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LEWIS HAMILTON missed out on a record eighth F1 world title by the barest of margins this year, and could face an even tougher challenge for the gong next season. Max Verstappen won the title at Yas Marina in controversial circumstances earlier this month, and the Dutchman will be desperate to defend his title in 2022.
Hamilton is currently tied with Michael Schumacher on seven world titlesCredit: PA
Verstappen denied Hamilton an eighth title this season after a dramatic climaxCredit: Reuters
There are rumours that Hamilton could RETIRE after this year’s thrilling title race, although he is expected to take to the grid once again when the season starts in March.
Verstappen is sure to challenge him for the crown again, but new technical regulations that come into force in 2022 could also make for a wide-open title race.
Here SunSport take a look at just who could rival Hamilton for the championship in 2022.
Max Verstappen
The Red Bull flyer is sure to give it his all to defend his maiden title.
The 24-year-old has stacks of ability behind the wheel and will likely be Hamilton’s biggest challenge next year.
Ten race wins in 2021, and 18 podiums overall, will make Verstappen a leading contender if he replicates that form in 2022.
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George Russell
The 23-year-old Brit is moving to Mercedes from Williams next season to replace the departing Valteri Bottas.
Russell will be Hamilton’s team-mate, but in a much faster car he will be able to showcase more of what he can do.
Russell will be looking to impress in his first season with MercedesCredit: PA
Whether he will be a title challenger remains to be seen, but he impressed when racing in Hamilton’s place during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.
But as Mercedes experienced in the Nico Rosberg and Hamilton days, two drivers competing for the title could do the team more harm than good…
Charles Leclerc
The 2022 shake-up will see cars shoot air upwards, rather than behind them.
That means the drivers are capable of travelling closer together, which in turn leads to closer racing.
One man who could benefit from that is Ferrari driver Leclerc.
Ferrari improved from sixth in the constructors standings in 2020 to third in 2021, and a further upwards trajectory could see Leclerc improve again.
Leclerc has been improving steadily, and could improve again next seasonCredit: Getty
Sergio Perez
Verstappen’s team-mate at Red Bull, Perez showed moments of brilliance last season, finishing fourth in the driver standings.
The 31-year-old Mexican driver is the perfect partner to Verstappen, and valiantly held up Hamilton behind him in Abu Dhabi to help Verstappen ultimately take the chequered flag.
His title credentials remain questionable, but he’s certainly got the car to trouble Hamilton next season on multiple occasions.
And if Russell fails to to adapt immediately at Mercedes, Red Bull will have the tactical advantage of two drivers high on the grid.
Perez is an able to deputy to Verstappen, and will be looking to kick on next seasonCredit: Getty More

MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff has backed the ban on race principals being able to talk to F1 race directors over the radio during races.The Austrian’s comments come as he also admitted ‘overstepping the mark’ with his rant to Abu Dhabi director Micahel Masi during the dramatic final lap of last season’s championship.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has backed the ban on team principals being allowed to speak to race directors during Grands Prix next seasonCredit: pixel8000
It comes after he admitted overstepping the mark in his rant at Abu Dhabi race director Michael MasiCredit: Getty
Masi controversially allowed lapped cars to un-lap under the safety car heading into the final circuit and, in doing so, virtually handed the title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman had fresh tires and flew past Mercedes’ British star Lewis Hamilton – who was leading – prompting a furious outburst from Wolff.
Fuming, the 48-year-old yelled down the publicly broadcast radio: “No, Michael, no, no, Michael, that was so not right.”
In order to let fans understand what is going on and to make races more transparent and entertaining, radio exchanges from the race control channel are broadcast on TV and radio.
But Wolff reckons it’s time for the principal-director line of communication to be axed – in line with a call from F1 managing director Ross Brawn.
Wolff told Motorsport.com: “I agree with Ross.
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“But I equally blame Ross and myself because we have been part of the decision making to broadcast more of the channels for the purpose of transparency and entertainment for the fans.
“There is so much going on on the intercom that giving fans a little bit of an overview of all the little dramas that happen, like is the car breaking down, are we having some kind of strategy discussions, was meant well.
“But I think we overshot.”
Wolff’s Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner could also be heard pressurising Masi to allow the cars to un-lap in the build up.
And Wolff added: “I need to take myself by the nose, and Christian.
“We were given the opportunity to talk to the race director directly, and because we fight so fiercely for the interests of our teams all of us, we overstepped.”
