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

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15:00, 19 Dec 2021

byGPblog.com

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	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	51
2	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	47
3	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	34
4	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	33
5	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	17
6	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	15
7	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	9
8	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	8
9	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	8
10	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	4
11	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	4
12	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	3
13	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	2
14	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
15	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	1
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	0
17	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
18	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
20	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
21	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

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

byGPblog.com

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