He became the 34th champion in the history of Grand Prix racing since its inception in 1950
The "last lap" gives Verstappen the Formula 1 world championship in Yas Marina
Verstappen became the first Dutch driver to win the world title, and the 34th champion in the history of the Formula 1 championship, which began in 1950. Photo by Patrick Castillo
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The final lap of the "Etihad Airways Grand Prix" at Yas Marina Circuit, yesterday, gave Dutch driver Max Verstappen the "Red Bull-Honda" team title, the Formula 1 World Championship, after Verstappen succeeded in taking the lead in the last meters from his rival. Briton Lewis Hamilton, and crossed the finish line of the race, which extended for 55 laps, in first place, with a time of 30 minutes 17 seconds and 345 parts of a second.
Hamilton paid a heavy tax to the mistakes of his "Mercedes" team, by not replacing his tires, which made him lose the lead in the race in the last corners, and content himself with second place, 2.25 seconds behind the winner Verstappen, in a position that was enough to waste the dream of the eighth title in history for British Hamilton with the world title.
Spain's Carlos Sainz finished third for the Ferrari team, after he finished the race 5.17 seconds behind the leader Verstappen.
Verstappen became the first Dutch driver to win the Formula 1 world champion and the 34th historical champion in the championship that began for the first time in 1950.
His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court and member of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, was crowned, accompanied by Mohammed Ali Al-Sharfa, President of Etihad Airways, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and CEO of Abu Dhabi Oil Company “ADNOC” Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, and President of the Emirates Automobile Club Mohammed Bin Sulayem, the champions of the race and the winning team.
Verstappen took advantage of the safety car entering the circuit five laps before the end, following the violent collision of Canadian Nicholas Latifi, the Williams team driver, which allowed the Dutchman to change his strategy in crucial moments and enter the pit stop and use the softer tires "Soft", which With the safety car out before the start of the last lap, it allowed him to catch up with the British race leader Lewis Hamilton, overtake him at the sixth corner, take the lead in the race, cross the finish line in first place, and win the world championship.
The start of the race was disappointing for Dutchman Verstappen, after his poor start from first opened the door for his rival, Hamilton, to overtake him at the first corner, a lead that Hamilton managed to boost quickly by recording fast laps that gave him a comfortable five-second difference with the entry into the race on his 12th lap. What forced the "Red Bull-Honda" team to change its strategy quickly and call its driver Verstappen in the next lap to enter early to the pit pit and replace his tires, prompting the "Mercedes" team to respond quickly on lap 14 and call Hamilton to enter and change his tires, in a plan that paid off especially After Hamilton managed, despite the strong competition with the second driver of the Mexican "Red Bull-Honda" team, Sergio Beers, to regain the lead that he maintained until the last laps, which recorded the "Mercedes" team making a mistake by not calling Hamilton to enter and replace his tires with the entry of the safety car. , which allowed Verstappen to gain the advantage and snatchthe win.
Dutch champion Verstappen described the "Yas Marina" race and snatching the victory and the title of world champion as "unbelievable", and Verstappen said in press statements: "I waited for this matter for many years, before I was able to this circuit, which I won last year, to transform the dream." To a reality in 2021, and to become a world champion.”
He added: "The team did a fantastic job, and I thank the team engineers for the great strategies, and I thank my colleague Sergio Peres for the great effort he put in during the race and hindering Hamilton in crucial stages."
He concluded: "I thank the great fans who supported me from the stands of the circuit, especially those coming from abroad to attend the final race and stand behind me, and I promise them to do more next season, with the aim of defending my title as a world champion."
• 2.25 seconds, the difference between Hamilton and Verstappen, winner of the race title.
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