The 22nd and last GP of the season will therefore be decisive.

The stake: a first world title for the 24-year-old Dutchman, an eighth for the 36-year-old Briton, which would be a record.

The fastest of the final to come will be sacred, unless ... if they still finish with a tie on points (which is unlikely but possible).

In this case, Verstappen would be titled with the benefit of his 9 victories, against 8 for his rival.

The last time the final GP was decisive was in 2016 and the German Nico Rosberg was crowned ahead of Hamilton, his teammate at Mercedes.

The Saudi round (the first in the history of F1), run at night on the Jeddah street circuit, could have turned out quite differently: Verstappen could be crowned if he carried at least 8 to 26 lengths his lead in the lead of the championship.

On the contrary, a victory with the best lap point could allow the Briton from Mercedes to level the standings if Verstappen finished second.

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix results and driver and manufacturer rankings Laurence SAUBADU AFP

Incredible but true, it is this second scenario which occurred, to offer a fight with suspense - and at daggers drawn - until the end.

Risk of sanction for Verstappen

The Finnish Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) completes the podium of a GP with countless twists and turns (three starts, two red flags and a new collision between Verstappen and Hamilton that the marshals must study after the race, with the risk of a penalty for the first).

Bottas finished only one tenth ahead of Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 4th.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) completes the Top 5, followed by Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari), Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) and Briton Lando Norris (McLaren), who closes the Top 10.

Drivers Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) wheel to wheel during the Saudi Arabian GP in Jeddah, December 5, 2021 Giuseppe CACACE AFP

We deplore no less than five withdrawals (Sebastian Vettel, Sergio Pérez, George Russell, Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin) following trips off the track and clashes.

The Saudi Arabian GP will return on March 27, 2022. By now hosting F1, like more and more major sporting and cultural events, the Kingdom is continuing its campaign to improve its image internationally and diversify its oil economy .

His detractors accuse him of "sportwashing", that is to say of using these meetings to make people forget his breaches of human rights.

Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), during his victory in the first Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix, on December 5, 2021 at the Jeddah circuit Giuseppe CACACE AFP

Hamilton and Vettel took the opportunity to express their support for the LGBT + community by wearing rainbows on his helmet for the first, on his shoes for the second.

© 2021 AFP