Despite Lewis Hamilton losing out in the 2021 F1 World Drivers' Championship battle, prominent bookmakers Paddy Power have opted to pay out for punters who bet on the seven-time World Champion adding to his tally at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Mercedes driver Hamilton led the majority of the race, before a late Safety Car gave Red Bull's Max Verstappen the chance to gamble on a fresh set of tyres. With Race Control bringing in the Safety Car with a lap to go, and clearing lapped cars out of the way of Verstappen, Hamilton lost the race win and the title as a result as Verstappen stormed past on the final lap. The controversial ending sparked uproar, with Mercedes lodging protests in the immediate aftermath of the race due to the nature of how the Safety Car period ended. Both appeals were thrown out, with Mercedes ultimately opting against an appeal.
"A rogue decision"
Such a result would normally have gamblers holding their head in their hands at the huge change in fortune, but Paddy Power elected to shell out for both drivers as they branded the season finale a "sporting injustice". "Max Verstappen needed a miracle to win, and one duly arrived in the form of a dodgy decision from the race organisers who appeared to rip up the rulebook and go rogue for the final lap of the race," read a statement on their website. "We have decided to pay out on both Max Verstappen AND Lewis Hamilton to win the World Drivers' Championship. "And, for good measure, we've paid out on both Verstappen and Hamilton to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix too." "Consider justice served," concluded the message.
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