Abu Dhabi 2021: one of the wildest and most controversial final rounds in F1 history.
Everyone knows how events unfolded: committing a human error according to the FIA, Michael Masi, the race director, only allowed certain cars to split following the safety car period, allowing Max Verstappen to return, on fresh tires. , just behind the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.
The Briton from Mercedes, who seemed to be flying towards the title, returned to this unprecedented episode in Vanity Fair.
Starting with his thoughts a few minutes before the events took place: had Lewis Hamilton imagined such a cruel scenario?
“You see things start to unfold and my worst fears have come to life. I was like… there’s no way they’re stealing from me on this. It’s impossible. It will not arrive. Surely not. »
“I don’t know if I can really put into words what I felt. I just remember sitting there in disbelief. And realizing that I had to unbuckle my seat belts, get out of there, get out of this thing, find the strength. I had no strength. And that was one of the hardest times, I would say, that I’ve had in a very, very long time. »
“I knew what had happened. I knew what decisions had been made and why. Yes, I knew something was wrong. »
The scenes that followed were also strong for Lewis Hamilton: especially when Anthony Hamilton came to comfort his son. But what exactly did the father say to the son?
“He hugged me, and I think he was like, ‘I want you to know how proud I am of you. Having your dad kiss you like that is one of the deepest things I’ve ever had…especially when you grew up rarely having that. »
At the time, Lewis had seemed extremely calm…as if he didn’t quite realize what had happened to him.
“Look, I was going through every emotion possible, so no one might tell me anything. No matter who. It doesn’t really matter what is said. When you feel a certain way, sometimes it’s hard to communicate. »
Subsequently, with some resentment once morest the FIA, Lewis Hamilton skipped the end-of-year gala and cast doubt on his intentions to stay in F1.
The Mercedes driver confirms that his doubts were real.
“I, for sure, thought regarding whether I wanted to continue” he concludes.
