Formula 1 fans have had their say on the outcome of the 2021 World Championship, after Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the title in controversial circumstances. Hamilton had controlled the majority of Sunday's race in Abu Dhabi after passing Verstappen at the start, but the encounter was turned on its head in the closing laps by a Safety Car period to cover Nicholas Latifi's crash. Verstappen took the opportunity to pit for new Soft tyres, while Hamilton stayed out on old Hards, amid uncertainty as to whether the race would restart. As the laps ticked down, several lapped cars that sat between the pair were initially told to hold position, only to be released by Race Director Michael Masi moments before the Safety Car peeled back in with a lap to go. Verstappen thus closed up on the rear of Hamilton for the restart and stormed past his rival to take the chequered flag and secure the title.
Verstappen, Hamilton or both?
After the race, RacingNews365.com opened up a poll for readers to get their views on who they felt deserved the title. Over the course of the season, 10 pole positions and 10 victories to Hamilton's five poles and eight wins. At the time of publication, 43 percent of voters backed Verstappen as the worthy title winner, compared to 38 percent for Hamilton. According to the remaining share of 19 percent, both drivers deserved to win. Mercedes lodged two separate post-race protests, one against Verstappen and the other against the result of the Grand Prix - relating to unlapped cars and the procedures under the Safety Car. Both protests were dismissed by the stewards, but Mercedes have stated their intention to appeal, with the wait going on to find out whether this will be pursued .
Most read
