McLAREN star Daniel Ricciardo had the best view of the incredible final lap of the Ab Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Australian was directly behind Max Verstappen’s stunning overtake on Lewis Hamilton that saw him win his first F1 world championship.
Daniel Ricciardo had the perfect view of Max Verstappen’s overtake on Lewis HamiltonCredit: F1 TVVerstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap in Abu Dhabi to win his first Formula One World ChampionshipCredit: F1 TVVerstappen raced clear of Hamilton after passing the British icon at turn fiveCredit: F1 TV
The Red Bull ace, 24, passed the Mercedes driver in dramatic fashion at the death to deny the British icon a record eighth Formula One world title.
Hamilton was on course for victory only for a safety car to be deployed on lap 54 after Williams’ Nicholas Latifi crashed into the barriers.
The 36-year-old was leading the race by over ten seconds prior to the safety car, which ultimately allowed Verstappen to hone in on his rival.
Verstappen then used his fresher tyres after he pitted to edge in front of the seven-time world champ.
He was able to close the gap after stewards decided to allow lapped cars to pass Hamilton, leaving the Dutchman with clear track in front of him.
It came after stewards had initially indicated lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen would stay in their formation.
Ricciardo, who finished in 12th place at the Abu Dhabi GP, was one of the drivers that was not permitted to unlap themselves.
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But having found himself just behind the front row of Hamilton and Verstappen for the final lap, the Aussie was able to enjoy all the drama that unfolded in front of his eyes.
And the footage from his car showed the extraordinary final lap as Verstappen overtook Hamilton on turn five before streaking clear.
It shows Verstappen toying with Hamilton behind the safety car, before he raced clear of him to win his maiden championship.
Giving his immediate reaction following the race, Ricciardo said: “I don’t want you to ask me, I want to ask you. Tell me, tell me what happened.
“Crazy. Crazy, crazy finale. I said before the weekend, there’s no loser.
“They’ve both done everything possible … but of course, for Lewis to lose it on the last lap, that’s a tough one today.”
Before adding: “At the end it was kind of weird, they said cars can’t pass, the lapped cars, then some of them did, but then I wasn’t allowed to.
“We did a one-lap restart, I’m sitting right behind Lewis and Max, like, why am I here? I don’t know. It was very interesting.”
Hamilton was heard on the Mercedes team radio stating that the race ‘has been manipulated’ following the controversial ending.
Meanwhile his brother Nicolas branded the FIA as a ‘disgrace to the sport’ in an Instagram post.
