Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen drama made Gareth Bale quit watching F1

Wales football icon Gareth Bale has admitted he no longer watches F1 after “what happened to Lewis Hamilton” in the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. While both Mercedes and Hamilton have made it clear that they’ve moved on from the dramatic circumstances that led to Max Verstappen’s first world title, that view isn’t shared by many.

Hamilton stalwarts in social media regularly bring up the controversy, which saw the FIA take on huge criticism for the way they handled the final lap fiasco. All lapped cars between Verstappen and Hamilton were able to pass through, allowing the Dutchman to close up on fresh tyres.

Hamilton was helpless on old tyres as Verstappen eventually made his move to take the win and clinch his first world title. Around 18 months on and it seems F1 has lost a fan forever in the shape of Bale.

The 33-year-old, who retired from football earlier this year, was a keen follower of the sport but has now admitted he doesn’t watch it anymore because of how Hamilton was denied his record-breaking eighth World Championship. Bale was appearing on the popular YouTube channel Random Golf Club where both he and Erik Anders Lang were attempting to break 90 around this year’s US Open course.

When asked whether he’s a fan of F1, Bale responded: “You know, I don’t after what happened to Hamilton a few years ago. It wasn’t fair.

“The fact he had to go through all the traffic and he couldn’t pit stop. It was never a race.”

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A petition to have Verstappen stripped of the 2021 World Championship was started immediately after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It gained some momentum earlier this year on social media as it surpassed 100,000 signatures.

Patel Gordon-Bennett, who is behind the petition, said: “I believe that justice was not served on Sunday December 12, 2021 when the FIA stewards denied Lewis Hamilton of his win of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “With less than one lap remaining, some lapped cars were allowed to pass the safety car, which does not comply with the rules of the F1 sport.

“This gave rival opponent Max Verstappen the opportunity to overtake Lewis Hamilton and win the Grand Prix. If you are an advocate of justice, honesty and fairness, please sign this petition. Leaving this decision as it stands will send a very wrong message to youngsters and future racers.”

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