An emotional Max Verstappen described his journey to 2021 Formula One world champion as “insane” after he beat rival Lewis Hamilton in a last lap sprint for victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
“It’s just insane,” he said. “My goal when I was little was to be a Formula One driver. You dream of podiums and victories. But when they tell you that you are world champion, it’s incredible.”
Formula 1: Verstappen pips Hamilton to claim title with controversial Abu Dhabi GP win
Verstappen and Hamilton went into the last race level on points and it appeared that the Mercedes driver was going to hang on to win an eighth world title.
The intervention of a safety car four laps from the end, however, gave Verstappen the chance to take on Hamilton in a thrilling last lap charge to the line.
“It’s unbelievable,” said the 24-year-old Verstappen. “Throughout the whole race I kept fighting then there was the opportunity in the last lap, it’s incredible. I don’t know what to say. My team and Honda deserve it.”
Verstappen also thanked his teammate Sergio Perez, who played a key part in the win, and his Red Bull team.
“Finally a bit of luck for me. I also want to say thank you to Checo (Perez), he’s been a brilliant team-mate. My team know I love them. I hope we can do this for 10, 15 years together.
“I don’t want to change ever. I want to stay with them for the rest of my life, if they will have me. I’m so happy. Our goal was to win this championship when we came together and now we have done that.”
The race marked the end of an epic contest with seven-time champion Hamilton which has seen the two tangle on the track and off it.
“Lewis is an amazing driver, such a competitor. We had some tough times, that’s sport, everyone wants to win.”
Here are reactions to Vertstappen’s win:
#AbuDhabiGP
— The Field (@thefield_in) December 12, 2021
"Max Verstappen, for the first time ever, is champion of the world"
What a crazy finish!
🎥 F1 pic.twitter.com/ISFITBgFyu
The last stops of 2021.#Fit4F1 #F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/X0CVwaPhrO
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) December 12, 2021
Witnessing history live in #AbuDhabiGP #f1jp #MaxVerstappen pic.twitter.com/vKD0o8b88d
— Dubz Talk (@DubzTalk) December 12, 2021
A title battle we will never forget
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
Thank you#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/aDYvg00KuQ
There are no words.
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 12, 2021
Hugely controversial end to the #AbuDhabiGP as confusion over lapped cars being not allowed - then allowed - to overtake behind Safety Car hands the title to @Max33Verstappen #F1
— James Allen (@Jamesallenonf1) December 12, 2021
"Thanks kid."
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) December 12, 2021
Throwback to when Michael Schumacher met a young fan called Max Verstappen. pic.twitter.com/Wkk5M5hF8h
A touching moment as Max and Jos Verstappen are congratulated by Lewis Hamilton's father, Anthony 👊#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/5n2uaLrfr2
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
A lot of not very happy people. And a lot of very happy people. This is a new way of running the sport where the Race Director can make these ad hoc decisions. Its been a bit too 'guess what I'm going to do now' I think. #f1
— Damon Hill (@HillF1) December 12, 2021
Verstappen is the first non-Mercedes driver to win the title in the V6 hybrid era as well as the first non British or German driver to win the title since Raikkonen in 2007!#AbuDhabiGP #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) December 12, 2021
Toto Wolff: "You need to reinstate the lap before, that's not right."
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) December 12, 2021
Michael Masi: "Toto, it's called a motor race. We went car racing."
The race director coming in hot there 🔥#F1 #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/AkPyWYOTAb
The only one who has beaten Lewis Hamilton today is Michael Masi. The man is an utter disgrace #F1 #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪
— Rob Myers (@RobLMyers) December 12, 2021
1 ball 6 required and guess what, Max Verstappen hits it. Unbelievable win #AbuDhabiGP #F1TitleChampionship
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) December 12, 2021
Must be said… to react in such a dignified way says so much about @LewisHamilton !! Fierce competitor, ultimate winner and a gracious loser! 👏🏻 #AbuDhabiGP #f1
— Conor Moore (@ConorSketches) December 12, 2021
Basically Mick Schumacher has saved his father record of 7 titles.
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) December 12, 2021
Mick Schumacher hit Latifi.
Latifi got damage to car, and later on lost control, letting safety car entering.
The rest is history#AbuDhabiGP
"Lewis, the good news is we won the Constructors Championship"#AbuDhabiGP #F1Finale pic.twitter.com/9yhKFDFI8s
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 12, 2021
Lewis was robbed.
— Christian Seeney (@CJSeeney) December 12, 2021
FIA ‘we let them race the last lap’.
Well if Verstappen was quick enough, they would’ve raced the other 57 laps.
Unbelievable. #FormulaOne #AbuDhabiGP
Ricciardo: They said cars can't pass. Then they said that some of them could. I couldn't. Then there was a restart. It was interesting, I was wondering why am I here.#F1 #AbuDhabiGP
— Kunal Shah (@kunalashah) December 12, 2021
Poor Lewis Hamilton, without that world title, he goes back to just being the greatest F1 driver of all time
— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) December 12, 2021
#AbuDhabiGP
Wow the commentators are so subdued. Expect the British media are carving their knives too.
— Jaideep Vaidya (@jaideepjourno) December 12, 2021
No one was saying anything when Hamilton didn’t let Verstappen pass earlier in the race.
But the decision making by the stewards has been bizarre, no doubt. This is not over. #F1
The 2021 #F1 season. #AbuDhabiGP | #F1 pic.twitter.com/2nLMbV1a1R
— The Race (@wearetherace) December 12, 2021
(With inputs from AFP)