Verstappen on cloud 7, Mercedes in rage mode

What Verstappen and the almost tragically dethroned Lewis Hamilton staged to crown the new champion at the end of a memorable season surpassed everything ( SportNews berichtete ). And as if everyone couldn't get enough of it, the result was left hanging in the balance: Mercedes lodged two protests . The aftermath of a season with a toxic duel for the title full of emotions - Mercedes came to the hearing with a lawyer.

It was about the all-important scene that, on the very last lap of the season, after a safety car phase, Verstappen was in a position to overtake Hamilton, who was actually heading for victory, eleven corners before the end of the season. The safety car might have had to stay out a lap longer - then the race would have ended behind Bernd Mayländer's car and Hamilton would have become world champion. Because overtaking is then no longer allowed. “Sometimes miracles happen” Max Verstappen Things turned out differently, to Verstappen's unbridled joy. “It's unbelievable, I fought the whole race. It’s crazy,” he stammered after his tenth win of the season and the most important of the 20 of his career. The victory for the first title in his seventh year in Formula 1. “Sometimes miracles happen.”

Even Papa Jos could hardly stand it in the last few meters. “I couldn’t stay seated any longer,” he said; his hope was apparently already gone after his son’s completely botched start. The direct counterattack with one of his well-known tough maneuvers didn't work either. Hamilton had taken away the pole advantage from Verstappen after a few meters and was driving his Mercedes until a few kilometers before the checkered flag, despite a clever attempt to use the brake pads by Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez, on course for his eighth title and thus the sole record world championship ahead of Michael Schumacher. Max Verstappen was celebrated by Red Bull employees. © APA/afp / GIUSEPPE CACACE

“I ran away and sat in a room upstairs,” said Jos Verstappen. “Max is the world champion, but that’s how I feel now,” he said. The former pilot returned in time for the incredible but also discussion-worthy showdown. Latifi crash as a key moment It wouldn't have worked without Williams driver Nicholas Latifi's crash shortly before the end. The safety car had to come out. Verstappen was eleven seconds behind, he had the faster soft tires fitted again, Hamilton was no longer able to improve. And when the safety car came in on lap 57, the way was clear for Attack-Verstappen. The gap was only one second. Max Verstappen (left) and Lewis Hamilton fought an epic fight. © APA/afp / GIUSEPPE CACACE

In the fifth corner: all in. Verstappen risked everything, he could only win. If both were eliminated, he would be world champion because if there was a tie he would have one more win until the final. Hamilton could hardly defend himself, Verstappen passed and turned into the endless party, while Hamilton initially remained motionless in the car with his helmet on his head in parc fermé. Hamilton as a fair loser Papa Anthony has already congratulated Verstappen and his father, and the defeated superstar also showed sporting greatness: “You did a great job,” praised Hamilton, the 34th world champion in premier class history. No consolation that evening: Mercedes secured the constructors' championship for the eighth time in a row. Red Bull didn't care either. Team boss Christian Horner couldn't stop grinning at first - as well as his constantly wet T-shirts after various celebratory showers. “Damn, we love you,” he said to Verstappen, who ended the titleless time of billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz’s team after the triumphant years with Sebastian Vettel from 2010 to 2013 inclusive. Lewis Hamilton (left) congratulated Max Verstappen on his world title. © APA/afp / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

Verstappen's girlfriend Kelly Piquet, whose birthday he had celebrated with her in Dubai at the beginning of the week, was cheering in the pits. The crew painted the Dutch colors on their faces. A long celebration awaited them, beer and champagne flowed on the yachts in the harbor. Mercedes team boss beside himself Next door in the Mercedes motorhome there was frustration and horror after the nerve-wracking duel between two exceptional drivers. During the race, team boss Toto Wolff complained to the race director via radio: “You can’t do that.” His cheekbones were grinding, the famously temperamental Austrian was in rage mode. Two days after the demonstrative handshake with Horner, the final reopened the wounds of an emotion-filled season. And how! After the hearing in front of the race stewards, Horner trudged back to his accommodation with a rather immobile expression. Without comment.

Not just against the decision of race director Michael Masi Mercedes protested . There was another one because Verstappen was said to have been ahead of Hamilton before the Brit opened the final kilometers after the end of the safety car phase. “What can I say about that, that just reflects the season,” Verstappen calmly countered the protest. There were plenty of mutual accusations, especially the new champion who recently felt disadvantaged again and again. Mercedes around team boss Toto Wolff lodged a protest. © ANSA / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / POOL

Should anything change in the result of the final race and thus in the World Cup decision, Red Bull's protest should follow immediately. That is undisputed. And Formula 1 would have put a blemish on a thrilling and thrilling season that will be remembered for a long time, for which the drivers are not responsible, who fought a battle sometimes even over the limit.

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Verstappen on cloud 7, Mercedes in rage mode

The bass boomed from the Red Bull box, the happy fans in orange celebrated undeterred in the stands and Max Verstappen didn't want his world championship party to end. On the other hand, Mercedes is in rage mode.

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