The safety car pulled away, and the five red lights lit up—one light, two lights…
As the lights went out and the race began, accompanied by the commentator's increasingly passionate voice, the 2021 F1 season finale, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, officially kicked off.
Dominik usually didn't feel nervous watching F1, but tonight was different. This could be the night Mercedes' long-standing dominance was finally broken, and that thought made his chest feel tight.
He hoped Hamilton could claim his eighth world championship, yet at the same time, he wanted to see the young Verstappen break free from the shadow of the veterans and lead Red Bull to their first title since Vettel's departure.
Both drivers were tied at 369.5 points. Both had dominant cars. Both had exceptional second drivers.
Dominik couldn't help but think this race was destined to be legendary. As a Williams Academy driver, he stared unblinkingly at the timing screens and broadcast monitors inside the pit garage.
When the W12 launched, Verstappen—starting from pole—made a slight mistake. Hamilton seized the moment and overtook him into Turn 1.
Soon after, Verstappen and Hamilton made contact at Turn 6. Despite the pit lane housing ten teams, most personnel were focused solely on the duel between the two title contenders. Whoever won tonight would be crowned world champion.
Dominik frowned instinctively. Logically, he didn't agree with the move.
Fortunately, Hamilton ran wide but retained the lead.
On Lap 14, Verstappen pitted first for hard tires, rejoining in fifth behind Norris.
Suddenly, Dominik's eyes widened.
Another RB16B appeared on the timing screen—car number 11—cutting through the darkness. If Hamilton responded now, even with a pit window, he would rejoin directly behind Pérez.
That was the terrifying part.
When Dominik had still been racing in F4 and F3, Pérez already carried the nickname "Tire Master." His palms began to sweat.
Capito noticed his expression and smiled faintly.
"You see it?"
Dominik didn't answer—he simply nodded.
Everyone could see it. So how could Mercedes not?
On Lap 15, Mercedes brought Hamilton in to avoid the undercut.
Hamilton rejoined in second, directly behind Pérez, while Verstappen was nearly nine seconds back.
Dominik finally exhaled slightly. A nine-second gap, fresher tires, and two long DRS zones—it all seemed to favor Mercedes.
"No matter what, Verstappen won't catch up that quickly," Dominik said quietly.
Capito smiled. "Never underestimate a top team's second driver. They're the benchmark for teams like ours."
Dominik nodded. Ricciardo had already proven that point at McLaren.
On Lap 20, Pérez and Hamilton engaged in fierce wheel-to-wheel combat. Dominik clicked his tongue, subconsciously comparing it to himself and Piastri—how rarely such uncompromising battles happened between them.
Capito turned to him."Your skill and talent are there. But sometimes, positions must be taken by force. I've watched your races—you don't always apply enough pressure."
Dominik felt heat rush to his face.
He knew Capito was right. What he lacked was Verstappen's relentless aggression—his willingness to defend brutally and attack obsessively. He silently vowed that next season in F2, he would fight harder in decisive moments, just like he had in his early karting days.
Meanwhile, Pérez continued defending fiercely, despite running tires nearly seventeen laps older.
Dominik was mesmerized.
This level of wheel-to-wheel racing had been rare in recent years, and Pérez was doing it on exhausted rubber.
Hamilton finally passed on Lap 21. Pérez waved Verstappen through and pitted. The gap between Hamilton and Verstappen was now just two seconds.
Dominik felt a hint of unease. The time spent behind Pérez had clearly cost Hamilton.
Later, on Laps 27 and 36, Räikkönen crashed due to brake failure, and Giovinazzi retired with a mechanical issue, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. Both Alfa Romeo cars were out.
Dominik noticed Zhou Guanyu standing at the Alfa Romeo garage entrance, greeting the drivers as they returned. He couldn't help but feel envious. That kind of closeness belonged only to insiders—or those with futures already secured.
During the VSC, Red Bull executed a double-stack pit stop, switching both cars to hard tires.
Williams pitted as well. Watching twenty mechanics swarm a single car, Dominik's eyes filled with quiet admiration.
The race settled into a high-speed rhythm.
Finding the timing screen dull, Dominik excused himself from Capito and headed back toward the Carlin motorhome. Capito waved him off, already absorbed in data again.
As he walked, Capito's words echoed in his mind.
Less than a minute later, Dominik reached the Alfa Romeo garage and spotted Zhou, who looked half-asleep. Smiling, Dominik asked a nearby mechanic to call him out.
The moment Zhou stepped out, Dominik jabbed him lightly in the ribs.
"Ah!"
"What's wrong with you?!" Zhou snapped, instantly awake.
Dominik grinned. "Just waking up someone who falls asleep during a title decider."
A camera suddenly swung their way, broadcasting the scene live.
After acknowledging the lens, Dominik couldn't resist teasing again.
"A 'future F1 driver' really gets plenty of screen time," he said casually.
"If you're bored, then leave," Zhou shot back.
"The race is kind of dull now. Coffee?" Dominik asked, unfazed.
Indeed, despite the chase, Hamilton's W12 remained formidable. Under similar tire conditions, his braking stability and corner speed even surpassed Verstappen's.
After Zhou said goodbye to Räikkönen, Giovinazzi, and Vasseur, the two of them walked side by side toward the logistics motorhome.
The night pressed in around Yas Marina—heavy, quiet, and full of change.