MAX CROWNED AFTER ROLLERCOASTER FINALE
Max Verstappen laconically reflected on Mercedes’ decision to protest – on two separate grounds – his victory in the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which handed him world title glory over Lewis Hamilton on the road: “It sums up the season a little bit.” But considering all that the race contained, the 90 minutes of action around the Yas Marina track were really the entire season in microcosm.
There was a passing controversy involving the title contenders, Red Bull and Mercedes furious with the FIA at separate points, amazing racing between Hamilton and Sergio Perez, tyre tactics and silly crashes. It really had all we’d seen before, plus new episodes that will live forever in F1’s memory and will be hotly debated in person, on the toxic wastelands of social media and, surely, in the courtroom.
It was a race of nine chapters, with one in particular proving pivotal in how the race – and championship – ultimately turned out.
CHAPTER 1 – THE START
By qualifying on pole thanks to a brilliant Q3 performance, but having to start on the soft tyres due to a seemingly needless Q2 lock-up, Verstappen’s pre-race circumstances actually had him at an advantage for the start with the grippier Pirellis. But he not only reacted slower to the lights than Hamilton, but he immediately entered a wheelspin phase as he accelerated through his lowest two gears. That meant Hamilton was able to quickly pull alongside the Red Bull from second, and easily sealed the lead at the left-hand first corner.
Verstappen’s soft rubber was, however, still a crucial factor, since he was able to feel the
