Formula One: Drama to the Max

The GIST: The 2021 Drivers’ World Championship came down to the final lap and ended with a controversial first-ever title for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The race: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was poised to claim a record-breaking eighth world title…until a Williams’ Nicholas Latifi crash resulted in a safety car on the 53rd lap (of 58).

• From there, the race director’s controversial call led to a restart on the final lap, allowing Verstappen (and his fresh tires) to overtake Hamilton to claim the win. Absolutely wild.

The aftermath: Despite the bitter loss, Hamilton classily congratulated Verstappen after the race. Meanwhile, Team Mercedes launched two (now dismissed) protests of the race director’s ruling.

• Our take? Ginger Spice’s husband Red Bull team principal Christian Horner promised Latifi a lifetime supply of Red Bull for his unintended role in helping Verstappen win the title, but maybe it should go to the race director instead. Talk about giving someone wings.

The bigger picture: Zooming out, Verstappen and Hamilton both had incredible seasons. Verstappen’s victory made him the first Dutch driver to win an F1 World Championship and snapped Hamilton’s streak of four consecutive title victories. Can’t wait to relive all of it when Netflix’s Drive to Survive comes out early next year.