Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton to win maiden F1 world title after final lap drama

Max Verstappen is the new Formula 1 world champion after beating Lewis Hamilton at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, ON THE FINAL LAP!

The Dutchman and the Briton have been going hammer and tongs all year and it was right that we came into this Grand Prix with them level on points in the standings, after a campaign of high drama, brilliant speed and pulsating rivalry.

Suitably, the top two were one and two on the grid at lights out, and it was Verstappen who would cross the finish line first but only after a late, dramatic Safety Car call that allowed him to close up to Hamilton and overtake him on totally fresh tyres, on the very last lap.

Much has been made this year of the Dutchman going for his first-ever title and how he would deal with the pressure, particularly up against one of the all-time greats in Hamilton, but in fairness to him he has kept his composure more often than not and, when the stakes were at their highest, he produced the goods.

He now writes himself into the history books of Formula 1, and it seems a pretty good bet that this will be by no means be his last championship before the end of his career, which could be over a decade away.

Of course, Hamilton will come again in 2022, joined by George Russell, and the likes of Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc will want to engage in the fight as well but, with Verstappen now an affirmed world champion, the confidence he'll have will mean he'll take some stopping.

Full race report to follow...

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