Oscar Williamson
After a long 23 race season we finally have a champion of the world, the 23 year old Dutchman Max Verstappen won the world championship on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Although it hasn't been easy to win, being 20 points ahead with 4 races left, Lewis Hamliton was able to equalise at Jeddah. With 5 laps to go Lewis Hamilton was leading by 12 seconds meaning he would be the world champion and retain his fifth title in a row; equalling the world record set by legendary racer Michael Schumacer. Then, at turn 14, Nicholas Latifi crashed bringing out a safety car. Max then pitted for soft compound tires, faster than Lewis’ old hard compound. On lap 57, Michael Massi controversially stated that all lapped cars will not pass the safety car, however changed his mind to, at turn 9, only the lapped cars between Lewis and Max could pass the safety car. This infuriated Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who then went on to say ‘No Mikey, this is so not right’ in retaliation to the decision.
On the final lap Max Verstappen went on to overtake 7 time world champion Lewis Hamilton, to win his maiden world title.
Although, that is not where it all ended. Mercedes launched an appeal against the FIA(federation internationale de l’ automobile) for changing and misinterpreting the rules which stated ALL lapped cars should pass the safety car if it is safe to do so.
The FIA declined this appeal for ‘insufficient evidence’. This made Mercedes launch a second appeal but was shortly shut down.
Max Verstappen has now officially changed his number to number 1 from 33 (which has now been reserved for him for next season).
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