With an eighth historic Formula 1 title stretched out to him, Lewis Hamilton finally lost everything on the last lap of the race in Abu Dhabi when Verstappen passed him to go for his first coronation, all benefiting from the decision of the FIA to restart the race for one lap.
A situation full of controversy that prompts former driver Mark Webber to wonder if the Briton is not considering taking early retirement. As a reminder, Hamilton extended his contract with Mercedes until 2023 at the start of the season.
And if Webber believes that Red Bull and Mercedes will remain domineering in 2022 despite the introduction of the new regulations, he would not be surprised if Hamilton has other plans than to take revenge on Verstappen. Can he make us “a Rosberg” like at the end of 2016? Webber doesn’t rule it out.
“I think it’s going to be played out again between Red Bull and Mercedes. And Hamilton, without a doubt, will have another chance next year.”
“However, I remember hearing Roger Federer say ‘maybe I’ll see you next year’ a year at the Australian Open. And Lewis himself said in an interview ‘we’ll see next year. ‘. So who knows what’s going on in his head right now. He must be disgusted by the FIA. “
Anthony Hamilton, Lewis’s father, was present in Abu Dhabi and was seen after a race consoling his son who had just been beaten (pictured). Webber believes that Anthony’s words might make the difference.
“His father probably said words to him like ‘pride, class, dignity, head held high, I’m proud of what you have accomplished’.”
Webber himself was very admiring of the Briton, but believes he could have done differently in that famous last round.
“He had the option, when Max passed him, to put his front wing in his rear wheels.”
A somewhat surprising sentence, it must be said, because an anti-sporting gesture of the sort would surely have been penalized and a double abandonment crowned Max Verstappen anyway.
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