As it looked like Hamilton was on his way to his eighth world title, Verstappen took advantage of a crash by Nicolas Latifi that effectively set up a one-lap dash for the title.
Verstappen and Hamilton, who had started the race level on points, started the final lap wheel to wheel but the 24-year-old Red Bull driver pulled away to take the checkered flag.
It was a compelling end to a championship for the ages, which featured over 22 magic-binding acts.
Hamilton was on course to better Michael Schumacher’s seven world crowns, prompting Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to say: “We need a miracle.”
This came in the unexpected shape of Latifi, who crashed his Williams, with Dutchman Verstappen promptly pitching for new tyres, while Hamilton did not.
When racing resumed for the 58th and the closing lap at the Yas Marina circuit, Verstappen overtook Hamilton to take the checkered flag, causing delight at the Red Bull pitwall and fury at Mercedes.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff filed an appeal over the result, claiming that the rules governing safety car procedures were violated.
After a lengthy hearing, the managers rejected the protest. Mercedes announced its intention to contest the decision and had 96 hours to formalize or withdraw the official appeal.
So this extraordinary title race may still end up in the hands of lawyers.
For now though, Verstappen enjoys his new status as world champion.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “When I was young my goal was to become a Formula One driver. You dream of podiums and victories. But when they tell you that you are world champion, it’s unbelievable.”
Hamilton was generous in the defeat, embracing his nemesis, saying: “Congratulations to Max and his team.”
The Briton, 36, said: “We gave it our all in the last part of the season and never gave up, that’s the most important thing.”
The ousted champion’s father, Anthony, congratulated both Verstappen and the new-champion’s father Jose, a former F1 driver.
The Dutch F1 World Champion was celebrated for the first time in the Netherlands.
“What an incredible ending. I’ve lost my voice,” 30-year-old Tom Alsem said at a bar in The Hague.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Root tweeted that it was “a historic day for Dutch sport”.
Verstappen and Hamilton had approached the winner-take-all denouement at the desert level on a points basis, the first time since 1974 that title rivals were going into the final race.
The two filled the front row after a flying lap in qualifying, with Verstappen on pole.
But Hamilton got off to a great start, beating Verstappen at the first turn.
The Dutch driver jumped to take the lead at turn seven, driving his arch-rival off the track.
The Briton rejoined the front, but the race stewards controversially decided that no investigation was necessary, highlighting the unreliability in Red Bull’s enclosure.
“It’s unbelievable, what are they doing here?” Verstappen complained on team radio.
After a dozen laps, Hamilton was more than five seconds behind Verstappen.
The Dutchman pitched on lap 14, rejoining fifth.
– a lap of drama –
Mercedes then brought in Hamilton for a power pit stop.
He also came back on hard tires in second, behind Red Bull’s number two driver Sergio Pérez, with Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari ahead of Verstappen, who soon had the Spaniard’s measure.
Perez then showed himself to be the final teammate, frustrating several attempts by Hamilton to overtake, allowing Verstappen to close the gap.
Hamilton finally struck at the front, with Perez handing over his position to Verstappen.
“Checo is a legend,” said an appreciative Verstappen on team radio.
In between, with night falling, Kimi Rikkönen’s race came to an end, with the 2007 world champion heading into retirement after a record 349 races.
Back on the track the gap between the leaders was four seconds, and came into play as Mercedes’ improved speed progressed by the lap.
On lap 36 a virtual safety car saw Verstappen pit for a new set of tires on his Red Bull.
“Am I a little bit at risk of going out?” Hamilton, 17 seconds clear, asked his team, worried about the champion becoming a duck while sitting on his old tyres.
In the end this decision proved to be important.
It appears Hamilton will emerge victorious, but this magical season has had one last trick up its sleeve, crowning the Belgian-born Dutchman a deserving world champion.
This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.
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