Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has promised Nicholas Latifi a “lifetime supply” of the energy drink after the Williams driver’s crash paved the way for Max Verstappen’s remarkable F1 title victory.
Verstappen overtook championship rival Lewis Hamilton on the last lap in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, after the safety car had been deployed with five laps to go in the race.
The safety car had been brought out because Latifi had crashed his Williams and come to a standstill trackside.
LAP 54/58
Huge drama as Nicholas Latifi goes into the barriers – he reports that he is ok
But the Safety Car comes out and Max Verstappen immediately goes into the pits for some fresh tyres
The situation allowed Red Bull racer Verstappen to come into the pits for fresh tires while Mercedes kept Hamilton out on his worn versions.
The Dutch title challenger was given a clear run at Hamilton after race officials ruled that lapped drivers between the Mercedes and Red Bull cars would have to move.
Verstappen took full advantage after the safety car departed, overtaking Hamilton on turn five of the final lap and holding off the Brit to seal a maiden world title.
The remarkable drama meant that thanks to his crash, Latifi had emerged as an unlikely protagonist in the title race – as either a hero or villain, depending on who you support.
Red Bull boss Horner was certainly thankful, telling Channel 4 after the race: “He’ll be getting a lifetime supply of Red Bull for sure.”
“We needed something from the racing gods in the last 10 laps,” Horner added to Sky Sports.
“Thank you, Nicholas Latifi, for that safety car. I have to say with the stewards… they did great to get the race going again.
“We were screaming at (race director Michael Masi) ‘let them race’. It has been an insane competition and for Max to win the world championship – it is not just about here.
“I have to say all credit to Lewis, he has been a phenomenal opponent all year, he is a great champion and that is what makes it even more valid to win this.”
Hamilton was graceful in defeat as he congratulated Verstappen and Red Bull, although his Mercedes team lodged two protests in the wake of the controversial conclusion to the season.
One complaint focused on an overtake by Verstappen when the safety car was out, while the second concerned the decision for lapped cars to be able to ‘un-lap’ themselves and move to the back of the pack.
Five lapped cars did so during the safety car period, and crucially they were the ones between Hamilton and Verstappen, meaning the Dutchman no longer had to weave through them to get to his target.
However, three cars further back did not un-lap themselves, leading Mercedes to argue that the race should not have restarted when it did – and effectively meaning Hamilton should be declared the winner based on track positions for the penultimate lap.
After tense deliberations of several hours, officials at the FIA dismissed both protests as Verstappen was confirmed world champion.
Mercedes have already announced their intention to appeal the decision, and could even go as far as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
Verstappen, 24, became the first Dutchman ever to win an F1 world title and is the first Red Bull driver to do so since Sebastian Vettel back in 2013.
Hamilton, 36, remains on seven world championships overall – level at the top of the all-time standings with German legend Michael Schumacher.
Somewhat ironically, it was Schumacher’s son, Mick, who was battling in his Haas with Latifi when the Canadian crashed, causing the use of the safety car and the controversy that followed.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are set to meet in the Champions League after Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain were paired together in Monday’s draw for the last 16 of this season’s tournament.
The tie between the English and French giants is one to capture the imagination as two of football’s all-time greats will renew their rivalry in Europe’s elite club competition.
Elsewhere in the draw, defending champions Chelsea appeared to be given a kind tie – at least on paper – as they meet French team Lille.
Last season’s losing finalists Manchester City face Villarreal of Spain, while German giants Bayern Munich – tipped as among the strong favorites this season – will face Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid, record 13-time winners of the tournament, meet Benfica of Portugal.
Liverpool, who emerged with a perfect record in the group stage, will play Austrian knockout debutants FC Salzburg.
THE FULL DRAW
Benfica (Portugal) vs Real Madrid (Spain)
Villarreal (Spain) vs Manchester City (England)
Atletico Madrid (Spain) vs Bayern Munich (Germany)
FC Salzburg (Austria) vs Liverpool (England)
Inter Milan (Italy) vs Ajax (Netherlands)
Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) vs Juventus (Italy)
Chelsea (England) vs Lille (France)
Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs Manchester United (England)
Ronaldo and Messi last faced off in the Champions League during last season’s group stage when the pair were at Juventus and Barcelona respectively.
