Max Verstappen sensationally and controversially wins F1 Drivers' Championship after safety car drama.
There were absolute scenes on the last lap in Abu Dhabi as Max Verstappen stole the lead from Lewis Hamilton to secure his first-ever Drivers’ Championship. Of course, there was controversy. After Latifi went into the wall on lap 53 and a full safety car was deployed.
With just a couple of laps to go, the wreckage of Latifi’s Williams was cleared from the track, the field bunched as it looked like the race would wind down and potentially finish behind the safety car.
News then started to filter through that the heap of lapped cars would be allowed through, effectively closing the gap between the two. Verstappen, on fresher tyres and on the only lap left in the race, overtook Hamilton to seal the Championship. Take a look at all of the reaction below:
MAX VERSTAPPEN. WORLD CHAMPION!!!
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
A stunning season by an extraordinary talent#HistoryMade #F1 @Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/FxT9W69xJe
Unbelievable. The FIA literally just gave Red Bull the championship. How can they possibly argue that was a fair race? #FormulaOne
— Nico Brice-Bennett (@N_Brice_Bennett) December 12, 2021
‘Lapped cars will not be allowed to overtake’
— Matt Gallagher (@MattyWTF1) December 12, 2021
Actually…
‘Lapped cars will be allowed to overtake’
Michael Masi: pic.twitter.com/KKpYQj4Ju2
Michael Masi's explanation for what happened at the end: "It's called a motor race".
— formularacers (@formularacers_) December 12, 2021
Translation: We don't care if we didn't follow our own procedure, or if we changed our minds at the last minute.
WHAT A COMEBACK!
— ESPN (@espn) December 12, 2021
Max Verstappen holds off Lewis Hamilton to become the first Dutch F1 world champion 🏆 pic.twitter.com/h1IDv8Dr6y
