The race was held on December 12, 2021, at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Originally scheduled for December 5th, the race date was moved following the postponement of the Australian Grand Prix due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The circuit itself underwent modifications prior to the race, shortening the track and aiming to increase overtaking opportunities by removing the chicane after turn 4 and widening turn 5.
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked the final race for Kimi Räikkönen, who retired after a 20-year Formula One career spanning a then-record 349 Grand Prix starts. It was also the final race for Antonio Giovinazzi, Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes, and Nikita Mazepin, though Mazepin did not participate due to a positive COVID-19 test.
The 2021 season saw a particularly intense rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, entering the final race tied on 369.5 points – the first time the championship contenders had been level on points since 1974. Verstappen’s nine race wins to Hamilton’s eight prior to the race meant that, in the event of a tie in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen would be crowned champion.
During the race, Hamilton led for the majority of the laps and appeared on course to win his eighth World Championship. A late crash by Nicholas Latifi on lap 53 brought out the safety car. Verstappen pitted for fresh tyres while Hamilton remained on track. Controversy erupted when, with five laps remaining, race director Michael Masi initially stated that lapped cars would not be allowed to overtake the safety car. He then reversed this decision, allowing only the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves. This decision, unprecedented in Formula One, allowed Verstappen to close the gap to Hamilton. On the final lap, Verstappen overtook Hamilton to win the race and the championship. Hamilton questioned over team radio, “Are we still racing?”
Following the race, Mercedes immediately protested the result, alleging that Masi had violated safety car procedure. The stewards dismissed the protest, and Mercedes chose not to appeal. An FIA inquiry subsequently confirmed the race result but acknowledged that the rules had been ambiguous. Michael Masi was later removed from his role as race director as part of a restructuring of race control.
The events of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sparked intense debate and scrutiny of Formula One’s regulations and officiating. The FIA conducted a thorough investigation, leading to changes in the safety car procedures and a restructuring of race control. The long-form study of the incident and its impact on the sport belongs to the FIA inquiry and subsequent reports rather than this article’s corpus.
The corpus does not contain information regarding drivers beyond Formula One.
The corpus does not contain information regarding honours or awards received by the individuals involved. However, Kimi Räikkönen’s retirement from Formula One after the race was noted, marking the end of a distinguished career.