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Max Verstappen wears GOLD racing boots as he’s back on track for first time since epic F1 title win over Lewis Hamilton

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MAX VERSTAPPEN left nobody in any doubt who was Formula One’s new golden boy as he showed off his new racing boots.

Red Bull’s speed king was back behind the wheel yesterday in Abu Dhabi for a tyre test and wore his special shoes… and a baseball hat saying ‘Champion’.

Verstappen walked the corridors in Abu Dhabi wearing golden racing bootsCredit: INSTAGRAM: MAXVERSTAPPEN1
Puma gave Verstappen the special boots with his championship car No33 on the sideCredit: INSTAGRAM: MAXVERSTAPPEN1

And the Dutchman is ready to be the grid’s new No1 after pipping Lewis Hamilton to win his maiden world championship on Sunday.

The 24-year-old has the choice to stick with his racing No 33 on his car for next season, or take the No 1, which is reserved for the champion.

And the Dutchman says it is a no-brainer to make the switch, unlike former world champion Hamilton, who stuck with No 44.

Verstappen, who edged out his Mercedes rival on the final lap in Abu Dhabi, said: “Yeah, I will run it.

“How many times can you do that?  I don’t know, maybe it’s the only time I can in my life.

“It’s the best number out there.  I will definitely put it on the car.”

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Verstappen left nobody in any doubt who the new champion wasCredit: PUMA / BEEM
Verstappen also showed off his ‘champions’ hat in the paddockCredit: Getty
Verstappen was testing new year’s Red Bull, with drastically wider tyres than in previous seasonsCredit: AFP

Verstappen won Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in controversial fashion, winning the title on the final lap – crushing rival Hamilton’s chances of a record-breaking eighth.

FIA race director Michael Masi has come under fire for seemingly ignoring the rules to create a single lap showdown in the winner-takes-all-contest.

Hamilton was on old tyres as Verstappen screamed past following a safety car period where Masi allowed five cars to get out of the way.

Verstappen and Red Bull reportedly partied into the early hours of the next morning, but on Tuesday it was back to work.

And there was no sign of a hangover for Verstappen as he strutted down corridors at the Yas Marina circuit in golden Puma shoes for post-season testing.

On Instagram, Verstappen wrote: “Back to work.”

Completing 124 laps around the same Yas Marina Circuit he sealed his title on days ago, Verstappen was one of 19 drivers testing the new 18-inch tyres which will be used in F1 next season.

And Verstappen did not have the same pace this time as he finished 17th, in a field made up of some current and inexperienced drivers.

That was, however, faster than new Mercedes man George Russell, driving in Hamilton’s absence.

Hamilton will instead be knighted by the Queen at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

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The new F1 season is scheduled to get underway in just three months time.

Bahrain will host the first race of the 2022 season, but the first three-day test is due to take place in Barcelona between February 23 and 25.

Abu Dhabi, like the season just passed, will host the finale.

Verstappen won the championship on the final lapCredit: GETTY IMAGES

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk

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