Hamilton comments on 2021 title as Verstappen faces cost cap decision

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Lewis Hamilton was clear in his opinion that his 2021 title was snatched away from him unjustly when, on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he was passed by Max Verstappen. Now the Mercedes driver may have another case for feeling aggrieved after the recent cost cap financial results were published — and once again, Red Bull will be feeling anxious about the prospect of losing their 2021 crown.

Mercedes had threatened to take their case to court in December last year after race director Michael Masi controversially allowed one final lap of racing after the safety car, a decision which went against protocol and was later found to have been “human error” in an FIA report. That one lap allowed Verstappen, on fresh rubber, to attack Hamilton on his used hard tyres and pass him with only a number of corners left.

“This is getting manipulated, man!” Hamilton told race engineer Peter Bonnington over team radio after had passed him on the track.

It was difficult not to sympathise with the seven-time champion as he watched on while his title was prised from his proverbial racing gloves. Still, the Briton remained humble in public towards Verstappen and Red Bull after the pair had shared an incredible title battle and his dignified response spoke to the 37-year-old’s class.

“Firstly a big congratulations to Max and to his team,” Hamilton said at the time. “I think we did an amazing job this year. My team, everyone back at the factory, all the men and women we have and here have worked so hard this whole year.

“It’s been the most difficult of seasons and I’m so proud of them and so grateful to be a part of the journey with them. We gave it everything. This last part of the season, we gave it absolutely everything and we never gave up – that’s the most important thing.”

Mercedes conceded that, while they would have won their appeal in the court, the title may not have been theirs to keep and settled for a public address from the FIA admitting the errors from Masi, who was subsequently thrown under the bus and left his role. But the FIA’s revelation that the Milton Keynes-based manufacturer have incurred a ‘minor breach’ of the 2021 cost cap regulations will only ignite the fury within Hamilton and Mercedes once again.

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The thought of being “cheated” out of his 2021 title win from Masi’s decision left Hamilton disconsolate, as he told Vanity Fair this year: “You see things start to unfold and my worst fears came alive. I was like, there’s no way they’re going to cheat me out of this. There’s no way. That won’t happen. Surely not.

“I don’t know if I can really put into words the feeling that I had. I do remember just sitting there just in disbelief. And realising I’ve got to undo my belts, I’ve got to get out of there, I’ve got to climb out of this thing, I’ve got to find the strength. I had no strength. And it was one of the toughest moments, I would say, that I’ve had in a long, long time.”

Now that he knows that there could have been two contributing factors involved in him losing the title — one more obvious than the other after it was revealed Red Bull exceeded the budget cap of £114million — few could blame Hamilton if he instructed his team to pursue the heaviest punishment possible.

It did not go unnoticed by Hamilton that Red Bull were able to upgrade their car at key moments in the 2021 season: “I remember last year in Silverstone we had our last upgrade and fortunately it was great and we could fight with it,” he told Sky Sports.

“But then we would see Red Bull every weekend or every other weekend bring in upgrades. They had, I think, at least four more upgrades from that point. If we had if we spent 300,000 on a new floor or an adapted wing it would have changed the outcome of the championship, naturally, because we would have been in better competition in the next race you had it on. So I hope that that’s not the case, for the sport.”

With a reported £2m overspent by Christian Horner’s team, the 37-year-old said he “hoped that it’s not the case” before the judgment was passed. Now, it could be the first step into helping Mercedes and Hamilton take back what they may believe is rightfully theirs after the controversial end to 2021.

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