Rishabh Parashar
2021 ended with a controversial yet breathtaking season finale between the title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen where Max was crowned the 2021 Formula One Drivers’ World Champion.
The Lewis Hamilton Controversy
Lewis Hamilton who was looking for his record-breaking 8th World Drivers’ Championship title was left heartbroken at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021. Max Verstappen won the race on the final lap with the overtake for the lead on title rival Lewis Hamilton after a controversial safety car restart in the last moments of the race.
The controversial finish to the Finale of the 2021 Formula One season leads to a tussle between the FIA and the Mercedes camp. Mercedes protested the result and lodged an official complaint which even further escalated the matter.
Toto Wolff the Mercedes Team Principal strongly criticized Michael Masi the race director for his decision to allow lapped cars to un-lap themselves after the safety car fiasco. Toto even hinted with all the criticism flying around Hamilton may even retire from F1.
“We are all wavering in emotions, Lewis most of all. He was winning the world championship until the last lap, and then everything is taken away from you from one second (to the next). Of course, you lose faith because you can’t understand what has just happened. The silence is there, of course, because he simply lacks words as well.”
Toto Wolff
Hamilton on the other hand has chosen to stay quiet on the matter. The veteran last spoke to the media at the post-race interview at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021.
“Firstly, big congratulations to Max and to his team,” the Mercedes driver said.
“But I’m so proud of my own team and we gave it absolutely everything. I’ve felt great in the car the last couple of months. We’ll see what happens next year.”
Lewis Hamilton
With all the conflict between the Red Bull and the Mercedes team brewing the transfer talks of the F1 teams have added the spice. There are many speculations that Lewis could end his ties with the Silver Arrows and retire. There is even news about Mercedes looking for a replacement.
Names like Four times World Drivers’ Champion Sebastian Vettel and former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas are getting linked to the Silver Arrows. With all the news and controversy we know that the new season will bring in more excitement and thrill.
