Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton’s Abu Dhabi 2021 drama recalled by Sky Sports a year later: “Mitigating circumstances, no cheats”
A year later at the same location for the 2022 season finale, memories were evoked of the controversial finish where 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen was able to overtake Hamilton due to incorrectly applied rules by race director Mi🥂chael Masi, and pip him to the championship.
Sky’s Brundle reflected: “If the rules played out in full, the race would have finished under the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Safety Car and ꧑Lewis would have been champion for the eighth time.
“There were mitigating 🌟circumstances - but no excuses. We had 39 races in 17 months. The system was under pressure. There were 🧜chances for Mercedes to put fresh tyres on. Max still had to get the overtake done.
“The championship was wonಌ over all 👍of the 2021 races.
“There have been conversations behind the scenes - an urgency ꩵto not finish under a Safety Car or a red flag. It was one of the biggest events in F1 history.
“The bottom line is - it should havꦜe finished under a Safety Car.
“That champ🎉ionship is not going to change. There are no asterisks. Lessons can be learned and we can talk a🍃bout it forever. We will never unravel it.”
168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Damon Hill said: “There were no cওheats. But we could be excused for feeling cheated with an ambiguous finish. Everyone was scratching their heads at what 🐈happened. Nothing will change the result.
“You can understand people’s anger and😼 Lewis feeling deprived of a title.”
168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Jenson Button said: “Until the last three minutes of the race Lewis thou🔯ght he would be 2021 champion. That is mentཧally tough for a driver. I feel that he has grown as a person - he is a better driver and a better person for it.”
Brundle added: “As I said on the night, there was no remedy to the problem. The ‘referee’ ma🤪de a mistake, not Red Bull.
“What has changed? They have stopped team principals lobbying race control. That has gone. You can’t🔯 pull up behind a driver during a Safety Car restart. That has gone.”
Hill: “If you go through the difficult ment💮al adjustment, it takes enormous mental strength.”
Verstappen won the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as well, completing back-to-back championships. Hamilton finished sixth in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 standings, his worst-ever result.
