Sunday December 12th 2021
Safety car madness about to end
Verstappen’s risk makes him a Formula 1 world champion
For a long time at the season finale it looks like Lewis Hamilton will still become Formula 1 world champion. But then there is a safety car phase shortly before the end of the race – Max Verstappen uses this to change tires. And this advantage brings him past Hamilton in the last few meters.
In a crazy World Cup final, Max Verstappen snatched the World Cup crown from his rival Lewis Hamilton in the last few meters and won the World Cup for the first time. When his chances in the final thriller in Abu Dhabi on Sunday were as good as gone, the Dutchman used two safety car phases and became the 34th world champion in history with a splendid race to catch up. “Oh my god, I can’t believe it,” shouted Verstappen over the radio on the desert night of Abu Dhabi.
The 24-year-old Dutchman destroyed Hamilton’s hope for his eighth title with his adrenaline ride – the 36-year-old Briton remains with seven like Michael Schumacher. It was a year of borderline experience. Formula 1 steered through the next Corona season – and in Verstappen vs. Hamilton it found the most breathless title duel in years. In the 259 days since the start of the season in Bahrain, the exceptional drivers fought hard on the tarmac – including on the Yas Marina Circuit.
Poison was sprayed between the Dutch premature tire, the youngest Grand Prix winner in Spain in 2016 at the age of 18 and 228 days, and the Formula 1 flagship from England. Silverstone, Monza, Jeddah – there was also a crash between Verstappen and Hamilton. Before the final, there was a high risk of escalation: Will Verstappen crash his way to the first title? The starting point was clear: If both drivers fail with the same points, the Red Bull man would be world champion for the first time due to the higher number of victories this season. “In 10 or 20 years, people will look back at this World Cup and remember it – me too,” said Verstappen of the duel.
For the first time since 1974, two drivers raced tied for the final. Verstappen even raised the tension level with his fable pole on Saturday, Hamilton lurked directly behind it. Then this start of the British! Hamilton literally shot away, Verstappen only rolled slowly – a tenth of a second in the reaction time was decisive after the red lights went out. On the first lap at turn six, the Dutchman attacked at the limit, braked extremely late and left his rival no place. The Englishman had to leave the course. First, Verstappen complained that Hamilton had left the track. Then Hamilton complained that Verstappen had pushed him out. “That’s unbelievable”, Verstappen grumbled. He did not feel that he was complicit and took refuge in the role of victim.
After a brake flat in qualifying, Verstappen started the race with the softest tire compound. Although this is faster, it also degrades faster. Hamilton had the more durable medium on the Mercedes. Verstappen knew: now everything speaks against him. “We are all a bit shocked,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner indignantly to the decision of the race management not to investigate the fast crash.
The many orange fans in the stands got quieter and quieter. Because after the botched start of your PS star, the tires also dropped – not surprisingly. The plan to get a head start with the Softs failed completely. On lap 14, Verstappen was the first to change rubbers and switched to the hardest compound. Mercedes reacted one lap later, although Hamilton could have continued to drive. A safety pit stop – just not giving the opponent any possible tactical advantage. Hamilton now had Perez’s escort in front of him. For almost two laps, the Mexican held up hard against it, costing the Mercedes man around six seconds before he took the lead again. “Checo is a legend,” praised Verstappen over the radio.
Now the Dutchman was only a second behind Hamilton, who was then able to pull away again. Then a virtual safety car. Red Bull took a risk. Verstappen got a new medium in lap 37 – but Hamilton stayed outside. His lead was only 17 seconds. And this one melted! But not too quickly. In lap 53 of 58 now the safety car phase. Verstappen got the fastest rubbers – Hamilton was not brought in again. “That’s unbelievable, folks,” grumbled the Briton, whose voice was no longer as firm and relaxed as usual over the last few kilometers. After the race was released, Verstappen sat in an incredible duel ahead of Hamilton. The title!