In one of the most exciting finishes of any Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen somehow managed to win the 2021 F1 drivers’ championship, despite being runner-up for most of the final Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. On race day, the Mercedes driver and seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton led the Abu Dhabi GP from the first corner of the race to the last lap, but after a safety car and some “controversial” instructions from the race management, Max Verstappen did managed to overtake its rival and win both the Abu Dhabi GP and the F1 drivers’ championships in 2021.
Around the 37th lap of the race, however, a virtual safety car was run in after the rubble on the racetrack, allowing Max Verstappen to change his tires. However, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was not happy and asked Michael Masi, the race director, not to introduce any more safety cars into the race. On the FIA radio one could hear Wolff say: “Michael, please no safety car. Do not disturb the race. Please do not.” According to reports, F1 CEO Ross Brawn has now decided to prohibit team principals from speaking to the race director during the race from next season.
| Ross Brawn has announced that as of next season, F1 will prevent team principals from contacting the race director in the middle of the race.
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However, this was not the only incident in which a team boss spoke directly to race management. When the safety car was first introduced for the last lap, the race management decided not to let the lapped cars round out themselves, but later the decision was changed and they were allowed to do so. During this time, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also spoke to race director Masi and questioned the original decision.
Abu Dhabi GP: Max Verstappen wins the first F1 driver championship
Lewis Hamilton led the race for 57 of the 58 laps of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but after a yellow flag and instructions from the race, controls initially said “lapped cars should not overtake the safety car” before allowing it Five cars between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen drive past them and the safety car. The Dutchman, who was on fresher soft tires, easily passed the Briton, who had been driving several laps on used hard compound tires, and Verstappen was the first to cross the finish line to win his first F1 championship. After the “controversial” victory of Verstappen, Mercedes F1 protested against the decisions of the race management. They found no consolation, however, as their protests were turned down and the Red Bull Racing driver was confirmed as the 2021 Formula 1 champion.
