The 2021 Formula 1 season saw Dutchman Max Verstappen win his first world championship title at the age of 24, at the end of a crazy season crowned by a last grand prix that is still controversial weeks after its conclusion. Indeed, during the race in Abu Dhabi, a controversial arbitration decision affecting the course of the race following an incident, has indirectly favored Verstappen who was able to dethrone the English Lewis Hamilton. The latter is probably the greatest driver in the history of F1, and he was so close to an 8th world title synonymous with an absolute record. The 36-year-old Mercedes driver already holds all the other major records possible, but it is the identity of his successor and the scenario that make it so special. For one thing is certain, Verstappen and Hamilton hate each other.
For several years, the young Dutch prodigy of the Red Bull team and the British champion have been clashing on and off the track. Since 2018, the two drivers' rivalry has become a legendary duel like Senna vs Prost or Hunt vs Lauda, and it is in 2021 that it will reach its climax. During the British GP of Silverstone, the 10th of the season, the two men clashed in the race, which led to Verstappen's withdrawal and hospital stay, while Hamilton won and climbed back up in the standings. The Red Bull team was offended to see the frank celebration of the Englishman while his competitor was in hospital. A few races later, at Monza in Italy, a circuit renowned for its speed, the two drivers clashed again; this time both were forced to retire and this time it was Hamilton who was indignant, believing that Verstappen had knowingly caused the accident. As the end of the championship approached, Hamilton was demoted to the end of the grid at the start of the Sao Paulo GP because of a spoiler that was not in conformity with the regulations: at the end of a crazy race, the Englishman caught up with everyone else and even managed to overtake his rival to win the race. The conquest of the title is relaunched, and Hamilton will win the next grand prix in Qatar after Verstappen was in turn penalized before the race. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss, compared this duel to a combat sport, and the tension grew. During the penultimate race, in Saudi Arabia, the tension is maximum and it is Hamilton who signs again a victory in a chaotic GP having seen several incidents having in particular damaged the Dutchman.
For the first time since 1974, two drivers are tied in the standings before the last GP of the season! Some analysts are predicting another clash between the two, since in the event of joint retirements, the Red Bull driver would be the champion because he has won one more GP. We are in Abu Dhabi, and Hamilton leads the race until the 53rd lap. However, an accident led to the introduction of a safety car, temporarily freezing the race, but allowing the Red Bull driver to change his tires. Hamilton, stuck behind the other Red Bull driver, was unable to make a pit stop to change his tires, while Verstappen easily recovered from his own pit stop as the race was slowed by the accident. Some late cars were allowed to overtake the safety car that had returned to the track, but others were not, including Hamilton, which led to confusion and then anger among the Mercedes clan, but also among other drivers. Some teams questioned the timing of the decisions, but the race director seemed overwhelmed. The usual procedure would have been for everyone to be able to take their places before a normal restart, and this would have led to the race ending in groups. Finally, when the race resumed, there was one lap to go, and Hamilton was easily overtaken by his rival on new tires, with Toto Wolff shouting indignantly at the race director on the general radio. Hamilton even spoke of manipulation.
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