After the controversy surrounding the finale, Brawn revealed principals will no longer be able to speak to the race director during Grands Prix next year.
Here is the full line-up for the 2022 Formula 1 season
He explained: “We will stop this contact next year.
“It’s unacceptable that team bosses put Michael under such pressure during the race.
“It’s like the coaches negotiating with the referee in football.”
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MAX VERSTAPPEN was crowned F1 champion in one of the most controversial ends to a sporting event. Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team were left furious and accused race bosses of bending the rules, resulting in a dramatic one-lap shootout between Hamilton and Verstappen for the title.
Max Verstappen was finally CONFIRMED as world champion four-and-a-half hours after the race finishedCredit: Getty
Verstappen and Red Bull celebrate after protests by Mercedes were rejectedCredit: Getty
Lewis Hamilton embraces rival Max Verstappen after the raceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Brit had been chasing a record 8th world titleCredit: Getty
Merc’s chiefs fought a four-and-a-half hour battle to have the decision overturned before it was finally rejected late on Sunday night – however, the German team are expected to mount a further legal challenge.
After Mercedes’ protest was rejected Verstappen said: “I am very relieved. It’s been a very stressful day.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner added: “I am disappointed we had to go through that. Max is the world champion, he’s the deserving world champion, nobody can take that from him.”
Merc boss Toto Wolff raged at race director Michael Masi, who was subjected to an investigation over his handling of the Abu Dhabi GP.
Masi, the equivalent of a referee, has been dogged by question marks over his handling of flashpoints over the season – but none more so than here at the final race.
It was supposed to be the best finale the sport has ever known, Verstappen coming of age against the seven-time champion.
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A seminal moment to witness the ending of an era and the start of a new reign for the Dutchman.
F1 has made a habit of shooting itself in the foot but this time they used a rocket launcher for good measure.
After the pathetic show at the Belgian GP this year, where a handful of laps were run behind a safety car to satisfy lucrative TV contracts, this was a new low.
It shows that despite having the best battle in years, the sport has been overregulated by a rule book that the FIA don’t themselves understand.
Having led for the majority of the race – and with a huge gap in front – Nicholas Latifi’s smash five laps from the end saw Masi deploy the safety car while the broken Williams was recovered.
Initially, Masi said that ‘any lapped cars will not be allowed to overtake’ – which meant Verstappen would be trapped behind five backmarkers before he could get a run on Hamilton.
However, on the penultimate lap, Masi CHANGED his mind allowing just the five cars to unlap themselves to put Verstappen right behind Hamilton.

The Dutchman popped open the bottles of bubbly after the official confirmationCredit: Getty
Verstappen celebrating with his entire Red Bull teamCredit: Getty
It left Hamilton a sitting duck on old tyres as Verstappen swooped past on the final lap to take his first world title.
Mercedes’ protest was based on two regulations: Article 48.12 and Article 48.8 of the F1 Sporting Regulations.
The first was rejected after three hours when Verstappen was cleared of overtaking behind the safety car.
And the second was rejected as Red Bull argued that the rules say “any” cars rather than “all cars” while Masi was also cleared of any breaches.
As the Red Bull team celebrated with Queen’s “We are the Champions playing from their garage”, Hamilton trudged out of the paddock.
The manner in which this title was decided will wrangle with Mercedes, while F1 drivers were also scathing over how it was handled.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was not impressed with the outcome – and the team have appealedCredit: Sky Sports
FIA race director Michael Masi has come in for huge criticismCredit: Getty
Red Bull boss Christian Horner was delightedCredit: Getty
George Russell, who will be Hamilton’s team-mate next season, Tweeted: “THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!
“Max is an absolutely fantastic driver who has had an incredible season and I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely unacceptable.
“I cannot believe what we’ve just seen.”
Former F1 world champions were also critical of the FIA’s handling of the final few laps.
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Damon Hill, who won the title 1996, added: “This is like running a motor race in a way we’ve not been used to in the past.
“They’ve kept us guessing all the time as to which way a decision is going to go. One team who is not going to be complaining about what happened is Red Bull.”
Nico Rosberg, the last man to beat Hamilton to the title in 2016, said: “First they said you’re not allowed to unlap themselves, then they changed that once they saw it was safe to do so.
“The thing is that in the document it says ‘all cars will be required to unlap themselves’ and yet they only let those five cars that were between Lewis and Verstappen unlap themselves.”
