Virginie Phulpin 7:25 am, December 13, 2021

Every day, the morning of Europe 1 looks back on one of the sporting events that make the news.

This Monday, Virginie Phulpin looks back on the last Formula 1 Grand Prix which took place this weekend in Abu Dhabi and at the end of which Max Verstappen was crowned world champion on the last lap after being clearly dominated during all the race by Lewis Hamilton.

According to her, the race marshals decide on the 2021 World Champion.

Max Verstappen is Formula 1 world champion. The Dutchman won the title after a last crazy grand prix in Abu Dhabi.

It ends Lewis Hamilton's seven-year reign.

For Virginie Phulpin, the spectacle takes up more space than the sport now in Formula 1.  

Does dramaturgy matter more than sport itself? Formula 1 has obviously chosen its camp. Max Verstappen is a magnificent champion, without question. No one can say that he does not deserve his coronation. His first, at 24, after a breathtaking season. Just like Lewis Hamilton would also have made a very good winner if he had been crowned for the 8th time. Let's not play the counter conspirators, no, the FIA ​​did not choose its champion.

Since yesterday, the supporters of Max Verstappen and those of Lewis Hamilton are fretting by accusing the other of being advantaged. But let's be honest, in the end, each in turn, the two drivers benefited from decisions that were in their direction. During the season, and during this ultimate grand prix in Abu Dhabi. At the start of the race for Hamilton, at the end for Verstappen. The problem is that there is a regulation, and different possible interpretations of that regulation. This limits understanding of the race and can easily give way to accusations of bias.

But the FIA ​​has no interest in advancing either.

What matters to her is the duel between the two drivers, their merciless fight for victory, their competing talents and their enmity which spice up a sport that has returned to the limelight at 300 kilometers per hour.

The spectacle, the scenario, the will to keep everyone in suspense are today the key words of F1.

And that's what we saw at the end of the race, a duel was absolutely necessary to finish the grand prix and the season.

It was long believed that this grand prize was going to be a health walk for Lewis Hamilton. He was at the forefront for 53 laps, and everyone was already seeing him clinch his 8th title. But there was this accident at Latifi, the entry of the safety car, four laps at idle, in total confusion. Orders and counter-orders according to the complaints of each. And finally we let the latecomers pass, we evacuate the safety car and we let Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton explain themselves, on a single lap. Five kilometers to decide who will be the champion. It looks better than a coronation at low speed behind a safety car.

Yes, the race management wanted this dream duel, this final with a knife to conclude a season of madness.

The clerk of the course also recognized that his goal was to offer a finish worthy of the name.

For the public, for the show.

To already give water to the mouth before 2022. It always takes a breathtaking finale in a series to prepare for the following season.

It's a new way of approaching sport.