Verstappen is champion as controversial last-lap call leaves Mercedes seething
Max Verstappen has won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and clinched the 2021 Formula 1 world championship in a sensational conclusion to the season.
Abu Dhabi GP
Race Results
Pos No Driver Car Laps Time Gap Retirement Pts
1 33 Max Verstappen Red Bull-Honda 58 1:30:17.345s - 26
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 58 1:30:19.601s 2.256s 18
3 55 Carlos Sainz Jr Ferrari 58 1:30:22.518s 5.173s 15
4 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri-Honda 58 1:30:23.037s 5.692s 12
5 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri-Honda 58 1:30:23.876s 6.531s 10
6 77 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 58 1:30:24.808s 7.463s 8
7 4 Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes 58 1:31:16.545s 59.200s 6
8 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine-Renault 58 1:31:19.053s 1:01.708s 4
9 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault 58 1:31:21.371s 1:04.026s 2
10 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 58 1:31:23.402s 1:06.057s 1
11 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin-Mercedes 58 1:31:24.872s 1:07.527s
12 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren-Mercedes 57 1:30:20.926s 1 Lap
13 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin-Mercedes 57 1:30:25.327s 1 Lap
14 47 Mick Schumacher Haas-Ferrari 57 1:30:25.947s 1 Lap
15 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull-Honda 55 1:24:12.571s 3 Laps
dnf 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams-Mercedes 50 1:16:55.491s 8 Laps Retirement
dnf 99 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 33 50:20.298s 25 Laps Retirement
dnf 63 George Russell Williams-Mercedes 26 41:10.855s 32 Laps Retirement
dnf 7 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 25 39:23.611s 33 Laps Retirement
dns 9 Nikita Mazepin Haas-Ferrari 0 Physical
Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen 1:26:103s
Here is the Championships Standings after the Abu Dhabi GP:
World Championships Standings
Driver Standings
Pos Driver Total
1 Max Verstappen 395.5
1 Lewis Hamilton 387.5
3 Valtteri Bottas 226
4 Sergio Perez 190
5 Carlos Sainz Jnr 164.5
6 Lando Norris 160
7 Charles Leclerc 159
8 Daniel Ricciardo 115
9 Pierre Gasly 110
10 Fernando Alonso 81
11 Esteban Ocon 74
12 Sebastian Vettel 43
13 Lance Stroll 34
14 Yuki Tsunoda 32
15 George Russell 16
16 Kimi Raikkonen 10
17 Nicholas Latifi 7
18 Antonio Giovinazzi 3
19 Mick Schumacher 0
19 Robert Kubica 0
19 Nikita Mazepin 0
Constructor Standings
Pos Team Total
1 Mercedes 613.5
2 Red Bull 585.5
3 Ferrari 323.5
4 McLaren 275
5 Alpine 155
6 AlphaTauri 142
7 Aston Martin 77
8 Williams 23
9 Alfa Romeo 13
10 Haas 0
Mercedes’ protest ‘sums up the season’ says new champion Verstappen
Max Verstappen says Mercedes’ protest over the restart at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix “sums up” the often controversial 2021 season.
Verstappen’s last-lap pass “a wonderful way to win the championship” – Horner
Christian Horner heaped praise on Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s first world champion for eight years, after the last-lap pass on Lewis Hamilton which won him the championship.
Mercedes gave “absolutely everything” in championship defeat – Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes gave “absolutely everything” in pursuit of the world drivers’ championship in 2021 after Max Verstappen denied him on the final lap of the season.
Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi win and title thrown in doubt as Mercedes lodge two protests
Mercedes have launched two protests following a controversial end to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which saw Max Verstappen deny Lewis Hamilton the world championship with a last-lap pass following a Safety Car period.
Mercedes seal record eighth consecutive constructors title as Hamilton misses driver’s crown
Mercedes have won the Formula 1 constructors championship for the eighth year in a row, extending their record.
“Finally a bit of luck for me” says new champion Verstappen after stunning finale
Max Verstappen says his luck finally turned at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, giving him the chance to clinch the world championship.
Title fight will be “hard but very clean” after race director’s warning to drivers – Wolff
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will not be “pushing anybody off or hitting anybody” in today’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following the warning over unsporting conduct issued before the weekend, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes.
Norris should “do the same as always” in race with title contenders – Seidl
Lando Norris should stick to his instincts and not over-think any potential interaction with championship rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in today’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, says his team principal.
Mazepin to miss Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after positive Covid test
Nikita Mazepin will not participate in today’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after testing positive for Covid on Sunday.
Turn five could be best spot for overtaking at revamped Yas Marina – Alonso
Drivers have tempered expectations that the revamped Yas Marina circuit will allow for more exciting wheel-to-wheel action in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris: race director’s lapped cars decision ‘was for TV’
Lando Norris says the decision by FIA race director Michael Masi to allow only a limited number of drivers to unlap themselves behind the safety car late in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was “for the TV” spectacle.
Verstappen cleared of overtaking Hamilton under Safety Car, one protest remains
The stewards have dismissed Mercedes’ protest that Max Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton under Safety Car before the restart of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.