F1 review of the year 2021

As the drivers sparred on track, their respective team principals were duelling off of it. Red Bull’s Christian Horner would blast Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff as a “control freak” and a “pantomime dame” and plenty in between.

Wolff, for his part, claimed Horner was a “windbag” too keen on being in front of a camera making jibes. Whatever the latest from the pair, it helped ramp up the rivalry – increasingly bitter as it became – between the teams and, therefore, their respective drivers.

Both would also seemingly take turns to fume about the latest decision taken by race stewards, with the close fighting to gain an advantage into the corner often leading to one or both drivers being hit with penalties.

Verstappen had looked like getting the best of his experienced opponent as the season began to wind down – but, to paraphrase T.S. Eliot – the year would end with a bang, not a whimper.

Hamilton would shine, showing the ability that had him draw level with Michael Schumacher on seven titles with a number of dominant seasons where the Briton was untouchable.

He took victories in Brazil – where he and Verstappen also collided once more – breezed to a win in Qatar and won in Jeddah despite running into the back of his rival.

The moment @LewisHamilton drew level in the championship fight, with victory in Saudi Arabia ⚔️#SaudiArabianGP 🇸🇦 #F1 pic.twitter.com/plmETztmoh

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 5, 2021

One last battle

Those results meant that Abu Dhabi and the reconfigured Yas Marina Circuit would host not only a title decider but just the second season-ending race in the history of the sport where two drivers went into the weekend locked level on points at the top of the standings.

The expensive yachts gathered in the marina, the VIPs mooched on the grid, the likes of Stormzy and Lewis Capaldi would headline the evening entertainment.

Such was the fervour surrounding the race, Sky Sports agreed to share their broadcast with Channel 4 to allow as many British homes as possible to cast their eyes on the event.

A peak audience of 7.4million would witness the most sensational conclusion to a Formula One season – and that is some stiff competition.

This was Devon Loch, Sergio Aguero, Jonny Wilkinson, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. This was the last-action heroes.

The Mercedes looked to have the pace to see off Verstappen, who would shoot back with a fine qualifying lap to steal an unlikely pole position alongside Hamilton – already the most successful driver in the history of Formula One.

The 36-year-old would be undeterred, taking the lead into the first corner and keeping it despite a lunge from Verstappen later on the opening lap.

Even a virtual safety car and some fine, defensive driving from the sister Red Bull of Perez could not keep Hamilton from pumping in fastest laps and setting himself up for yet another standalone record.

The rest. As they say. Is history.

Drama at the finish

A crash for the Williams of Nicholas Latifi. A safety car with five laps to go. Race director Michael Masi interpreting rules in a way which riled both teams, both Horner and Wolff, to all but manufacture a last-lap shoot-out for the title.

Verstappen, on fresher rubber and with lapped cars controversially cleared by Masi’s on-the-spot ruling, had a clear run at Hamilton and made it stick.

The @redbullracing crew went through a rollercoaster of emotions at Yas Marina 🎢#F1 pic.twitter.com/kUDbJBsEHn

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 21, 2021

The worry about the season, despite the fine motor racing, was the threat that the title would be decided away from the circuits. In a stewarding room.

That proved to be the case, Verstappen unable to toast his title for four hours as Mercedes launched appeals against the controversial end to the race.

Even after those appeals were rejected, further appeal processes and the potential of a case in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruined what should have been a fine spectacle, with record viewing figures and new eyes on the sport left second-guessing rules and regulations, not wowing over on-track action.

Who wins in 2022?

For now though we look ahead to 2022 where Hamilton could look to bounce back with vengeance to secure an historic eighth title.

New regulations could change the dynamic of the contest, but it is unlikely that Red Bull and Mercedes will be far from the pace.

Hamilton is the evens favourite to regain his crown, while Verstappen is 2/1 to become a two-time champion. Hamilton’s new Mercedes teammate George Russell is 11/2 to make an immediate impact, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc comes next at 14/1 in the 2022 World Championship odds.

Mercedes are the heavy 8/15 favourites for yet another constructors’ title, while Red Bull can be found at 19/10 to loosen their grasp on that prize.

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All odds and markets correct at the time of publication