A controversial moment in Formula 1 history continues to haunt the sport's legends. Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton, two icons of the sport, still think about the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix every day. It was a race that changed everything and sparked a heated debate among fans and experts alike.
The season-ending race at Yas Marina Circuit saw Hamilton leading comfortably, on the cusp of an unprecedented eighth world title. But fate had other plans. A late crash by Nicholas Latifi brought out the safety car, and with it, a chain of events that would alter the course of the championship.
Verstappen, on fresher tyres, found himself right behind Hamilton, who was struggling with old hard tyres. The rules, if followed, would have concluded the race behind the safety car, crowning Hamilton as champion. But race director Michael Masi made a controversial call, allowing only the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to un-lap themselves on the penultimate lap.
Here's where it gets controversial... Masi's decision, based on the regulations, should have either allowed all lapped cars to pass or none at all. But his interpretation left the door open for Verstappen to make a move on the final lap, overtaking Hamilton at Turn 5 and securing his first of four drivers' titles.
This moment remains fresh in the minds of Wolff and Hamilton. Speaking before the São Paulo GP, Wolff admitted, "We haven't gotten over it. I talked to Lewis about it yesterday, and we both think about it every day. It's stayed with the team, too."
Wolff went on to describe the situation as a "bad call" by the referee, using a football analogy. He added, "Both were deserving champions, but the outcome of that race is a fair representation of the performance levels during the season."
And this is the part most people miss... The rivalry extended beyond the drivers, with Wolff and former Red Bull boss Christian Horner engaging in their own battle. According to Wolff, Horner has never acknowledged that the events of the 2021 finale were not right, which Wolff sees as a "gap in his personality."
Wolff shared, "He was never able to admit it. I try to look at it from their point of view, but Christian was never able to see the other side with compassion. It's his sense of entitlement that bit him in the end."
The 2021 season finale continues to be a topic of discussion and debate, with fans and experts weighing in on the controversial call. What do you think? Was it a fair representation of the season's performance, or did Masi's decision alter the course of F1 history? Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below!
