As Max Verstappen battled the torrent of emotions coursing through him after winning his first Formula 1 world title, one word kept kept coming to his lips: “Insane.”
It seemed an appropriate way to describe not only a remarkable see-sawing race, in which Lewis Hamilton seemed on course to win an eighth world title only to have it wrenched from his grasp in highly contentious circumstances right at the end, but the whole 2021 championship itself.
“It just summed up the whole season,” Verstappen said, “which is completely unpredictable and crazy.”
Abu Dhabi, a circuit renowned for producing soporific grands prix over the years, served up a race brimming with controversy, in which the rancour and ill-feeling that has grown between the Mercedes and Red Bull teams spilled over both during the race and after it.
The race ended with intense controversy – about whether the rules had been correctly followed when it was restarted for one final racing lap with Hamilton a sitting duck on old tyres, a lap that turned the world championship upside down.
It was a bad-tempered way to end what had become an increasingly bad-tempered season.
There was another aggressive overtaking move by Verstappen on the first lap that led to more controversy. Hamilton went off track to avoid him as the Dutchman dived deep into the first chicane, but the Briton was allowed to keep the position.
Red Bull complained about that, but race director Michael Masi shrugged them off, saying Verstappen had forced Hamilton off the track and any advantage gained had been given back.
As the race developed it became increasingly apparent that Hamilton had far too much pace for Verstappen to have any hope of catching up again in a straight fight.
A virtual safety car gave Red Bull hope, allowing them a free pit stop for fresher tyres. But it made little difference – the gap between Hamilton and Verstappen merely stabilised rather than growing every lap, and Hamilton appeared to be driving to the title.
But then Williams’ Nicholas Latifi crashed with five laps to go. A safety car was deployed and Verstappen pitted again for fresh tyres.
Mercedes dared not. If Hamilton had stopped, it would have cost them the lead, as Verstappen, behind him, would almost certainly have stayed out. Verstappen’s tyres were still relatively fresh after his second pit stop and the idea of trying pass him with the title on the line and knowing that if both cars crashed out Verstappen would be champion understandably did not appeal.
Hamilton would most likely not have been able to get by again. Plus, it was far from clear that the race would restart. Mercedes had no choice but to hang on in front and hope for the best.
Hamilton immediately realised the potential consequences – if the race restarted he would be a sitting duck on old tyres with Verstappen right behind him on fresh ones.
