Max Verstappen has clinched his first Formula 1 (F1) world championship after finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Dutch had to fight his way from behind to snatch the championship from Hamilton in a nerve-racking race at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday.
The duo came into the final race of the season tied on 369.5 points which gave the showdown its nail-biting edge.
The 24-year-old’s victory denies Hamilton a chance to clinch his eighth world championship and become the most successful F1 driver ever.
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Hamilton dominated the race expertly from the earliest laps as Verstappen followed him closely all through the race.
The Dutch’s break came in the final lap after a slip on the path of the British allowed him nosed ahead and he cruised into victory in the most dramatic style.
Verstappen, son of a former F1 driver, made his F1 debut in 2015 and finished 5th in 2016, and followed that up with 3rd place finishes in the 2019 and 2020 championship.
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He broke out this season where he’s now tied for 1st place with Hamilton, taking the championship till the last race of the season.
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