F1 champion makes Abu Dhabi 2021 penalty claim AGA....r

F1 champion makes Abu Dhabi 2021 penalty claim AGA….read more

The dramatic conclusion of the 2021 Formula One season continues to spark debate, with a former world champion now reigniting controversy by making a fresh claim about Lewis Hamilton’s loss of the title in Abu Dhabi. According to the champion, Hamilton was fortunate not to have been penalized during the decisive race, adding a new layer to the long-running arguments surrounding one of the most contentious moments in F1 history.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of 2021 is widely regarded as one of the most controversial races the sport has ever witnessed. Heading into the final round of the season, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were tied on points after a fiercely competitive year that had seen the two drivers push each other to the limit across multiple races. The championship therefore came down to a winner-takes-all showdown under the lights at Yas Marina, with the eyes of the motorsport world firmly fixed on the title battle.

For much of the race, Hamilton appeared to have the upper hand. After taking the lead early on, the seven-time world champion controlled proceedings, managing his tyres effectively and maintaining a gap to Verstappen. As the laps ticked away, it seemed increasingly likely that Hamilton would secure an unprecedented eighth world championship, further cementing his place in Formula One history.

However, the complexion of the race changed dramatically in the closing stages following a crash involving Williams driver Nicholas Latifi. Latifi’s accident brought out a late safety car, bunching up the field and setting the stage for a highly unusual and controversial sequence of events. At that moment, strategy decisions and race control calls would ultimately decide the fate of the championship.

With only a handful of laps remaining, Red Bull opted to pit Verstappen for fresh soft tyres, a move that gave him a significant grip advantage over Hamilton, who stayed out on much older hard tyres. The crucial controversy arose from the way race director Michael Masi handled the lapped cars between the two title contenders. Rather than allowing all lapped cars to overtake the safety car, Masi permitted only some of them to unlap themselves, specifically those positioned between Hamilton and Verstappen.

This decision meant that Verstappen was placed directly behind Hamilton for the final restart, with no lapped cars acting as a buffer. When the safety car came in at the end of that same lap, the race resumed with just one lap to go. Armed with fresh tyres, Verstappen quickly attacked Hamilton, overtaking him and taking the race lead. Moments later, Verstappen crossed the line to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and, with it, his first Formula One world championship.

In the aftermath, the decision-making of race control was heavily criticized by fans, pundits, teams, and former drivers. Mercedes lodged protests, arguing that the procedures followed were inconsistent with the regulations. While the protests were ultimately rejected and the result stood, the controversy left a lasting mark on the sport and led to significant changes in race governance, including the removal of Michael Masi from his role as race director.

Now, years later, the debate has been reopened by a former F1 champion who has suggested that Hamilton himself was not entirely blameless in the events of that race. The champion claimed that Hamilton was “lucky” to avoid a penalty earlier in the contest, implying that a different stewarding decision could have altered the outcome long before the safety car drama unfolded.

This perspective has added fuel to an already polarized discussion. Supporters of Hamilton argue that the race was effectively taken out of his hands by an unprecedented application of the rules, while Verstappen’s fans maintain that he simply capitalized on the opportunity presented to him. The latest comments highlight how deeply divided opinions remain, even several seasons on.

Ultimately, Abu Dhabi 2021 remains a defining moment in modern Formula One, not just for crowning a new champion, but for exposing the pressures and complexities of officiating at the highest level of motorsport. As long as the sport continues to evolve, the events of that night are likely to be debated for years to come.