Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Max Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton on the last lap to win the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and with it a first career Formula One world title on Sunday in the culmination of a season-long duel with the title holder.

Mercedes' Hamilton seemed on course towards a record eighth title when he won the start against the pole sitter Verstappen of Red Bull and was allowed to keep the lead after riding off track to avoid a collision between the two.

But a late safety car saw Verstappen pit while Hamilton didn't, and Hamilton had no chance against Verstappen's fresh tires when the race restarted for one final lap and the Dutchman flew past him for an emotional victory and title.

Mercedes lodged two protests, firstly contesting that allowing exclusively the cars between then leading Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves was against the rules.

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The other protest against Verstappen for overtaking under the safety car was rejected, as stewards said though he "for a very short period of time" moved "slightly in front," he was "back behind" and "not in front when the safety car period ended."

It's unclear when a final resolution will come.

Red Bull were furious when Hamilton was allowed to keep the lead in the opening lap incidents but had the last laugh when race stewards reversed an earlier decision not to allow Verstappen and others to pass lapped cars – giving him the opportunity to storm past Hamilton for victory and the title.

Verstappen's title ended Mercedes' all-out reign in the hybrid era since 2014, although the German marque managed to get an eighth straight constructors' title.

It was the first world title in eight years for Red Bull, who had won four straight drivers' titles from Sebastian Vettel and all constructors' titles in the period 2010-2013 as well.

Hamilton had to settle for second as in 2016 behind then team-mate Nico Rosberg as failed to move one world title ahead of Michael Schumacher, whom he had replaced at Mercedes in 2013.

"Finally a bit of luck for me," said the 24-year-old Verstappen who claimed his 10th season win and 20th overall and earlier complained about bias towards Mercedes.

"It's unbelievable. Throughout the whole race I kept fighting and to have an opportunity on the last lap, it's incredible."

"This year has been incredible. My team know I love them and I hope we can do this for 10-15 years together. There's no reason to change ever, I want to stay with them for the rest of my life. I hope they let me," the son of former racer Jos Verstappen added.

Hamilton, who made up a big deficit by winning the previous three races, said: "Congratulations to Max and his team. I think we did an amazing job this year. The team, everyone back at the factory, all the men and women we have, worked so hard all year in a difficult season."

That Verstappen was on faster soft tires at the start added to the excitement. They degraded rather quickly while Hamilton started on the slower mediums which are more durable.

Hamilton had a dream start as he passed Verstappen into turn one but the Dutchman did not give up. He cut inside into a left turn, the cars almost touched, Hamilton was forced off the track but returned still in the lead.

And stewards ruled Hamilton only had to give back the advantage gained by the shortcut but not the lead because he had nowhere to go and avoided a collision by leaving the track.

Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez sensationally held up Hamilton for several laps after the leaders' first pit stops but neither that nor a virtual safety car after Antonio Giovinazzi's Alfa Romeo stopped next to the track helped him even though he pitted for fresh rubbers and Hamilton didn't.

But Latifi's mishap and the final decision of the stewards then led to the last-lap climax of an extraordinary season in which Carlos Sainz of Ferrari also made the podium in third.

The finale only saw 19 drivers as Nikita Mazepin of Haas could not compete after testing positive for the coronavirus.

And the last race of 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen ended in lap 27 when he spun off, hit the wall and could only limp back to the pits with his Alfa Romeo.