Following the contentious finish to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when Max Verstappen earned the Formula 1 World Championship, Lewis Hamilton has expressed his emotions.
As he realized what had happened in the championship-deciding race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, Lewis Hamilton claims that “his biggest fears came alive.”
Both Max Verstappen and Hamilton entered the last race of 2021 tied for first place with 369.5 points each, making the winner the World Champion.
Either the first eight-time World Champion or the 34th would be crowned in F1, making history.
Only five circuits remained on the Yas Marina Circuit until Williams driver Nicholas Latifi wrecked and brought out the Safety Car, giving Red Bull’s Max Verstappen an 11-second lead over Hamilton on worn Hard tyres.
The completion of the following lap, or Lap 58 in this case, saw racing resume following the requirement that all lapped cars pass.
Nevertheless, since that was the last lap of the competition, if Race Director Michael Masi had adhered to the rules, Hamilton would have won the World Championship eight times.
There would be one lap to determine the championship when Masi decided to only let the lapped cars between Verstappen and Hamilton to pass. He also brought the Safety Car in at the conclusion of lap 57.
Verstappen overtook Hamilton in the Turn 5 hairpin using significantly fresher tyres, and went on to win the race and the championship under controversial situations.
Hamilton’s “biggest fears” over Abu Dhabi
“You see things start to unfold, and my worst fears came alive,” Hamilton explained in an interview with Vanity Fair.
“I was like: ‘There’s no way they’re going to cheat me out of this. There’s no way. That won’t happen. Surely not.’
“I don’t know if I can really put into words the feeling that I had.
“I do remember just sitting there just in disbelief. And realising I’ve got to undo my belts, I’ve got to get out of there, I’ve got to climb out of this thing, I’ve got to find the strength.
“I had no strength. And it was one of the toughest moments, I would say, that I’ve had in a long, long time.
“I knew what had happened. I knew what decisions had been made and why. I knew that something wasn’t right.”
Anthony Hamilton consoles Lewis
After getting out of the Mercedes, Hamilton complimented Verstappen on winning the championship and sought solace from his father Anthony in Parc Ferme.
“He embraced me, and I think he was like: ‘I want you to know how proud I am of you,'” recalled Hamilton.
“Having your father embrace you in that way is one of the most profound things I’ve ever [experienced.]
“Especially as I’ve grown up not many times having that.”
Below are some of the most well-known FORMULA 1 drivers’ apparels, all of which are available at reasonable costs. Visit our link now if you are interested in the racing clothing collection:
F1, F1 2022, Formula 1, George Russell, Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Silver Arrows, Toto Wolff