Brazilian model Kelly Piquet could not hide her joy as she embraced boyfriend Max Verstappen after his stunning victory in Abu Dhabi, where he overtook rival Lewis Hamilton on the last lap to seal the Formula 1 world title.
Verstappen triumphed in remarkable scenes at the Yas Marina circuit as the late deployment of a safety car derailed Hamilton’s seemingly serene progress towards an eighth world title.
Red Bull driver Verstappen was handed a last roll of the dice by a late tire change and some controversial decision-making by race officials.
But the Dutchman, 24, kept his cool to rip past Hamilton on the last lap to clinch a first-ever F1 title.
Among those to congratulate the star in chaotic scenes trackside was Verstappen’s lover Pique – who is the daughter of Brazilian F1 legend Nelson Pique, himself a three-time world champion.
German-born Kelly, 33, was seen hugging Verstappen tightly amid wild celebrations after the last-gasp conclusion to an incredible season in which the title battle had ebbed and flowed between the Dutchman and his British rival.
The moment was picked up by the cameras, with one fan gushing: “Thank you for blessing us with your presence, Miss Kelly Piquet, the most beautiful lucky charm in the world.”
Verstappen and Piquet are thought to have been in a relationship since October 2020, although the model and media personality previously dated Russian racer Daniil Kvyat.
Piquet and Kvyat have a daughter together, Penelope, who was born in July 2019, although the pair are said to have split in December of the same year.
Kvyat, 27, previously raced for the Red Bull F1 team, but was replaced by Verstappen in 2016 as the Russian was shunted to affiliate team Toro Rosso.
Verstappen has never looked back, while Kvyat is now a reserve driver for F1 team Alpine.
Capping his remarkable title triumph, Verstappen paid tribute to his team on Sunday.
“To my team, I think they know I love them. I hope we can do this for 10 to 15 years together,” said the Dutchman, who is the son of former F1 racer Jos Verstappen.
“There’s no reason to change, ever. I want to stay with them for the rest of my life. They love me. Yeah, it’s insane!
“I’m so happy, and also [Red Bull team boss] Christian [Horner] and [Red Bull advisor] Helmut [Marko] trusting me to be in the team in 2016.
“Our goal, of course, was to win this championship, and now we have!”
While there was unbridled joy for Verstappen, his partner Piquet and the Red Bull team, Mercedes confirmed that they had filed a protest against the decisions made by officials surrounding the safety car in the closing stages.
What is being hailed as the most dramatic conclusion to a Formula 1 season in history has left a lot of sports fans scratching their heads, so here is how Max Verstappen squeezed past Lewis Hamilton to claim his first F1 crown.
WHY WAS THE SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED?
With Lewis Hamilton in the lead of the race and on course for the Drivers’ Championship as the final Grand Prix of the 2021 F1 season inched closer to its conclusion, the television cameras cut to something which at first looked to be innocuous, but would eventually play a large part in determining the destination of the title.
That image was of Williams driver Nicholas Latifi, who had crashed out of the race on lap 53 of 58.
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
Latifi’s accident would require the introduction of the safety car, something F1 fans are well accustomed to over the years to safeguard drivers from wreckage or any other debris on the track which could potentially cause further accidents.
The car remained deployed while Latifi’s stricken Williams was cleared from the track.
WHAT HAPPENED WHILE THE SAFETY CAR WAS DEPLOYED?
This is where things got interesting… and slightly complicated.
The FIA rulebook states that any lapped cars behind a safety car can overtake and un-lap themselves, should such a situation present itself.
Article 39.12 of sporting regs says: “If clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message “LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE” has been sent to all teams, any cars that have been lapped by leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.” 1/
Just five of the racers who had been lapped overtook the safety car in Abu Dhabi: Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.
Three lapped racers didn’t – Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Mick Schumacher – but that trio didn’t seem to been given a chance to do so after a controversial call by race director Michael Masi.
Per the rules, once all cars un-lap themselves, the safety car can leave the track on the next lap.
All five cars that did un-lap themselves had been between Hamilton and Verstappen, meaning there was now no impediment to the Dutchman directly attacking the Brit, which he duly did.
Had the remaining cars been afforded an opportunity to un-lap themselves then the race would have finished under a yellow flag, with Hamilton being declared the winner and the 2021 world champion.
WHY DIDN’T HAMILTON PIT WHEN VERSTAPPEN DID?
Hamilton’s Mercedes team decided against bringing their driver in for a late pit stop because doing so would have surrendered the lead to Verstappen unless he did the same.
But sensing an opportunity after Hamilton opted not to do so, Verstappen’s Red Bull team did bring their man in for fresh tires.
This proved to be the decisive moment of the race as once the race resumed after the safety car was removed, Hamilton’s advantage had been eaten away and he was now trying to keep a driver with fresher tires at bay.
His lead didn’t last long. Verstappen passed Hamilton on the way into turn five and batted away the British driver’s attempts to return the favor in the two straights which followed to cross the finish line as the new Formula 1 world champion.
With Verstappen’s reign as world champion barely an hour old, Mercedes revealed that they would be filing an appeal against the conclusion of the race.
In fact, two formal protests were filed: one related to cars overtaking while the safety car was on the track, and the other stems from a complaint regarding Verstappen specifically overtaking during the safety car.
FIA race director Masi left himself open to accusations of flip-flopping after appearing to change his mind during the extraordinary denouement by first ruling out cars being allowed to overtake, only for them to be given the green light to do so.
WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THE PROTESTS?
After a tense wait for both teams, it was confirmed that both Mercedes’ protests had been dismissed.
Regarding the issue of Verstappen overtaking Hamilton under the safety car, it was ruled by stewards that although the Dutchman did briefly move slightly in front of the Brit at a time when both cars where accelerating and braking, he had then moved back and was not in front when the safety car period ended.
The second appeal regarding broader use of the safety car and overtaking was also rejected.
In a convoluted response, the gist was that race officials had acted within their rights to withdraw the safety car when they did, and that there had been no wrongdoing regarding overtaking – or lack of it – by cars which had been lapped.
Mercedes have already said they will seek a further appeal with the FIA, and beyond that could even take it up with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
Mercedes has lodged its intention to appeal #F1#AbuDhabiGP
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.
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.
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.