Nicholas Lafiti’s crash saw the safety car deployed and gave Verstappen the chance to cut the leadCredit: Sky Sports
Lando Norris, who was right in the mix and one of the five cars ordered to get out of the way, says he was equally baffled when the instruction came.
He said: “At first we weren’t allowed to overtake, as the backmarkers, so if that influenced decisions to Mercedes and to Lewis and that’s the reason they didn’t do their pit-stop.
“But then the FIA suddenly changed their minds and they were allowed to let us past. That’s where I’m not so sure. For it to end like that, I’m not so sure.”
Hamilton’s brother Anthony also blasted the FIA on social media.
He wrote on Instagram: “The FIA broke their own rules, which is a disgrace to our whole sport.
“Nevertheless, regardless of being mistreated today, the Hamilton’s were humble in defeat.
“My father, the guy who raised us, congratulating Max & his father Jos.
People can say what they like, but my Father’s gesture proves all of the doubters & haters wrong & shows who we are as ‘The Hamilton’s’.
“Proving people wrong is in our DNA, which Lewis does on a daily basis.
“With utter professionalism & decency in defeat, even though we all know, that he was let down by the sport that he has given so much to.
“Congratulations to Max for such a fantastic season from him.”
Verstappen finally overtook Hamilton on the final lap of the seasonCredit: Getty
Hamilton’s dad Anthony gave his son a cuddle at the end of the raceCredit: PA
Verstappen posing with his first F1 world crownCredit: Getty More

MAX VERSTAPPEN was crowned F1 champion in one of the most controversial ends to a sporting event. Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team were left furious and accused race bosses of bending the rules, resulting in a dramatic one-lap shootout between Hamilton and Verstappen for the title.
Max Verstappen was finally CONFIRMED as world champion four-and-a-half hours after the race finishedCredit: Getty
Verstappen and Red Bull celebrate after protests by Mercedes were rejectedCredit: Getty
Lewis Hamilton embraces rival Max Verstappen after the raceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Brit had been chasing a record 8th world titleCredit: Getty
Merc’s chiefs fought a four-and-a-half hour battle to have the decision overturned before it was finally rejected late on Sunday night – however, the German team are expected to mount a further legal challenge.
After Mercedes’ protest was rejected Verstappen said: “I am very relieved. It’s been a very stressful day.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner added: “I am disappointed we had to go through that. Max is the world champion, he’s the deserving world champion, nobody can take that from him.”
Merc boss Toto Wolff raged at race director Michael Masi, who was subjected to an investigation over his handling of the Abu Dhabi GP.
Masi, the equivalent of a referee, has been dogged by question marks over his handling of flashpoints over the season – but none more so than here at the final race.
It was supposed to be the best finale the sport has ever known, Verstappen coming of age against the seven-time champion.
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A seminal moment to witness the ending of an era and the start of a new reign for the Dutchman.
F1 has made a habit of shooting itself in the foot but this time they used a rocket launcher for good measure.
After the pathetic show at the Belgian GP this year, where a handful of laps were run behind a safety car to satisfy lucrative TV contracts, this was a new low.
It shows that despite having the best battle in years, the sport has been overregulated by a rule book that the FIA don’t themselves understand.
Having led for the majority of the race – and with a huge gap in front – Nicholas Latifi’s smash five laps from the end saw Masi deploy the safety car while the broken Williams was recovered.
Initially, Masi said that ‘any lapped cars will not be allowed to overtake’ – which meant Verstappen would be trapped behind five backmarkers before he could get a run on Hamilton.
However, on the penultimate lap, Masi CHANGED his mind allowing just the five cars to unlap themselves to put Verstappen right behind Hamilton.
The Dutchman popped open the bottles of bubbly after the official confirmationCredit: Getty
Verstappen celebrating with his entire Red Bull teamCredit: Getty
It left Hamilton a sitting duck on old tyres as Verstappen swooped past on the final lap to take his first world title.
Mercedes’ protest was based on two regulations: Article 48.12 and Article 48.8 of the F1 Sporting Regulations.
The first was rejected after three hours when Verstappen was cleared of overtaking behind the safety car.
And the second was rejected as Red Bull argued that the rules say “any” cars rather than “all cars” while Masi was also cleared of any breaches.
As the Red Bull team celebrated with Queen’s “We are the Champions playing from their garage”, Hamilton trudged out of the paddock.
