International media after Verstappen World title: 'Luck favours the brave'

Verstappen forces it himself'

At La Gazzetta Dello Sport Max Verstappen, Red Bull and Honda all get a 10 on their reports. "The last lap is the mirror of this extraordinary season: always on the attack," writes the Italian sports newspaper about Verstappen. "Of course, without Latifi's accident, the trophy would be at Hamilton's home: but as they say, luck favours the brave. And in any case, victories and poles confirm his superiority."

One continues with superlatives directed at Red Bull. "The genius Newey and a group of strategists who were always on top of things: those are the ingredients that have been there in recent years." On Honda:"A year like this pays you back for the foolish things that have happened to McLaren over the years (think Fernando Alonso and the 'GP2 engine'). The only real mistake is quitting F1 at the end of this year."

'Hamilton robbed of eighth World Championship'

The Daily Mail opens the day as follows: "British fans were left claiming Lewis Hamilton was robbed of an eighth World Championship after a decision by race directors to allow some of the lapped cars to overtake a safety car and set up a one-lap drag race between the British driver and his arch rival Max Verstappen."

This gave the 24-year-old Dutchman on new softs quite an advantage. "Verstappen overtook Hamilton to claim the win and also snatch the World Championship.Verstappen screamed with elation as he crossed the line, and was mobbed by his Red Bull pit crew who were clamouring to congratulate their star driver as soon as he jumped out of the car in parc ferme," wrote the British newspaper.

'Hamilton reaction censored'

The German Bild writes a day after the final Grand Prix of the season: "The madness started with five laps to go! Because Williams driver Latifi hits the crash barrier after a duel with Schumacher, the safety car comes out. The leader's reaction: Hamilton's radio is completely censored. He asks if he can come in for new tyres, but the team lets him out."

Hamilton did not have a free pit stop, according to Mercedes strategists. "Verstappen does come into the pits and is given fast soft tyres to be able to attack the Briton on a possible restart. On the restart, the two cars are almost level with one lap to go. Hamilton positions himself cleverly, retaining the lead. But in turn five of the very last lap, the Dutchman passes his rival and is crowned world champion!"

'A stroke of luck when all was lost'

Marca from Spain was still very critical of Verstappen last week, but now they are calling the Red Bull driver the deserved winner after all. "A last stroke of luck, when all was lost, gave Max the chance to drive the last lap on a new, soft tyre. He managed to overtake Lewis and become world champion. In doing so, he broke the seven-year dominance of Mercedes."

For the past seven seasons, the world title has always gone to a Mercedes driver. Hamilton would have loved to add an eighth. "Michael Schumacher's record is still waiting to be broken. It was a strange race, decided over many laps, but this one will never be forgotten. Verstappen burst into tears over the radio with a mixture of euphoria and uncontrollable emotion. He is a deserved and pure champion."

L'Equipe - France

France's biggest newspaper, L'Equipe, also devotes a post to Verstappen's first title. "However, the Dutchman did not drive a single full lap of the 58 in the lead at this Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Nothing foreshadowed a different outcome than a victory for Hamilton and an eighth world championship title. But several elements caused the Briton's loss. Sergio Perez, who again showed he was the perfect second driver, slowed Hamilton down for long periods despite his soft tyres being at the end of their tether."