Both have since completed shock transfer moves, with Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford and Messi making the switch to Paris during the summer.
As the pair play out the twilights of their careers – with Ronaldo 36 and Messi 34 – fans will relish another chance to see them on the same stage, having enjoyed so many years of their rivalry in Spain when the Portuguese star was at Real Madrid.
Although Messi recently added another Ballon d’Or to his collection – taking him to seven accolades to Ronaldo’s five – it is Ronaldo who has enjoyed more success in the Champions League down the years.
The Portugal icon has won the title five times to Messi’s four, and Ronaldo is also the leading all-time top scorer in the competition with 140 goals in 181 appearances.
He has shown no sign of slowing down since returning to Manchester United, scoring six times in five Champions League appearances this season to help United finish top of Group F.
Messi has 125 goals in his 154 matches in the tournament, including five this season in five appearances in PSG colors.
The last 16 ties will take place across two legs, the first of which will be spread across February 15, 16, 22 and 23.
The return legs will be played on March 8, 9, 15 and 16.
The seeded teams (who won their groups) will all be away for the first legs and will play the second legs at home.
A rule change for the knockout stages means that the away-goals rule is no longer in force. Any ties that are level after 180 minutes across two legs will go to extra-time and potentially penalties.
This season’s Champions League final will be held in St. Petersburg at the 68,000-seater Gazprom Arena, which is home to Russian champions Zenit.
Where new stories start ✨
Introducing the official @adidasfootball match ball for the 2021/22 knockout stage!
Former Zenit and Arsenal star Andrey Arshavin was part of Monday’s draw ceremony at UEFA HQ in Nyon, Switzerland.
“People love football [in St. Petersburg], it’s a big event for our city, everyone dreams of holding such a big event,” said Arshavin of the final in his hometown, which is scheduled for May 28.
Many will be thankful to Arshavin for playing his part in pairing Ronaldo and Messi together for what could be one of the last times we see them on the same pitch.
UEFA will repeat the draw for the Champions League last 16 after a mistake involving Manchester United, who ended up being paired with French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
The initial draw in Switzerland on Monday, which was conducted in part by Russian icon Andrey Arshavin, had appeared to set up a mouthwatering chapter in the never-ending Messi versus Ronaldo saga – but football fans look set to miss out on seeing the two dominant forces in world football renew their rivalry after UEFA made the call to repeat the entire draw following protests from several of the involved teams.
“Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16,” said UEFA in a statement.
“As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone at 15:00 CET (14:00 GMT).”
It definitely looks like #mufc’s ball – in the second pot from the right, back row – was not included in the Atletico Madrid draw. pic.twitter.com/ubxQHdjkQV
The events which led to the decision occurred as such: Manchester United were initially drawn alongside La Liga outfit Villarreal, but UEFA rules dictate that teams who played one another in the group stage cannot meet in the round of 16 – with that tie going instead to Manchester City moments later.
But then came the moment which has caused controversy. Atletico Madrid were were drawn from the unseeded bowl – but Manchester United’s ball did not seem to be placed back into the pot, meaning that it was impossible for them to have been drawn against Atletico.
That effectively meant not all of the teams in the pot had the equal opportunity to be drawn against other eligible teams.
United’s ire was compounded moments later when they were handed a tricky tie against Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain, and due to the ensuing drama speculation quickly rose that the draw may be repeated – something which was later confirmed by UEFA.
Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
According to ESPN’s Alex Shaw, Atletico Madrid discussed the situation with UEFA, with European football’s governing body debating internally if the draw could proceed as it stands – with the formal decision for a do-over coming soon after.
The decision is sure to have caused consternation for at least some of the teams within the draw. Per reporter Guillem Balague, Villarreal (who were drawn against Man City) had petitioned UEFA for a full redraw while Real Madrid, who were paired with Benfica, had asked for any redraw to begin after their ball was picked.
UEFA has been forced to order a re-run of the draw for this season’s Champions League last 16 after a botched ceremony in Switzerland – and some fans pointed the finger at Russian legend Andrey Arshavin.
Monday’s draw at UEFA HQ in Nyon appeared to throw up some intriguing ties – not least Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo being paired with Lionel Messi’s PSG.
