Max Verstappen: The world Championship

Max Verstappen has become Formula 1 world champion for the irst time after an extraordinary, controversial inish to the seasonending Abu Dhabi GP which saw him overtake Lewis Hamilton on the inal lap after a dramatic late Safety Car.

Hamilton appeared to be heading for his record eighth crown after overtaking the polesitting Verstappen at the start but a crash for Nicholas Latii in the Williams brought out the Safety Car with ive laps to go and created all manner of drama to end an absolutely incredible season.Red Bull pitted Verstappen for new soft tyres, while Hamilton stayed out in the lead to keep track position on his older set.

While there were initially ive lapped cars between the contenders in the queue behind the Safety Car, Race Control instructed that pack to join the back of the queue on the penultimate tour and that recreated the Hamilton-Verstappen onetwo for a blockbuster inal-lap restart.

Amid protestations from an angry Mercedes pit wall to FIA race director Michael Masi, the race resumed on the 58th and inal lap of the race - and gripping season - and Verstappen overtook Hamilton down the inside at Turn Five to take the win and the crown away from his Mercedes rival.

Verstappen becomes the irst Dutchman to win the title and the second champion for Red Bull after Sebastian Vettel, the last non-Mercedes driver to take the championship in 2013. (Agencies)