Picture Credit: Formula 1
The Formula One 2021 season, one of the most dramatic campaigns of all time, finally concluded this weekend in Abu Dhabi. The final race of the calendar proved to be quite a controversial one where some of the decisions made by race director Michael Masi proved to be too significant as Max Verstappen clinched victory away from Lewis Hamilton on the last lap.
As a result, Verstappen became the F1 champion for the first time ever, ending Hamilton's streak of consecutive 4 titles in a row. The stage was set on Thursday for the Dutchman to receive the coveted championship trophy during the FIA prize-giving ceremony in Paris.
Verstappen officially crowned as F1 2021 champion
While Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff decided to skip the event because of the sequence of events in Abu Dhabi, the spotlight was on Max Verstappen who was nicely suited up to lift the trophy which every racer aspires for in his career. Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner was in the audience to applaud the remarkable achievement of the young driver.
With 395.5 points, 10 wins, 10 pole positions, 18 podiums, 6 fastest laps and 652 laps led, Max Verstappen was officially presented with the well-deserved F1 2021 champions' trophy.
Watch the moment here:
It's my life goal achieved: Max Verstappen
Answering the question as to how does it sound to be called Formula One World Champions, Verstappen said, "It's my life goal achieved. So it sounds pretty decent I think." After receiving the trophy, the 24-year-old also went on to reflect on the season and his on-track rivalry with Lewis Hamilton. "It's been an incredible battle with Lewis, one of the greatest drivers ever in Formula One, and I think we really pushed each other to the limit, sometimes over the limit but that's also a part of racing," he said.
"But I think, at the end of the day, we really respect each other. That's very important and especially after the race as well, how painful it is, we look at each other in the eyes and we respect each other. And I can't wait also for next year to come back, and for sure we gonna try to fight again," the Red Bull driver added.
Award winners at FIA prize-giving ceremony
F1 drivers' champion - Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
F1 constructors' champion - Mercedes (Hamilton and Bottas)
Personality of the year - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Action of the year - Fernando Alonso (for holding up Hamilton at Hungarian GP)
Rookie of the year - Oscar Piastri (Formula 2 champion 2021)