Hamilton vs Verstappen

Lore & Background

The RB16B won the drivers' title with Max Verstappen in 2021, marking the team's first World Championship title in 8 years since Sebastian Vettel won the drivers' title and the team won the constructors' title in 2013. The RB16B became the first non-Mercedes car to win any championship since 2013, and Honda became the first Japanese and Asian engine supplier world champions of the turbo-hybrid era.

In Their Own Story

Under the floodlights of Yas Marina, the final lap unfolded under artificial glare rather than daylight. Hamilton defended his position with calculated precision on worn hard tires, while Verstappen hunted for an overtake on fresh soft rubber. The safety car restart reset the board, turning a battle of attrition into a single-lap sprint to Turn 5. Silence gripped the grandstands as they thundered toward the final corner; it was no longer just about points or trophies, but history itself written in tire smoke and split-second decisions.

Reader's Guide

The RB16 made its debut at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, while the RB16B made its debut at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. The drivers for 2020 were Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon, with Sergio Pérez taking Albon's place for 2021. Albon became the team's test and reserve driver for the 2021 season.

Did You Know?

• Max Verstappen won his first drivers' title with the RB16B in 2021, not his second.
• Mercedes won the Constructors' Championship in 2021, extending their streak; Red Bull finished second in the constructors that year.