Max Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the F1 title on Sunday, and Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is absolutely baffled.
Tottenham star Kane wasn’t the only one as Verstappen pinched the title on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Let’s dig into just what happened to give Verstappen the crown…
Verstappen pips Hamilton to F1 title – what happened?
Red Bull’s Verstappen started on pole in Abu Dhabi but was quickly overtaken by Hamilton.
It looked like the title was heading to Mercedes with Hamilton leading throughout – until controversy struck.
Nicholas Latifi’s crash forced a safety car, and that’s where things get interesting.
Lapped cars are allowed to overtake and ‘unlap’ themselves under the safety car. The safety car can then exit once all lapped cars are unlapped.
Yet on Sunday, only five cars passed Hamilton to unlap themselves. Three drivers – Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Mick Schumacher didn’t.
If those three drivers were able to do so, it would have taken another lap and Hamilton would have won behind the safety car.
Instead, race director Michael Masi decided to let racing resume for the final lap, going against usual FIA rules.
Verstappen took full advantage by overtaking Hamilton and claiming the win, leaving Mercedes absolutely apoplectic.
Tottenham ace Kane reacts to F1 drama
Many have been discussing the chaos, with Virgil van Dijk buzzing for fellow Dutchman Verstappen.
Tottenham striker Kane took to Twitter to admit that he is new to F1 but was confused by the finish.
Kane called the rules ‘bizarre’ and felt Verstappen gained an ‘unfair advantage’.
Kane praised Hamilton for ‘the perfect race’ and criticised the decision to penalise Hamilton for somebody else’s crash.
Tottenham fans were pretty split; some agreed with Kane, suggesting that he was ‘speaking facts’ and that the situation ‘makes no sense’.
Others believe the right ruling was reached and that Hamilton was just unlucky to see Verstappen claim the title…
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