Guenther Steiner believes FIA Race Director ‘robbed’ Lewis Hamilton of his eighth F1 title
Max Verstappen’s infamous first world championship victory was bound to be talked about for decades to come. A controversy which has divided the F1 world to this day, with some believing the Dutchman clearly deserved his title while others dead set on Lewis Hamilton being ‘robbed’ of his record eighth world championship.
Lewis Hamilton, who is currently tied with Michael Schumacher at seven world championships, was believed to be one of the victims of the FIA’s unjustly ruling during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Race Director Michael Masi permitted only a few cars to overtake to move them back into position during the late-race safety car. This decision ultimately favored Max Verstappen to get ahead of the Briton in the final minutes of the race.
Former Haas Team Principal Guenther Stiener was the latest to comment about this controversy. In his new book ‘Unfiltered’, the Italian says that he is one of the people who believes Lewis Hamilton should have been an eight-time world champion.
“From a regulations point of view, it was a s*** show” : Guenther Steiner leaves no filter on his assessment over the FIA’s controversial decision
Apart from choosing Hamilton as his winner, Steiner also bluntly stated about the FIA’s disappointing ruling, and then compared it to the late Charlie Whiting’s decision-makings. The Italian manager believes that Lewis Hamilton would have been an eight-time world champion had Whiting officiated the race.
“Wherever your loyalties lie, and yes, it was amazing entertainment, from a regulations point of view, it was a s*** show of biblical proportions,” said the 59-year-old in his book ‘Unfiltered’.
While Max Verstappen has now gone and become a three-time world champion after that race and a potential fourth one on the way, things have not quite been the same for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. The Briton has massively struggled in these past seasons and has been nowhere near those same heights. Whether it is the new ground regulations set by the FIA, car struggles or issues in qualifying sessions, something or the other seems to be stopping Hamilton to go for no.8.
But nonetheless, Lewis Hamilton is still not one to give up, as he finally ended his winless drought by winning the British and Belgian Grand Prix this season. Moreover, his shift to Scuderia Ferrari next year is only increasing his odds of becoming the first driver to have eight world championships.
