Verstappen or Hamilton?

Controversy surrounds the incident between Verstapen and Hamilton on the first lap of the final race of the 2021 Formula 1 championship in Yaz Marina. Did Hamilton gain an unfair advantage by leaving track limits at turn N?  Verstapen and Red Bull clearly think so. Mercedes, on the other hand, sees Hamilton leaving the tack not as a deliberate decision to gain an advantage, but as a necessary maneuver to avoid a collision that would have taken both cars out of the race.  The race stewards decided in Hamilton and Mercede's favor. 

While I may not be a completely impartial observer, I agree with the stewards' decision. Verstapen's move to take the position from Hamilton down the inside at the entrance to the corner was risky, some (including me) would say reckless. Coming from about two car lengths behind, he braked late into the corner bringing himself alongside Hamilton's car. Notably, he was not clipping the apex of the corner but was nearer to the middle of the track, leaving Hamilton nowhere to go.  At the apex, Verstapen was pointing his car towards the outside of the corner and Hamilton had no option but to leave the track or cause an accident that would have ended both their races. Which of course would have suited Verstapen nicely since he was leading the championship only by dint of having won more races since they were even on points. And there is little doubt that was in Verstapen mind. 

It's worth noting that this isn't the first time he'd pulled this kind of stunt. The incident at Monza in which he ended up colliding with Hamilton, bringing his car over the top of  the Mercedes and injuring Hamilton in the process looked remarkably similar. And there have been others. Verstapen seems ro have learned that there are few consequences for pushing the risk envelope with that maneuver. 

While it unclear whether Hamilton gave back all the advantage he gained from leaving the track, I think the stewards may have felt that it was about time Verstapen was sent the message that would not be allowed to take the lead by forcing another car off the track.  Whoever wins the race (still in progress) I think the stewards made the right call.