Date: December 12, 2021
Location: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
Race: Round 22 (Final Round) of the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship
Going into the weekend, everything was tied. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) entered the season finale level on points – a statistical rarity that hadn't occurred since the 1974 championship decider. The winner of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would be crowned World Champion.
What unfolded over 58 laps was a masterclass in pressure, a strategic gamble, and a controversial Safety Car procedure that remains debated today. gp abu dhabi 2021 f1 carrera completa
La carrera parecía decidida. Verstappen no podía acercarse a Hamilton, y el inglés manejaba su ritmo para llegar al final. Faltaban 10 vueltas. Entonces, en la vuelta 53, Nicholas Latifi estrelló su Williams contra el muro de la curva 14. Safety Car desplegado.
Aquí empieza la leyenda y la polémica del GP Abu Dhabi 2021 F1 carrera completa. The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: A Final
Todo parecía decidido. Hamilton controlaba la carrera con un margen de seguridad cómodo. Faltaban pocas vueltas y el título número ocho se acercaba. Entonces, en la vuelta 53, Nicholas Latifi se estrelló contra las barreras en las curvas finales del circuito.
El coche de seguridad (SC) salió a pista. Lo que siguió es, hasta el día de hoy, el tema de debate más grande en la F1 moderna. La Decisión de Verstappen: Red Bull apostó todo
With 5 laps remaining, Race Director Michael Masi faced a dilemma. Between the crashed Williams and the leader were five lapped cars (including Norris, Alonso, Ocon, Leclerc, and Vettel).
Normal procedure: All lapped cars must unlap themselves, then the Safety Car comes in at the end of the following lap.
What happened: Masi initially announced no lapped cars would overtake. Then, on Lap 57, he changed his mind – but only allowed the five cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves, leaving the others behind. The Safety Car was called in immediately, setting up one final racing lap (Lap 58).