Lewis Hamilton beat Max Verstappen in a chaotic and controversial Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to set up a winner-takes all championship finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The race was stopped twice, featured three starts and an extraordinary series of events between the title contenders in one of the most dramatic grands prix in years.
Hamilton won despite crashing into the back of Verstappen at one point during a race in which the Dutchman twice had to cede a position to the Mercedes driver he had gained illegally.
And it ended with the two drivers tied on points heading into the last race of the season.
So much happened in the course of the race that it was hard to keep up, as the advantage swung wildly back and forth between Hamilton and Verstappen.
But in the defining moment, Verstappen was ordered to hand the lead to Hamilton because he had held on to it by forcing the seven-time champion off the track at Turn One with 13 laps to go.
There were crashes, safety cars, red flags, claims of dirty driving after Hamilton hit the back of Verstappen's suddenly slowing car, penalties, collisions and extraordinary exchanges between race director Michael Masi and the top two teams.
Seven-times world champion Hamilton took the bonus point for fastest lap to level with Verstappen on 369.5 points after 21 races.
The final round of the season is at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina next weekend.
Verstappen, who finished second with Valtteri Bottas third for Mercedes, leads 9-8 on wins, however -- meaning that the Dutch 24-year-old will be champion if neither score another point.
"I tried to be as tough as I could be out there but also sensible and with all my race experience over the years, just keeping the car on track and staying clean," said Hamilton after his 103rd career win.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Briton started on pole but twice lost out to Verstappen at standing re-starts.
The Dutch driver was eventually ordered to hand back the lead, after going wide as Hamilton tried to pass, but when he slowed Hamilton ran into the back of him -- accusing his rival of 'brake-testing' him.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner defended his driver: "I don't know why he ran into the back of you like that, it made no sense," he said over the radio.
Stewards handed Verstappen a five second time penalty but Hamilton rendered that irrelevant by overtaking seven laps from the end.
Mercedes were angry with Masi, saying they had not been given time to inform Hamilton that Verstappen had been told to give the place back, and Verstappen was also furious.
"What happened today is unbelievable and this sport is more about penalties than racing. For me, this is not Formula One," said the Dutchman, who was awarded Driver of the Day in a fan vote.
"That was spectacular but not a good race," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
-BBC-Reuters
