RACE START REPLAY: Controversy as Hamilton and Verstappen duel on Lap 1 as title-deciding season finale gets under way

F1 fans were braced for contentious moments as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale got under way. And they got it straight away, as title protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen duked it out on the opening lap at Yas Marina.

An ace start from P2 on the grid saw Hamilton expertly jump pole-sitter Verstappen to take the lead.

But a lunge from Verstappen into Turn 6 then saw Hamilton take to the run-off, with the Mercedes driver then re-emerging into the lead. And despite Verstappen’s protestations that Hamilton should give the place back, the stewards later decided that no investigation was necessary.

LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Watch the race start in the video above.