Max Verstappen wins F1 title from Lewis
Hamilton in last lap finish after Mercedes'
protests rejected
Telegraph [London, UK],
by
Tom Cary
Original Article
Posted By: Hazymac,
12/12/2021 5:12:56 PM
Formula 1 could be set for a messy and protracted legal battle after Mercedes vowed on Sunday night to appeal the result of a chaotic season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and have Lewis Hamilton installed as F1 world champion instead of Red Bull’s race winner Max Verstappen.
Verstappen, 24, was formally confirmed as the Netherlands’ first ever champion on Sunday night. But only five hours after the race had ended, and only after Mercedes had had two separate protests thrown out by the stewards.
Mercedes informed the FIA late on Sunday of their intention to appeal
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Hazymac 12/12/2021 5:22:25 PM (No. 1004920)
Important note: Today was Kimi Raikkonen's record 359th grand prix. Racing fans love the laconic Finn, a world champion in his own right. Kimi doesn't have blood in his veins--he has antifreeze. Have a great retirement, Kimi. We enjoyed watching you race,and hope you'll go out and win at Le Mans, or in rally racing which you love. You had a great career. (Hazymac, who has some Finnish blood, hopes he is related to the great Raikkonen.)
11 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
snowoutlaw 12/12/2021 5:24:40 PM (No. 1004925)
I wanted to read what was up but paywall.
4 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
Hazymac 12/12/2021 5:35:05 PM (No. 1004936)
Re #2: The entire article came up for me, and I'm not a subscriber to The Telegraph.
During the earlier part of the race, Hamilton, who had had the far better start, pulled steadily ahead and got out to about fifteen seconds advantage, which Max's Red Bull Honda didn't appear to have anything for, Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez pulled off some brilliant barely legal moves slowing Hamilton down and letting his teammate catch up. It all played out in the end.
If it ain't Dutch, it ain't much.
2 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
coldborezero 12/12/2021 5:45:58 PM (No. 1004940)
At the end of the 2020 F1 season, I remarked to my girlfriend that someday Max Verstappen would be World Champion. I was right. It is my opinion that Lewis Hamilton is the best F1 driver in history, but when his non-white half took up the bloody banner of the Burn-Loot-Murder terrorist organization, he lost me as a fan. While the Scuderia will always be my team, heartfelt congratulations to Max and Team Red Bull Honda. Outstanding season.
10 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
BeatleJeff 12/12/2021 6:41:48 PM (No. 1005007)
A driver who seemed to have the race in hand loses thanks to a late caution flag? Happens all the time in NASCAR. Ain't never heard of anyone ever suing to overturn a race result. To me, to even consider such an action is the height of sore-loser poor sportsmanship. Is Stacy Abrams somehow involved?
And no, #4, Lewis Hamilton isn't the F1 GOAT. That honor belongs to Michael Schumacher. Hamilton's success is due to him sticking long term with the team that has long had a wide technological advantage over the rest of the field. That dominance is why I lost interest in F1 years ago. It's no fun watching when the outcome is pretty much ordained.
4 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Hazymac 12/12/2021 6:45:18 PM (No. 1005010)
Hamilton really is one of the all time greats, and his career will continue. With Mercedes, he might win more world championships. Max Verstappen might get in the way. So might drivers from McLaren and Ferrari. Their car are improving immensely.
The awesome Porsche 919 Evo, with all of its Le Mans restrictions taken off--1,160 bhp total (720 + 440)--had a victory tour of record laps at the most revered circuits, including the 12.9 mile, 73 turn Nurburgring Nordschleife. One of its unbreakable records was at Spa Francorchamps in 2020: 1:42.5. Unbeatable. Except by Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. Lewis did 1:42.2. Incredible. What a driver.
Simultaneous video. The Porsche was ahead until it reached the top of the racing course. The the F1 car pulled ahead. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVWMC2U_-ig
2 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
Newtsche 12/12/2021 7:20:59 PM (No. 1005038)
Max had the best record this year and should be champion. The points race was closer at the finale than it should have been but that's another subject entirely. I think the hard Max v. Lew battles were in Hamilton's head on his last lap, last ditch dive on Max, Lew kept his shoulder to himself.
