"No getting away from the fact that Verstappen is a deserving champion"

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15:00, 19 Dec 2021

The events during the final round of the all-important Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have created quite a stir. However, that does not take anything away from the shine of the first world title of Max Verstappen, according to former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer.

Throughout the season, there were regular looks ahead to the final race, with many people expressing the hope that the championship would be decided in the final round. When that wish actually came true, however, it was not to everyone's liking.

Verstappen has earned the world title

Palmer revealed he enjoyed the fight on the final lap, but regrets that the spectacular finish was somewhat overshadowed by the controversey. "We wanted the championship to be decided by a fantastic wheel-to-wheel fight and not in the stewards' office, but in the end it was decided by both," Palmer explained on Formula1.com.

The decisions of the stewards may have been controversial, but as far as Palmer is concerned there is no doubt who deserved the world title the most. "Whatever you think of the safety car incident, there's no getting away from the fact that Max Verstappen is a serving champion in 2021," concluded the 30-year-old Brit.

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	179
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	154
3	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	147
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	108
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	97
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	82
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	76
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	52
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	42
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	39
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	20
12	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
13	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	18
14	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	6
15	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
16	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
17	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

"No getting away from the fact that Verstappen is a deserving champion"

Verstappen has earned the world title

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