Lewis Hamilton beat Max Verstappen in a chaotic and controversial Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to set up a winner-takes-all title finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
In one of the most dramatic grands prix in years, the race was stopped twice, featured three starts and had an extraordinary series of events between the title contenders.
Hamilton won despite crashing into the back of Verstappen at one point during a race in which the Dutchman twice had to cede a position to the Mercedes driver that he had gained illegally.
And it ended with the two drivers tied on points heading into the last race of the season.
So much happened in the course of the race that it was hard to keep up, as the advantage swung wildly back and forth between Hamilton and Verstappen.
But in the defining moment, Verstappen was ordered to hand the lead to Hamilton because he had held it by forcing the seven-time champion off the track at Turn One with 13 laps to go.
It did not happen immediately though. After Red Bull were told to hand the lead to Hamilton, Verstappen slowed to do so on the run to the last corner and the Briton ran into the back of him and damaged his front wing.
They continued with Verstappen in the lead until the Dutchman did finally hand over the lead six laps later.
The nature of Verstappen’s conduct will revive debate about whether it is fair for him to drive the way he does, always refusing to back down in wheel-to-wheel incidents, even when other drivers would recognise their rival had won the corner.
BBC Sport