Lew seems to be the GOAT but driving a car as dominant as the Merc for all these years does temper Lew's individual accomplishments. He wanted this today and a record setting eighth championship. I think he would have retired, accepted his knighthood (inevitable anyway), and gone his way. Now he'll probably be back for #8 but new teammate George Russell is a whole new wrinkle.
All props to Max and Red Bull, thanks for a legendary season in a series that was floundering.
1 person likes this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
jj1319 12/12/2021 8:07:41 PM (No. 1005073)
Young Max is amazing. Congrats.
2 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
jj1319 12/12/2021 8:12:39 PM (No. 1005076)
(forgot) Thanks, OP.
1 person likes this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
LC Chihuahua 12/12/2021 9:28:01 PM (No. 1005160)
The 2021 racing season is now complete. Both NASCAR and Indy finished earlier. Now have to wait until next year.
Congrats to Max! And to Raikkonen! Hamilton had the race in the bag until a caution at the absolute worst time. Them's the breaks! Not sure why Hamilton did not pit for tires like Verstappen did. Did the caution come out after he passed pit entrance?
1 person likes this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
DVC 12/12/2021 11:57:48 PM (No. 1005251)
Heck of a race, and Mercedes was given a call on the first lap incident that was clearly in their favor, when all year any driver who got an advantage from running off the track had to give the place back. Hamilton kept the place, but late in the race a crash turned the game around. Hamilton didn't pit during the safety car, kept the lead....which required him to keep his 44 lap old tires, while Verstappen took the time delay from a pit stop for new tires. When the wreck was cleared and the first few lapped cars let move thru, the race was restarted with one lap to go. Verstappen was able to pass Hamilton due to the newer tires.
Mercedes [Hamilton] is getting all nasty, having brought a "barrister "(lawyer) with them, apparently planning on causing trouble.
After 22 races, the top two drivers were tied, but Verstappen had more wins, so would be world champion if both drivers went out, and they remained tied.
Big fan of Verstappen, not so much of Hamilton, this year pushed a 'blacks are put upon' message, wore "End Racism" shirts, etc. He's a rich Brit, has been give more than a fair shake for his whole life. Another halfrican, arrogant PITA... but a great driver. Even obnoxious jerks can be top drivers.
4 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Newtsche 12/13/2021 1:02:36 AM (No. 1005292)
FWIW Last week in Saudi Arabia, a bunch of yellow flag/safety car situations took Red Bull off its tire strategy and had Max on well worn (and maybe Hamilton damaged) tires at the end. He couldn't fully compete for the win as a result.
Kinda the opposite in the title decider today, oops.
1 person likes this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
ronniethek 12/13/2021 1:26:34 AM (No. 1005301)
#10- the reason Hamilton did not pit for a tire change as did Max is simple. As the leader in the race had he lifted he would have lost track position and would not have been behind the safety car at the restart. That is the unfortunate disadvantage of being on the lead when the yellow comes out.
3 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
AbingtonJim 12/13/2021 5:31:38 AM (No. 1005378)
Massi screwed the pooch on this one when he first failed to allow lapped cars to pass the safety car and then again when he changed his mind and allowed them to pass, effectively clearing a path for Verstappen. Had he originally done so and followed rule 39.12 in the sporting regulations, Mercedes would have had no reason to complain.
1 person likes this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
5 handicap 12/13/2021 5:59:44 AM (No. 1005387)
I'll bet there are three people in every 100,000,000. who give a damn about this article!
1 person likes this.
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The driver's World Championship was tied 369.5 to 369.5 points with this one race to go. Would Hamilton win his eighth title, or would Verstappen win his first? Without the late race incident that slowed down the field and enabled Verstappen to pass back markers and start the last lap on Hamilton's bumper, Hamilton's Mercedes would have won easily. But it was an exciting race. Here's a recap of the race. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QJ-N-AQJYc&t=371s