The most competitive Formula 1 season in nearly 50 years reached its conclusion in controversial fashion with a final lap overtake from Max Verstappen sealing the Dutchman’s maiden world title.

Title rival and seven time champion Lewis Hamilton led for much of the race. Starting in second place, Hamilton made the most of a fast start and took the lead just seconds into the race.

As for Verstappen, the Red Bull man was likely due an early pit stop due to starting on soft tires. He did so at the end of lap 13, and was shortly followed by Hamilton- who now wouldn’t need another pit stop if the Mercedes plan went smoothly.

Hamilton would emerge from the pits in second place, behind Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez who but well ahead of Verstappen, now in fifth place. The racing that followed between Perez and Hamilton would be of significance, with Perez and Red Bull holding Hamilton up Hamilton to allow Verstappen to close the gap and get back in the hunt. When Hamilton and Perez first started to fight for P1, the gap from Hamilton to Verstappen was 8.5 seconds, by the time Hamilton finally regained the lead, Verstappen had made his up the pack and found himself 1.1 seconds behind the seven-time world champion.

Mexican driver Sergio Perez allowed teammate Verstappen to catch up, masterfully holding off Hamilton

Despite Red Bull’s tactics, Hamilton managed to remain in the lead. However, everything changed when Nicholas Latifi bowed out of the race resulting in the deployment of a safety car. This presented Mercedes with a tough decision to make: bring Hamilton in for softer tires and risk giving up first place, or stay out, keep first place and let Verstappen change his tires. Mercedes would decide on the latter.

What followed will undoubtedly go down as some of the most controversial moments in F1 and motor sport history. Race control would make the late decision to move any lapped cars between the championship contenders out of the way, allowing Verstappen to sit directly behind Hamilton, all while having newer and softer tires on. The two would have one single lap to decide the outcome of the race and the world title.

A vulnerable Hamilton awaits the race restart as Verstappen closes in

When the racing resumed, the advantage from Verstappen’s tires was clear to see. It didn’t take long for the Dutchman to skilfully take the lead. Hamilton would give it his all to regain his place, and under the circumstances did an impressive job to make it as close as it was. However, his efforts would be in vain and Max Verstappen would cross the line in 1st place, snatching the world title from his title rival’s grasp.

A delighted Max Verstappen became the first ever Dutchman to win a Formula 1 World Tittle

The conclusion of the race has sparked anger and debate worldwide among racing fans. Mercedes have already had two appeals rejected by the FIA, with rumours circling that they might still dispute the decision. Regardless of where people stand on the outcome, it was refreshing to see Hamilton congratulate Verstappen on his world title success, Verstappen said: “He sent me a text (saying) congratulations on the season, you deserved to win it. That was very nice of him.

“Lewis a great sportsman, he came up to me and congratulated me”.

It will be interesting to see how Mercedes and the FIA deal with what has happened, some feel that while a reversal of the outcome is perhaps not fair on Verstappen, a change to the rules is essential. What cannot be argued is that fans are already highly anticipating what drama will unfold when F1 resumes in 2022.

Formula 1: Max Verstappen Seals First World Title