The 2021 Formula 1 season was one of the greatest title fights the sport has ever seen.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton finished level on points before the final race in Abu Dhabi.
One race would decide everything.
And that is where the argument still begins.
My view is simple: Max Verstappen deserved the 2021 World Championship, but Lewis Hamilton deserved to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Those are not contradictory opinions.
Max Was Outstanding Across the Season
Verstappen was not handed the championship because of one race.
He produced an incredible season.
He won 10 races in 2021.
Hamilton won eight.
Verstappen also took 10 pole positions, while Hamilton took five.
After 22 races, Verstappen finished the season with 395.5 points.
Hamilton finished with 387.5.
That gave Verstappen the championship by eight points. �
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He also spent much of the season fighting Mercedes with a car that was closely matched with Hamilton’s.
The two drivers pushed each other to their limits.
Silverstone, Monza, Brazil and Saudi Arabia all became major chapters in their rivalry.
By the time they reached Abu Dhabi, neither driver had clearly dominated the other.
That is why I believe Verstappen deserved the championship.
But Abu Dhabi Was Different
The final race is where things become difficult.
Hamilton had the advantage for most of the race.
He started second but quickly moved ahead of Verstappen.
He then built a comfortable lead.
With only a few laps remaining, it looked like Hamilton was heading towards an eighth world title.
Then Nicholas Latifi crashed.
The Safety Car came out.
Verstappen immediately stopped for fresh soft tyres.
Hamilton stayed out on his older hard tyres.
That decision suddenly changed everything.
The Controversial Final Lap
There were several lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen.
Race control initially did not allow all of them to unlap themselves.
Then, shortly before the restart, five cars between the two title contenders were allowed to pass the Safety Car.
The race restarted with one lap remaining.
Verstappen had fresh soft tyres.
Hamilton had worn hard tyres.
Verstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap.
He won the race.
He also won the championship.
The FIA later investigated the events.
Its report acknowledged that human error contributed to the situation, while stating that the race director had acted in good faith. �
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This Is Why I Separate the Two
If we are talking about the championship, I give it to Max.
He had the numbers.
He won more races.
He took more poles.
He scored more points.
Most importantly, he survived an incredibly intense 22-race season and finished on top.
But if we are talking specifically about the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, I give that one to Lewis.
Hamilton had controlled the race before the late Safety Car.
He had built the advantage.
Without the controversial restart procedure, the race was set to finish under the Safety Car.
Instead, Verstappen got one final lap against Hamilton on dramatically fresher tyres.
That does not take anything away from Verstappen’s incredible final-lap pass.
It simply means the circumstances that created that opportunity remain controversial.
The Real Winner Was The Rivalry
Perhaps that is why the 2021 season remains so difficult to forget.
Two incredible drivers fought for one championship.
Max wanted his first title.
Lewis wanted his eighth.
One finished as champion.
The other finished wondering what might have happened if Abu Dhabi had unfolded differently.
So, if you ask me who deserved the championship, my answer is Max Verstappen.
If you ask me who deserved to win Abu Dhabi, my answer is Lewis Hamilton.
And honestly?
That is what makes the 2021 season so legendary.
Source Credits: Formula 1 official results, FIA’s 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix analysis, Sky Sports and Reuters. The statistical information comes primarily from Formula 1’s official records, while the Abu Dhabi controversy is based on the FIA’s investigation and subsequent reporting. �
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