The phrase “what happened in Abu Dhabi 2021” most commonly refers to the controversial finish of the 2021 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which decided the world championship between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

What Happened in Abu Dhabi 2021?

The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina was the final race of a season‑long title fight where Hamilton and Verstappen arrived equal on points, meaning whoever finished ahead would become world champion. For most of the race, Hamilton led comfortably and looked set to win his record‑breaking eighth championship until a late crash and a highly disputed race control decision changed everything in the last laps.

Quick Scoop

  • Hamilton made a strong start, overtook Verstappen at the beginning, and controlled the race with a clear lead and older, hard tyres.
  • Late in the race, Nicholas Latifi crashed, bringing out a Safety Car and bunching up the field.
  • Red Bull pitted Verstappen for fresh soft tyres, while Mercedes kept Hamilton out on old hard tyres to preserve track position.
  • Race control (then‑director Michael Masi) made an unusual call: only some lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were allowed to un‑lap themselves, and the Safety Car came in one lap earlier than initially indicated.
  • This put Verstappen directly behind Hamilton for a one‑lap shootout, with Verstappen on much fresher, softer tyres; he overtook Hamilton on the final lap and won both the race and the 2021 championship.
  • The decisions around the Safety Car and lapped cars were widely criticised as inconsistent with the written procedures, triggering protests from Mercedes and a global debate among fans and media.

How the Final Laps Unfolded

  1. Hamilton’s control of the race
    • After an early‑lap clash where Verstappen dived down the inside and Hamilton cut the corner, stewards chose not to penalise Hamilton, a decision already seen as controversial by some.
 * Hamilton then built a comfortable gap and appeared untouchable on strategy and pace.
  1. Latifi’s crash and the Safety Car
    • With only a handful of laps remaining, Williams driver Nicholas Latifi crashed after a battle with Mick Schumacher, bringing out the Safety Car.
 * Under the Safety Car, Verstappen pitted for soft tyres; Hamilton stayed out to maintain track position, leaving him vulnerable on older tyres if the race restarted.
  1. The lapped‑cars decision
    • Standard procedure usually allows all lapped cars to pass the Safety Car, or none, but race control initially said lapped cars would not be allowed to overtake.
 * Then, in a surprise reversal, only the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were told to un‑lap themselves, not the entire group of lapped cars.

 * The Safety Car then came in at the end of that same lap, creating a one‑lap sprint to the finish.
  1. The final lap
    • With much fresher, softer tyres, Verstappen overtook Hamilton on that last lap and held the lead to the chequered flag.
 * Verstappen became world champion for the first time; Hamilton missed what would have been his eighth title.

Why It Was So Controversial

  • Rule interpretation and consistency
    Many commentators and fans argued that the selective un‑lapping and the timing of the Safety Car restart did not follow the normal application of the rules, creating a perception that procedure had been bent for the sake of a dramatic finish.
  • Media and expert reactions
    Journalists and analysts described the ending as “engineered” or shaped by a desire for entertainment, especially given F1’s growing focus on show and narrative (for example, through “Drive to Survive”).
  • Team and driver responses
    Mercedes filed protests immediately after the race, which were dismissed, and later decided not to pursue the case further in court, though they publicly expressed deep dissatisfaction with the way the race was handled.

Lewis Hamilton later reflected that he felt the rules had not been respected and that he had to respond with restraint despite the emotional impact.

Broader Impact and Ongoing Discussion

  • The controversy led to intense debate in the F1 community, from casual fans on forums to high‑profile team bosses and designers discussing the integrity of officiating.
  • The incident is still referenced as one of the most disputed finishes in Formula 1 history, with many arguing that, regardless of which driver they support, the sport itself was the “real loser” due to damaged trust in race direction.
  • Subsequent seasons saw changes to race control structures and procedures, partly to avoid a repeat of the confusion and controversy of Abu Dhabi 2021.

TL;DR

In Abu Dhabi 2021, a late Safety Car after Latifi’s crash, combined with an unusual call on lapped cars and restart timing, turned what looked like a straightforward Hamilton victory into a final‑lap shootout that Verstappen won, sparking years of debate about fairness, rules, and the balance between sport and spectacle in Formula 1.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.