Verstappen out to prove 2021 F1 title was no fluke

Much like Barry Bonds’ single-season and all-time home run records, Max Verstappen’s 2021 world driving championship in Formula 1 was viewed with a jaundiced eye in some corners. Though in this case, banned substances weren’t part of the equation.

At the ‘21 season finale, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the cars between race leader Lewis Hamilton’s No. 44 Mercedes and Verstappen’s No. 1 Red Bull were pulled from the track on the last lap. This enabled Verstappen, on fresh tires, to execute a pass of defending series champion Hamilton, on bald tires, and win his first F1 title.

That led to accusations by Hamilton and Mercedes that the outcome had been manipulated by then-FIA race director Michael Masi, who was then fired following an investigation into the Abu Dhabi decision-making, and calls from F1 fans that the 24-year-old Dutch driver be stripped of his championship.

But a look at the season stats bolsters the argument that perhaps Verstappen was deserving of the title. He had more wins than Hamilton (10 to eight), poles (10 to five), far more laps led (652 to 297) and a better average finish position (1.84 to 2.76). And as Red Bull Team principal Christian Horner asserts, Verstappen was the victim of bad luck in Azerbaijan, Hungary and Silverstone.

As for Verstappen, he was largely oblivious to the controversy and remains focused on racing and defending his title.

He and Hamilton will again duke it out when they vie in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – a race that Hamilton won last year – the morning of Sunday, March 27, on ESPN.