Max Verstappen wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the world title ahead of Lewis Hamilton with a heart-pounding last lap.
A final like few others have seen at the Formula 1 World Championship, with the two contenders who had reached this last Grand Prix on equal points. Ready to go Hamilton immediately burns his rival at the start, the two touch each other and the seven-time world champion from Britain cuts the chicane and stays ahead, but for the direction of the race he does not have to return the position to the Dutchman.
Hamilton moves away, after the pit stop he is braked by Perez (Verstappen's teammate) who allows the Dutchman to get closer. But Mercedes has more and the British, after passing Perez, also detaches Verstappen.
When there are a few laps to go and Hamilton has an easily manageable advantage (despite the most used tires) the incredible happens. Latifi crashes on the track and enters the safety car: it starts again on the last lap, when Verstappen manages to overtake Hamilton and maintain the position by winning his first world title.
The eighth triumph, which would have allowed him to overtake Michael Schumacher, fades.
Ferrari closes with a podium thanks to the third place of Carlos Sainz.
(Unioneonline / L)
