A season to remember
A tense and thrilling 2021 Formula One season ends in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen entering the finale level on points. It has been one of the best seasons in F1 history. Hamilton eyes a record eighth title to move ahead of Michael Schumacher. But the risk-taking Verstappen’s incredible speed gives him a real shot at title No. 1. Here’s some highlights from the season:
Business as usual: Hamilton wins the Spanish Grand Prix in early May for a third win in four races to lead Verstappen by 14 points.
Monaco mishap: It goes wrong for Hamilton and right for Verstappen in Monaco. The Dutchman secures an excellent win to take a championship lead for the first time. Hamilton finishes seventh.
Blown tire, blown chance:
Verstappen looks imperious at the Azerbaijan GP but keeps pushing for fastest laps instead of nursing his lead. With four laps left he crashes after a blown tire. Surely this gifts Hamilton the title lead? Not so. From the restart, Hamilton makes an astonishing error by switching his brakes off and goes straight off track. Neither score points.
Silverston shake-up: The season turns upside down in a flash. Verstappen takes pole to put Hamilton under massive pressure. Another victory for Verstappen will stretch his lead to 40. Verstappen gets away from pole but Hamilton draws on all his speed to stay with him heading into Copse and tries to overtake. Hamilton clips Verstappen and sends him crashing.
Farcical finish: One of the most bizarre races in F1 history ends with Verstappen crawling at snail’s pace behind a safety car for a few laps on a circuit drenched by hours of heavy rain. After it restarted nearly three hours late, the race is shortened to last one hour with only half points awarded to the winner. Pole-sitter Verstappen needed to complete only two laps to earn 12.5 points.
Monza Mayhem: Tensions boil over. As Hamilton and Verstappen fight for position, their cars collide. In a terrifying scene Verstappen’s car lurches up and lands on top of Hamilton’s Mercedes.
Russian delight, Turkish frustration: The Russian GP ends with late drama as rain lashes down and Norris slides everywhere on the wrong tires. Hamilton passes him for a record-extending 100th win and reclaims the lead by two points. But Verstappen drives well from the back and profits from the chaos to finish second. He takes the lead back at the Turkish GP.
Back in control: Verstappen wins under pressure from Hamilton in the United States and dominantly in Mexico to move 19 points ahead heading to Brazil. Then everything changes again in Sao Paulo, where Hamilton produces some superb driving.
Abu Dhabi decider: They have 369.5 points each but Verstappen holds the thinnest of advantages. If both fail to finish — or are level on points — the title is Verstappen’s courtesy of race wins: 9-8.