Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), was proclaimed this Sunday, for the first time, Formula One world champion, after winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit, the last of the year; that his great rival, the English Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) finished second and the Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), third.
Verstappen, 24, who started from pole position, became the first driver from the Netherlands to win the World Cup and the first to do it with a Honda engine since he did it for the last time in 1991 and with a McLaren the Brazilian myth Ayrton Senna, who won three World Cups for Brazil.
Hamilton led the race until, with five laps to go, the accident of Canadian Nicholas Latifi (Williams) caused the safety car to enter the track. The race was relaunched in the absence of a twist and Verstappen overtook the seven-time world champion and clinched his first title.
Mercedes had to settle for winning the Constructors’ World Cup for the eighth time in a row, in a race that the other Red Bull, the Mexican Sergio Pérez, abandoned at the end, when the safety car had entered the track.
Finishing third this Sunday, Sainz signed his sixth podium in F1, his fourth with Ferrari; and rose two places to finish fifth in the World Cup, the best result of his entire career.
PALMARÉS
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
Michael Schumacher (ALE) 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004
Juan Manuel Fangio (ARG) 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957
Alain Prost (FRA) 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1993
Sebastian Vettel (ALE) 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013
Max Verstappen (NED) 2021
MAX VERSTAPPEN. WORLD CHAMPION!!!
A stunning season by an extraordinary talent#HistoryMade # F1 @Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/FxT9W69xJe
– Formula 1 (@ F1) December 12, 2021
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