But the dust had yet to settle before fans and pundits were crying foul across social media about an apparent error in the draw procedure.
The mistake centered on Manchester United, who were initially placed with Villarreal.
However, as the two teams met in the group stage, they were not eligible to face each other in the last 16.
Manchester City were then drawn to play Villarreal instead, with Atletico Madrid next popping up.
The problem, though, was that Manchester United had not been returned to the pot of eligible teams to play Atletico, when in reality they should have been.
Instead, United ended up appearing in the last tie of the draw against French giants PSG.
It definitely looks like #mufc’s ball – in the second pot from the right, back row – was not included in the Atletico Madrid draw. pic.twitter.com/ubxQHdjkQV
Explaining the error, UEFA laid the blame at the door of an external software provider while announcing a re-run for later on Monday.
“Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16,” said the governing body.
As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone at 1500 CET.
I understand everyones anger though. If UEFA have any intergrity (they dont). They will do a re-draw. Arshavin should be led to the nearest police station too.
footballers are just treated like robots by the governing bodies these days. fancy referring to Arshavin as an external service provider with a software issue. poor. https://t.co/FSBXHi4gbA
Arshavin, 40, was at the draw as a representative of St. Petersburg, where this season’s final will be held.
“People love football [in St. Petersburg], it’s a big event for our city, everyone dreams of holding such a big event,” Arshavin had said of his hometown, which hosts the final at the Gazprom Arena on May 28.
Arshavin also revealed that his fondest Champions League memory as player had been scoring a late winner for Arsenal in their 2011 last-16 first-leg win over Barcelona.
Defending champions Chelsea were again handed a meeting with French team Lille in a re-run of the Champions League last 16 draw in Switzerland, which also produced a clash between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
The ceremony had initially taken place earlier on Monday but an error involving Manchester United meant that UEFA ordered the draw to be repeated.
The second time around, defending champions Chelsea were placed with French team Lille – exactly the same tie as they had been given in the voided first draw.
Elsewhere, Manchester United, who had originally been paired with Paris Saint-Germain, were given a tie against Atletico Madrid in the repeated draw.
PSG and Lionel Messi were given a blockbuster meeting with record 13-time Champions League winners Real Madrid.
FULL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 DRAW
FC Salzburg (Austria) vs Bayern Munich (Germany)
Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) vs Manchester City (England)
Benfica (Portugal) vs Ajax (Netherlands)
Chelsea (England) vs Lille (France)
Atletico Madrid (Spain) vs Manchester United (England)
Villarreal (Spain) vs Juventus (Italy)
Inter Milan (Italy) vs Liverpool (England)
Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs Real Madrid
The ties will take place across two legs, the first of which will be spread across February 15, 16, 22 and 23. The return legs will be played on March 8, 9, 15 and 16.
The seeded teams (all group winners) will be away for the first legs and play the second legs at home.
A rule change for the knockout stages means that the away-goals rule is no longer in force. Any ties that are level after 180 minutes across two legs will go to extra-time and then potentially penalties.
This season’s Champions League final will be held in St. Petersburg on May 28 at the 68,000-seater Gazprom Arena, which is home to Russian champions Zenit.
Having initially been paired with Benfica in the first draw on Monday, Real Madrid will likely be the most aggrieved with the revised version as they will now play a star-studded PSG containing former Barcelona nemesis Messi.
Instead of having to contend with Messi and Co, Cristiano Ronaldo and his Manchester United teammates will play Diego Simeone’s Atletico.
Elsewhere, last season’s beaten finalists Manchester City will be favored to overcome Sporting Lisbon, while German giants Bayern will also be strongly fancied to steamroll Austrian rivals Salzburg.
Six-time winners Liverpool emerged from their group stage campaign with six wins from six, and will be tipped to overcome Serie A champions Inter Milan.
Explaining the error, UEFA later laid the blame at the door of an external software provider.
“Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16,” said the governing body.
Monday’s re-run will leave some teams happier with their lot, but others – most notably Real Madrid – appear to be much worse off than they were.
There were reports that Real had tried to convince UEFA to keep their original draw with Benfica intact before the re-run, as the mistake with Manchester United had only come afterwards.
In the end, the Bernabeu giants were included in the repeated draw and appear to have a much trickier assignment on their hands against Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG come February and March.
