Verstappen takes F1 season title
The most dramatic Formula One season in years should have ended with Max Verstappen’s title-deciding pass of Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the United Arab Emirates.
The conclusion instead came nearly five hours after Verstappen became the first Dutch champion in F1 history, when the FIA denied a pair of protests lodged by Mercedes over the controversial finish of the race.
But the messy affair still isn’t over: Mercedes filed for reconsideration to the International Court of Appeal.
Hamilton had what would have been a record eighth title ripped away with five laps left when a crash by Nicholas Latifi triggered the safety car and gave race director Michael Masi a decision. The race could be decided under yellow, or the track could be cleaned for one final lap.
Masi’s decision to go green with a lap to go allowed Verstappen to pass Hamilton in Turn 5 in a stunning conclusion to their title fight.
Kevin Durant scored 51 points in Brooklyn’s 116-104 victory at Detroit, which lost its 12th straight. Also, Durant was fined $25,000 for using multiple expletives toward a fan Friday in Atlanta . ... The Bulls’ Zach LaVine and Troy Brown Jr. entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, giving Chicago nine players on the list. That left the Bulls with nine available players. Teams need eight to play. Chicago’s next game is against Detroit on Tuesday.
Isaiah Reid scored twice, and Clemson beat Washington 2-0 to win the NCAA College Cup soccer title in Cary, N.C . ... Former five-star recruit Quinn Ewers ,a quarterback who skipped his senior year of high school to enroll at Ohio State, committed to transfer to Texas. ... Quarterback Bo Nix said he plans to leave Auburn as a graduate transfer . ... Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson won the Lott IMPACT Trophy as the college defensive player having the biggest influence on his team.
Brittany Bowe of the U.S. won the women’s 1,500 meters at the World Cup speedskating meet in Calgary, Canada, where the American men won the team pursuit.
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