BREAKING NEWS: Lewis Hamilton would be an eight-time cham....

Guenther Steiner: Lewis Hamilton Would Be an Eight-Time Champion Under Charlie Whiting’s Leadership

Guenther Steiner, the former Haas F1 team boss, claims that Lewis Hamilton would have secured his record-breaking eighth World Championship title had Charlie Whiting still been Formula 1’s race director in 2021. Steiner’s comments, taken from his forthcoming book Unfiltered, shed new light on the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that saw Max Verstappen take the title in dramatic fashion.

Steiner, who was let go by Haas at the beginning of the 2024 season, is no stranger to the world of F1 drama. His popularity surged due to his appearances on Netflix’s Drive to Survive series, and his first book, Surviving to Drive, was a best seller. Now, in his new book, set to be released later this month, he reflects on his time with Haas and other pivotal moments in the sport.

Central to Steiner’s argument is the legacy of Charlie Whiting, the highly respected FIA F1 race director who passed away suddenly in 2019. Whiting played a crucial role in improving the sport’s safety standards and overseeing the application of regulations. Steiner recalls how Whiting’s leadership provided a steady hand in the chaotic world of F1.

Whiting’s replacement, Michael Masi, inherited the role under intense pressure. His tenure, however, came to a controversial climax at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Hamilton and Verstappen were locked in a tight title fight. The race ended in uproar when Masi’s decision to manipulate the safety car procedure allowed Verstappen, on fresher tires, to overtake Hamilton on the final lap and clinch his first championship.

Steiner doesn’t mince words when it comes to Masi’s handling of the 2021 finale. In Unfiltered, he calls the race a “shit show of biblical proportions,” pointing out the widespread criticism that followed the event. For Steiner, the controversy wasn’t just about entertainment value; it was about the integrity of the rules. He writes, “Wherever your loyalties lie with that one (and yes, I agree, it was amazing entertainment), from a regulations point of view, it was a shit show of biblical proportions.”

Steiner believes that under Whiting’s leadership, the outcome would have been entirely different. Whiting, he argues, was known for his steady and fair application of the rules, and he would not have allowed such confusion and controversy to unfold in such a high-stakes moment.

Following the race, an FIA investigation revealed that Masi had indeed made a “human error” in the application of the rules, particularly in his decision to selectively allow certain lapped cars to un-lap themselves before the race restart. This decision gave Verstappen a clear shot at Hamilton in the final lap, sparking widespread outrage among fans, pundits, and even drivers. The FIA’s findings led to Masi being removed from his position, and he later returned to his home country of Australia.

For Steiner, the investigation only confirmed what many in the paddock already suspected: that the result could have—and should have—been different. He points out that Whiting’s years of experience and reputation for fairness would have prevented the situation from spiraling out of control. “Regardless of what decision Charlie Whiting might have made in Michael Masi’s position, there would have been far less controversy and embarrassment,” Steiner writes.

Perhaps the most striking statement from Steiner’s book is his declaration that Hamilton would now be an eight-time world champion had Whiting been in charge that day. “Oh, fok it. We all know what Charlie would have done,” Steiner states. “Had he been at the helm, Lewis would now be an eight-time world champion.”

This comment adds fuel to the ongoing debate over whether Hamilton was robbed of his eighth title. While Verstappen’s victory was celebrated by many for its dramatic conclusion, others, including Steiner, argue that the FIA’s handling of the situation tarnished the result.

The fallout from the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix continues to cast a shadow over the sport. For Hamilton, it remains a painful reminder of how close he came to making history, while for Verstappen, the controversy has somewhat overshadowed his first championship triumph. Masi’s exit from the FIA has done little to quell the debate, and Steiner’s latest comments are sure to reignite discussions about how the sport handles its biggest moments.

As F1 moves forward, Steiner’s reflections in Unfiltered remind fans and insiders alike of the delicate balance between entertainment and fairness in a sport that lives on the edge of both. The legacy of Charlie Whiting, and the “what if” of Hamilton’s eighth title, remain pivotal talking points in the ever-evolving story of Formula 1.