2021 flashback: Wheel-to-wheel title race in Formula One | Racing News – Times of India

The fascinating, at times acrimonious, battle between Hamilton and Verstappen was decided in the last lap of the final race of the season
A new rivalry is brewing at the pinnacle of motorsport. The battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen enthralled fans and left team-owners gasping last season. But more importantly, the two drivers drove themselves into a league of Formula One’s all-time classic duels, bringing back memories of battles fought between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna or the ones between James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
Hamilton came into 2021 with sights trained on a record eighth drivers’ championship. But Verstappen and Red Bull had a surprise up their sleeves. The two title rivals were neck and neck throughout the season and tangled on occasions – most infamously in Copse at Silverstone and the first chicane at Monza. Heated words were exchanged.
“Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behaviour, but we move on,” Verstappen tweeted after the British GP crash. “He’s over the limit, for sure. I’ve avoided collisions on so many occasions.” Hamilton said on another occasion.
Red Bull seemed to have the faster car, but Hamilton was not ready to give up without a fight. His charge through the field at Sao Paulo was perhaps the drive of the season. Brazil had “woken up the lion” in Hamilton, warned his team principal Toto Wolff.
The Mercedes driver was faultless in the later stages as he negated the young challenger’s advantage. And we went into the season finale at Abu Dhabi with nothing to separate the two.
Hamilton had it all under control at the Yas Marina Circuit until Nicholas Latifi crashed his Mercedes-powered Williams on Lap 52 of 58 and that brought out the safety car.
It was a scenario the Silver Arrows dreaded. They breathed a sigh of relief when lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were not let through. But their optimism was replaced by angst as Michael Masi’s hasty decisions led to a one-lap shootout for the title.
Verstappen, on fresher tyres, didn’t need another invitation to pass his rival to emerge the new world champion in unprecedented circumstances.
Hamilton was drained, Wolff furious and the Mercedes garage in disbelief. But let’s not take anything away from Verstappen, who himself was at the receiving end of some inconsistent rulings in 2021.
One has to just look at his numbers to see how worthy a champion the Dutch driver is for F1. The 24-year-old registered most wins (10), led most laps (651) and secured most pole positions (10).
He also set a record for most podiums in a single F1 season (18) in 2021.
But 2022 brings with it new cars and rules that F1 hopes will allow for closer racing and greater overtaking opportunities.