The manner in which this title was decided will wrangle with Mercedes, while F1 drivers were also scathing over how it was handled.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was not impressed with the outcome – and the team have appealedCredit: Sky Sports
FIA race director Michael Masi has come in for huge criticismCredit: Getty
Red Bull boss Christian Horner was delightedCredit: Getty
George Russell, who will be Hamilton’s team-mate next season, Tweeted: “THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!
“Max is an absolutely fantastic driver who has had an incredible season and I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely unacceptable.
“I cannot believe what we’ve just seen.”
Former F1 world champions were also critical of the FIA’s handling of the final few laps.
Damon Hill, who won the title 1996, added: “This is like running a motor race in a way we’ve not been used to in the past.
“They’ve kept us guessing all the time as to which way a decision is going to go. One team who is not going to be complaining about what happened is Red Bull.”
Nico Rosberg, the last man to beat Hamilton to the title in 2016, said: “First they said you’re not allowed to unlap themselves, then they changed that once they saw it was safe to do so.
“The thing is that in the document it says ‘all cars will be required to unlap themselves’ and yet they only let those five cars that were between Lewis and Verstappen unlap themselves.”
Nicholas Lafiti’s crash saw the safety car deployed and gave Verstappen the chance to cut the leadCredit: Sky Sports
Lando Norris, who was right in the mix and one of the five cars ordered to get out of the way, says he was equally baffled when the instruction came.
He said: “At first we weren’t allowed to overtake, as the backmarkers, so if that influenced decisions to Mercedes and to Lewis and that’s the reason they didn’t do their pit-stop.
“But then the FIA suddenly changed their minds and they were allowed to let us past. That’s where I’m not so sure. For it to end like that, I’m not so sure.”
Hamilton’s brother Anthony also blasted the FIA on social media.
He wrote on Instagram: “The FIA broke their own rules, which is a disgrace to our whole sport.
“Nevertheless, regardless of being mistreated today, the Hamilton’s were humble in defeat.
“My father, the guy who raised us, congratulating Max & his father Jos.
People can say what they like, but my Father’s gesture proves all of the doubters & haters wrong & shows who we are as ‘The Hamilton’s’.
“Proving people wrong is in our DNA, which Lewis does on a daily basis.
“With utter professionalism & decency in defeat, even though we all know, that he was let down by the sport that he has given so much to.
“Congratulations to Max for such a fantastic season from him.”
Verstappen finally overtook Hamilton on the final lap of the seasonCredit: Getty
Hamilton’s dad Anthony gave his son a cuddle at the end of the raceCredit: PA
Verstappen posing with his first F1 world crownCredit: Getty More

MERCEDES launched a protest to F1 race stewards after Max Verstappen seemed to pass Lewis Hamilton BEFORE the safety car had left the track. Pictures from the season finale at Yas Marina show Verstappen overtaking Hamilton BEFORE the safety car had officially left, although Mercedes have been unsuccessful in their protest against it.
Verstappen overtaking HamiltonCredit: Sky Sports
Mercedes have lodged a protest against the resultCredit: Sky Sports
The pictures show Verstappen in front of the Brit, with the safety car yet to officially finishCredit: Sky Sports
From an onboard camera on the Dutchman’s car there is clear track in front of him, with Hamilton’s car just about visible to the left of screen.
So the pictures seem to show Verstappen actually pulling ahead of Hamilton before technically being allowed to do so.
The shots come prior to the safety car officially coming to an end.
But a statement from race stewards read: “Although (VER) did, for a very short period of time, move slightly in front of (HAM), when both were accelerating and braking, moved back behind and not in front when safety car period ended.”
Mercedes launched protests on two counts after the incident, with the saga looking like it could rumble on long into the night.
They are ‘relating to alleged breaches of Articles 48.8 and 48.12 of the FIA Sporting Regulations’ and involve the apparent overtaking by Vertsappen and the way some lapped cars were allowed to pass Hamilton and others weren’t before the race restarted.
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Race stewards could have dramatically OVERTURN the result if they find Verstappen to have breached any rules while overtaking.
But after the protest on the overtake was rejected, the appeal on cars passing Hamilton has also been thrown out by stewards.
It means Verstappen has been confirmed as world champion.
Hamilton had seemed destined to secure a record eighth world title until a late safety car allowed Verstappen to overtake the Brit on the last lap of the race.
He was leading in Abu Dhabi by more than ten seconds before the safety car was called on lap 54 when Nicholas Latifi crashed into the barriers.
That allowed Verstappen to hone in on Hamilton, before using his fresher tyres to edge in front of the seven-time world champ right at the death.
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. More