It was an odd quirk that the final season before Formula One tears up its rulebook in pursuit of a more competitive championship delivered the most compelling title race in recent memory.

The 2022 regulations – originally set for 2021 before the coronavirus pandemic intervened – aim to end the dominance of any one car and ensure closer racing. It is difficult to imagine it could get any closer than this year.

True, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton left the rest of the grid behind, but their titanic tussle at the top of the standings gripped the sporting world in a manner scarcely seen before in motorsport.

With Verstappen chasing his first title and Hamilton a record-breaking eighth, making the most of the advantages enjoyed at Red Bull and Mercedes that are set to be at least partially wiped out, the battle went down to the last lap of the year.

Despite a Mercedes protest, Verstappen prevailed.

The Silver Arrows then lodged an intention to appeal against the stewards' decision to reject their protests over the manner of the Dutchman's dramatic victory.

That extraordinary final lap of the 2021 title race in full #AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/kknTMDfpAF

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021

When the dust eventually settles on an incredible year, the focus will turn to how the two rivals will fare in F1's new era.

Fernando Alonso, a champion across multiple series, does not foresee any issues for Verstappen, suggesting before Sunday's Abu Dhabi showdown the 24-year-old was driving "one step ahead of all of us".

"Mercedes deserve the constructors' championship, because the car is superior," Alonso said, "and Max, maybe overall in the year, was driving one step ahead of everyone."

The Spaniard added: "Everyone has a different opinion, but he is driving that Red Bull to another level."

That suggestion might bristle with Hamilton. As late in the season as September, the Mercedes man was discussing how Red Bull had "had such a strong car all year". Back in June, with Red Bull in the middle of a five-race winning streak, Hamilton said: "It seems they are just strong everywhere."

There were personal highlights as Hamilton roared back – most notably the Sao Paulo Grand Prix success after a series of qualifying setbacks – but Mercedes undoubtedly helped to bridge the gap. Next year, other teams will do likewise.

Hamilton is a seven-time champion and will back himself for another shot at a record-breaking eighth crown, but his toughest challenge yet may lie before him.

Even before considering an increasingly congested field, Hamilton potentially faces greater competition from the man in the other Mercedes seat, now George Russell.

Russell has been backed as a future champion by Hamilton himself, although the veteran will hope to remain the main man for a little while yet. "For sure, [Russell] will make it very difficult for Lewis," Verstappen said ahead of confirmation of the move.

I want to take a moment to welcome @GeorgeRussell63 to the team. Through hard work he has rightly earned his spot. I look forward to seeing him grow as a driver with this great team and working with him to raise @MercedesAMGF1 higher. See you next year pic.twitter.com/CRsgrilmUd

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) September 7, 2021

Yet Hamilton is unlikely to go down without a fight; Sunday's grand prix was his 100th with Valtteri Bottas as a team-mate, with the Briton beating his colleague in 68 qualifying sessions and 75 races.

At Mercedes, also taking into account his scraps with Nico Rosberg, Hamilton holds a 110-68 lead in qualifying and 120-58 advantage on race day. Across his whole career, the F1 great has a 189-99 qualifying return and 182-106 racing record against his team-mates.

Hamilton's skill at the wheel, clearly, has driven his success just as much as the work of the Mercedes – or McLaren – mechanics.

Given Toto Wolff claimed Hamilton's Saturday frustrations at Interlagos "woke up the lion", an even more impressive response should be expected to his Abu Dhabi heartbreak.

And the threat of a 2022 challenge will not deter the sport's greatest winner.