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Verstappen and Hamilton battle for world title during GP
Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing on the podium after winning the world championship in Formula 1 in the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi on the Yas Marina circuit on December 12, 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. - Credit: Remko de Waal / ANP - License: All Rights Reserved
Sports
Max Verstappen
Formula 1
Abu Dhabi
Grand Prix
Yas Marina
Lewis Hamilton
race car driving
Sunday, 12 December 2021 - 15:55
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Max Verstappen crowned first Dutch Formula 1 world champion

Max Verstappen took home the Formula 1 world championship during the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. The 24-year-old is the first Dutch race car driver to take home the world title.

In the end, it went right down to the *very* end

Max Verstappen passes Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the final race of 2021, to claim the title 👀

What a season

What a battle #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/HK6C3pzJru

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021

"It's insane. It's insane. I don't know what to say," Verstappen said in a post-race interview. "Our goal was, of course, to win this championship. And now we've done that," the Red Bull driver said. The Dutch driver surpassed his rival Lewis Hamilton in the final round of the Grand Prix. "Unbelievable. This is crazy," Verstappen said. "I fought the entire race. All of a sudden, I grabbed the chance in the last round.

Despite starting in the pole position, Hamilton overtook Verstappen initially. Hamilton was still ahead of Verstappen after the first series of pit stops.

Verstappen thanked his teammate from Mexico, Sergio Pérez, who prevented Halminton from reaching the leading position in the 20th round on the Yas Marina circuit. "Checo is a legend," Verstappen said. After one round, Hamilton managed to surpass Pérez.

Hamilton dominated the race until the safety car came out five laps before the end, following a crash by Nicholas Latifi. Verstappen was about 12 seconds behind the Mercedes driver at the time.

A title battle we will never forget

Thank you#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/aDYvg00KuQ

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021

The two rivals raced neck to neck in the closing rounds, but Verstappen beat the 36-year-old Brit in the final lap. Hamilton congratulated Verstappen afterward, "Congratulations to Max and his team. I think we did an amazing job this year."

Around 5,000 Dutch supporters witnessed the historic race. Verstappen stepped onto the tribunal with a Dutch flag in his hands, joined by his team captain Christian Horner.

With his Grand Prix prize, Verstappen has won 20 Formula 1 races. He has climbed onto the 16th place in the eternal ranking. He graced the podium a total of 18 times this season, another new record. Verstappen is the first Formula 1 driver who is neither British nor German since Kimi Räikkönen from Finland won the title in 2007. He is the fourth-youngest Formula1 driver to be crowned world champion.

LAP 58/58

Verstappen passes Hamilton on the final lap!

WOW#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Js5BseCwZq

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 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

Reporting by ANP and NL Times

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