Verstappen ecstatic: "Finally a bit of luck for me"

Max Verstappen can call himself world champion for the first time in Formula 1. Nicholas Latifi caused a safety car five laps before the end and Michael Masi decided to allow one more lap, something that Mercedes does not agree with at all. Verstappen switched to a set of fresh softs under the safety car and managed to overtake Lewis Hamilton on the track.

"It's unbelievable. I mean... throughout the whole race I kept fighting and that opportunity in the last lap. I have a cramp. It's insane. I don't know what to say. These guys... my team and Honda they deserve it and I love them so much," Verstappen said immediately after his win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

It wasn't always easy in 2021 for Verstappen, but at the end of it all he is standing with the big trophy in his hands."Finally a bit of luck for me," Verstappen laughed. Sergio Perez played a big part Sunday afternoon at the Yas Marina Circuit. "I want to thank Sergio very much, he gave everything. This is great teamwork."

Verstappen wants to stay at Red Bull

Verstappen hopes to win more titles at Red Bull in the coming seasons. "I love them, I hope we can do this for ten or fifteen years. There is no reason to change, I want to stay here for the rest of my life. I hope they will allow it. Christian and Helmut already believed in me in 2016 and now we have succeeded in the mission of becoming champions."