Max crowned new F1 champion
MAX VERSTAPPEN secured his maiden World Championship with victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton finished second as the race ended in a nail-biting one-lap sprint after a late Safety Car deployment. The result, which saw Valtteri Bottas finish sixth and Sergio Perez retire, meant MercedesAMG Petronas F1 Team clinched a record eighth consecutive constructors' championship. Medium-tyred Hamilton jumped soft-shod Verstappen at the start, while the Dutchman came back in turn 6, nudging him wide and over the run-off, but the Mercedes driver continued in the lead and was even let go by the stewards. The pits opened when Verstappen came in on lap 13, Hamilton a lap later, leaving Sergio Perez in the lead with the mission to hold off Hamilton. Perez did exactly that, on laps 20 to 21, as he let him past to continue the chase, before pitting on lap 22. The podium looked certain until he retired on lap 56 under a safety car, which was brought out as Nicholas Latifi crashed. During the Safety Car laps, Verstappen pitted for soft tyres, left the race with just one lap of green flag racing remaining, producing another moment in this season. Verstappen did make a pass on Hamilton on lap 5, the decisive move, and while Hamilton attempted to come back towards turn 9, there was nothing to do. History was made, as it was always going to be, and the trophy went to the Dutchman for the first time. Bottas struggled to P6, running as low as eighth, and losing a potential podium spot from fourth to sixth under the final Safety Car lap. Mercedes and Red Bull, therefore, shared the spoils in this incredible seasonending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, fit for a season that will no doubt go down as one of the greatest ever.