Red Bull squad main Christian Horner executed a finely crafted con occupation connected the contention manager arsenic the last 2 laps of the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticked by.
The consequent results were a arguable Max Verstappen victory, pursuing a final-lap overtake of Lewis Hamilton, and a bristling tirade from Mercedes squad brag Toto Wolff.
Hamilton appeared to beryllium cruising to a grounds eighth Formula 1 rubric precocious successful the 58-lap Yas Marina circuit race, but a Nicholas Latifi clang that occurred arsenic Hamilton and Verstappen navigated the 53rd thigh would propulsion up yet different twist successful the unthinkable satellite title fight.
READ MORE: Aussies rocked arsenic prima ruled retired of 2nd Test
READ MORE: Legend's 'big question mark' implicit large Aussie Test hope
READ MORE: Aussie jockey progressive successful fearfulness contention fall
Hamilton led Verstappen by a tick nether 12 seconds erstwhile yellowish flags were employed pursuing Latifi's lap-54 accident.
And portion Mercedes opted to support Hamilton connected the circuit to clasp way position, Red Bull gambled with a 2nd pit stop, switching to brushed tyres connected thigh 54 arsenic Hamilton dawdled down a information car.
"That's unbelievable, man," Sky Sports picked up Hamilton saying connected squad radio.
The Briton was staggered astatine the script-flipping timeliness of Latifi's crash.
For a infinitesimal it appeared that it wouldn't hijack Hamilton's pursuit of the title, with contention manager Michael Masi deciding connected thigh 56 that the 5 cars betwixt the first-placed Hamilton and second-placed Verstappen were not allowed to overtake the information car.
"Yeah, of course, emblematic decision," Verstappen bristled to his team.
"I'm not surprised."
Having to walk 5 cars conscionable to person a changeable astatine overtaking Hamilton connected the last thigh loomed arsenic a near-impossible task.
But a cunning Horner would enactment his charm.
"Why aren't we getting these lapped cars retired of the way?" Horner said to Masi.
Being stuck down Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel gave Verstappan small anticipation of snatching the pb travel the disappearance of the information car.
But each it took was 1 thigh – and a dose of Horner persistence – to plaything Masi.
"Christian, conscionable springiness maine a second," Masi said.
"My large 1 is to get this incidental clear."
Horner continued to heckle.
"We lone request 1 'racing' lap," helium said.
Masi past overturned his telephone connected thigh 57, prompting each 5 drivers positioned betwixt Hamilton and Verstappen to surge past the information car.
"Michael, this isn't right," a seething Wolff said to Masi arsenic Verstappen utilized the wide way to gully conscionable astir level with Hamilton.
Verstappen's shortage had been wiped successful an instant.
Verstappen crowned Formula 1 champion
From that constituent Hamilton realistically had nary accidental of staving disconnected Verstappen connected the final-lap shootout.
Hamilton was connected hard tyres that helium had pitted for connected thigh 14, whereas Verstappen was connected caller softs.
Hamilton was truthful powerless successful his effort to forestall a turn-five Verstappen overtake and, though the seasoned made a valiant effort to bargain the pb backmost from the rising prima connected crook nine, surging successful his rival's gaffe watercourse successful the lack of DRS, his effort amounted to nothing.
"Michael, that was truthful not right," Wolff said.
Masi's reply was terse.
"It's called a centrifugal race," helium said.
"We went car racing."
The effect of the "car racing" was Hamilton failing to surpass Michael Schumacher arsenic the astir palmy Formula 1 operator successful history, Verstappen clinching his maiden rubric to the delight of a oversea of orange-shirted faithfuls.
The result mightiness yet beryllium overturned, with Mercedes lodging its volition to entreaty against the FIA's rulings.
But careless of whether this year's satellite title is connected the cusp of 1 much twist, Horner's masterful persuasion of Masi cannot beryllium denied.
For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
English (US) ·