Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi F1 race to clinch world title

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has won his first World Championship following a final showdown with title rival Lewis Hamilton at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

On the reconfigured Yas Marina Circuit, the Red Bull driver finished at the top of the podium after overtaking Hamilton in the last lap of the race.

The victory for Verstappen in the final race of the 2021 season caps off a spectacular season from the Dutch sensation.

He bagged 10 race wins across the 22-race calendar this year to seize the first world championship of his career in Abu Dhabi.

History maker ? Champion of the World! ? @Max33Verstappen ? #SimplyLovely pic.twitter.com/o0rAY9RaO6

— Red Bull Racing Honda (@redbullracing) December 12, 2021

In a historic race weekend, Hamilton and Verstappen began the final showdown tied in the standings for first place for the first time since 1974, as Verstappen and Hamilton lined up on Yas Marina Circuit’s start line each on 369.5 points in the Driver’s Championship

On the new 5.28km track in Abu Dhabi, Red Bull’s number 33 crossed the line ahead of his seven-time world champion British rival to secure the first world title of his career and his tenth race win of this season.

The Dutchman’s triumph also saw his Red Bull Racing team top the Driver’s Championship for the first time since 2013 when Team Principal Christian Horner and German driver Sebastian Vettel secured their fourth title in-a-row.

With Sunday’s victory, Christian Horner’s side continued their return to the top of the sport with another year in second place in the Constructor’s Championship.

Mercedes took the first place in the Constructor’s Championship, its eighth Constructor’s title.