Verstappen seemingly sneak ahead of Hamilton with the 36 year old finding himself off the track but crucially remaining ahead. With many expecting the Mercedes to be asked to give back the position, Hamilton was allowed to keep his position as Verstappen was adjudged to have forced his rival off the track.
With Lewis in the lead, it was difficult to see a way back into the race for Red Bull. But the importance of teamwork soon became apparent as an excellent job from Red Bull teammate Checo Perez handed Verstappen hope as his deficit to Hamilton decreased to just over 1 second.
But a lack of pace began to show for Red Bull as they opted to pit Max under the virtual safety car with Giovinazzi retiring from his final F1 race. With a fresh set of hard tyres, Max was left to recover a 17 second deficit with the laps dwindling down leaving Red Bull team principal Christian Horner wishing for a miracle.
And with 6 laps remaining and a 12 second deficit to recover, their miracle came as Latifi found himself into the barriers thus prompting a safety car. With doubt over whether the session would resume, Verstappen pitted and put on a set of soft tyres. Verstappen was then given another uphill battle as he found himself behind a trail of lapped cars, who were first instructed not to be un-lapped before that decision was reversed leaving some lapped cars able to un-lap themselves leaving Verstappen's track clear.
With Max and Lewis now side by side and the safety car ending, it was to come down to 1 lap of hard racing much to the disgust of Mercedes team principle Toto Wolff. The Dutchman soon found himself ahead and though Hamilton attempted to fight the position back, his efforts were to be in vain as Max won his, and the Netherlands first World Championship.
In the aftermath of the race, celebrations in the Red Bull camp were contrasted by fury in the Mercedes garages with the Mercedes team launching a double protest for alleged breaches to the FIA's Sporting Regulations which were both rejected by the stewards.
Elsewhere despite having to retire his car, Perez' position in the Drivers Championship was guaranteed as he finished 4th for the second season on the trot. He joined both Williams' and the Alfa Romeo's of Giovinazzi and driver of the day Kimi Raikkonen, who both raced their final Grand Prix's with Giovinazzi going onto Formula E and Raikkonen retiring after 21 wins in 352 F1 races.
The Ferrari of Carlos Sainz rounded off the podium as he ensured a 5th place finish in the Drivers Championship, with teammate Leclerc finishing the race 10th and therefore leaving him unable to better Lando Norris in the Drivers Championship. An Alpha Tauri 4th (Tsunoda) and 5th (Gasly) concluded a contrasting season for the teammates, with Gasly massively outperforming the rookie Tsunoda though the 21 year old bettered Gasly in Abu Dhabi.
Bottas concluded his Mercedes career in 6th as he moves on to Alfa Romeo next season. Norris bettered Leclerc as his 7th place finish ensured a 6th place finish in the standings. Alonso and Ocon finished 8th and 9th respectively as Alpine edged Alpha Tauri to a 5th place finish in the Constructors Championship.
Verstappen calls the win a 'miracle':
“I just had to keep believing in it, and sometimes miracles happen,” he said. “Lewis is an amazing driver, an amazing competitor. We had some tough times but that’s part of the sports and its emotion.”
Horner gives rare credit to the stewards:
“That just about sums up this year I think,” he said. “Thank you Nicholas Latifi for that safety car! We felt hard done-by from the stewards early in the race but credit to them for getting the race back underway.”
“This championship came down to the last lap and a great strategy call to take the softs. The stewards called it right.”
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