See highlights of the season that consecrated Max Verstappen in F1

​​Verstappen and Hamilton had met in previous races, but the British GP once again increased the rivalry when the Englishman tried a more aggressive maneuver on one of the high-speed corners of the Silverstone circuit and crashed heavily into the Dutchman. The Red Bull driver ended up off the track and crashed into the wall. While he had to be taken to hospital for evaluation, although he was unharmed, Hamilton continued in the race, overcame the crash penalty and won in front of his home crowd.

Italian GP – Verstappen flies over Hamilton

In the stage disputed in Monza, it would be Verstappen’s turn to try a more aggressive maneuver and cause an accident. On lap 26, Hamilton left the pits in the same region where the Red Bull driver was speeding. At the first turn after the main straight, the two entered side by side and crashed. After the crash, the Dutchman’s car flew over Hamilton’s Mercedes, which only escaped unharmed because of the halo protection. Verstappen was found guilty. Punished, he lost three positions on the starting grid of the Russian GP.

Luck was not on Verstappen’s or Hamilton’s side in the event played on the Baku circuit. The Dutchman had been dominating the race and was only managing the lead when his left rear tire blew on the straight, at over 350 km/h, with four laps to go. Annoyed, he kicked his own car as he left the race.

On the restart after the accident with Verstappen, Hamilton accidentally hit a button that changes the way the brakes behave and went straight through the first corner, leaving Sergio Pérez, the Dutchman’s teammate, to go for the win. The Englishman still returned for the test, but did not score, easing Verstappen’s frustration.

French GP – Verstappen beat Hamilton in final laps

The Dutchman shone on the track, but also relied on Red Bull’s strategies to overcome Hamilton. At the French GP, Verstappen’s team called on him to change tires when he was leading, in a two-stop strategy. The Dutchman agreed with the order, went to the pits, dropped to fourth place and began his recovery. With two laps to go, he overcame his rival in one of the most exciting victories of the year.

Bahrain GP – Verstappen passes but needs to return position

In the Bahrain GP, ​​Verstappen chased Hamilton in the final laps and even overtaken his rival, but had to return the position for having gone off the track. While he was annoyed, the Englishman returned to the front and guided until he was the first to receive the checkered flag, starting first in the Worlds. Verstappen was second.

Emilia-Romagna GP – Verstappen’s first victory

If Verstappen started on pole in the Bahrain GP, ​​but it was Hamilton who won, in the stage disputed in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, the positions were reversed. The Englishman left in first, but who received the flag in the end was the Dutch. The Red Bull driver made it clear to Mercedes’ rival that the dispute throughout the season would be very close.

Netherlands GP – Verstappen wins at home and holds a cheering party

In front of nearly 70,000 fans, Verstappen won the Dutch GP end to end, for the “Orange Sea” crowd, as the Dutchman’s fans are known. The country had not hosted an F1 stage for 36 years and soon on its return it could be the stage for the victory of a home driver. In addition to the party at the Zandvoort circuit, the Red Bull driver’s fans paid tribute to him in various parts of the city.

In the race disputed on North American soil, the weather was hot between Verstappen and Hamilton even before the race. In the second free practice, held on Friday, the Mercedes driver placed his car side by side with his rival’s Red Bull, on the main straight. As he was passed by the seven-times champion, Verstappen cursed Hamilton as a “stupid idiot” over the radio and flashed his middle finger at his opponent. After what happened, the Briton regretted the Dutchman’s behavior.

São Paulo GP – Verstappen closes the door on Hamilton

The weekend of the São Paulo GP was one of the most exciting of the season. Hamilton managed to win after overcoming a series of penalties, including one that left him tenth. Before jumping to first position, he had a dispute with Verstappen, who was leading the race. On lap 48 out of 71, the Englishman tried to overtake the Dutchman, but was pushed off the track by him. The commissioners analyzed but ruled out a punishment. On lap 59, Hamilton finally won the position.

Saudi Arabian GP – Verstappen suddenly brakes and causes crash

The penultimate race of the year, responsible for making the championship tie in the final race, had a series of controversies. The main one was an accident caused by Verstappen. The Dutchman received a penalty during the stage and would have to return his position to Hamilton. However, the Red Bull driver suddenly braked to do this, causing the Englishman to crash into the back of his car. Despite the breakdown, the Mercedes driver won the race. Verstappen, on the other hand, received a new penalty of 10 seconds added to his final race time, but he was still second.

Abu Dhabi GP – Verstappen passes Hamilton on last lap to secure title

In Abu Dhabi, the last GP of the year, Verstappen started from pole position, but lost the lead to Hamilton right at the start. When trying to retrieve it in the first lap, the two touched. To avoid an accident, Hamilton left the track and, in his rival’s view, cut a path without making a turn. The commissioners decided not to impose any punishment.

Hamilton opened up an advantage over the Dutchman and maintained a favorable scenario, until the entry of the virtual safety car, on lap 36. When the race was restarted, on lap 38, the difference between the two was 17 seconds. The Englishman did his part well and kept a safe advantage until there was another unforeseen event: Canadian Nicholas Latifi crashed heavily, and the safety car entered the track, which allowed Verstappen to pull over. The track was only cleared with one lap to go. With the car more whole, the Dutchman made the overtaking and the celebration of the title.