Ten moments that tipped the 2021 F1 world title in Verstappen's favour

With drama from start to finish, the 2021 Formula 1 season was the best in a decade - some might say ever. Motorsport.com presents the 10 pivotal chapters which decided how the season turned out as it did and culminated in its controversial conclusion in Abu Dhabi

The controversial events of the closing laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix meant this feature could not be published in the aftermath of Formula 1’s 2021 season finale, where Max Verstappen won the race and the drivers’ title, but in such circumstances that both were provisional and under considerable threat.

But now Mercedes has withdrawn its intention to appeal the rejection of its protests over the circumstances of Lewis Hamilton’s last-gasp defeat, it is official: Verstappen is the winner of the best F1 season in a decade. To many, it was one of the best ever.

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.