“Was I robbed? Obviously,” Lewis Hamilton shares his opinion on the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen delivered a title fight for the ages in the 2021 season, when the championship was decided in the final lap of the Abu Dhabi GP. In what was turning out to be a comfortable victory over Lewis Hamilton, turned into a first F1 title for Max Verstappen after a controversial FIA call.
Lewis Hamilton has not often spoken about the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP publicly, as he came ever so close to his record eight F1 title. Recently, in an interview with GQ, Lewis Hamilton stated that he was obviously robbed of the title.
Just a couple of laps before the final lap, Nicholas Latifi had to retire his car after suffering a crash. Former FIA Director, Michael Masi made a controversial decision allowing all the lapped cars to un-lap themselves. This decision unleased Max Verstappen on Lewis Hamilton with a fresh set of tyres, and one lap remaining. The result was inevitable, as the Dutchman got the better of the race leader towards the first turn.
“Was I robbed? Obviously,” Hamilton said. “But I think what was really beautiful in that moment, which I take away from it, was my dad was with me. And we’d gone through this huge roller coaster of life together, ups and downs,” he added.
Lewis Hamilton describes the defining moment of his life after Abu Dhabi GP debacle
Lewis Hamilton stated that his decision to go to the podium, and shake hands with Max Verstappen has to be one of the defining moments of his life. Fans across the world heaped praise on the Briton for his act of sportsmanship despite being a victim of a controversial call.
“And the day that it hurt the most, he was there, and the way he raised me was to always stand up, keep your head high. And I obviously went to congratulate Max, and not realizing the impact that that would have, but also I was really conscious of, like, there’s a mini-me watching,” said Hamilton.
“This is the defining moment of my life. And I think it really was. I felt it. I didn’t know how it was going to be perceived. I hadn’t visualised it. But I was definitely conscious of: These next 50 meters that I walk is where I fall to the ground and die—or I rise up.”
Things have not come gone to plan for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton since that season. The seven-time F1 champion has failed to win a race since the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP. The Briton did manage to finish third in the Drivers Championship last year, however, he was no where close to the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Lewis Hamilton announced his decision to join Ferrari at the end of the current F1 season, which left F1 fans surprised. The veteran would leave Mercedes after an 11-season stint, which saw him claim six titles.
