Max Verstappen details Lewis Hamilton conversation after ‘tense and tough’ 2021 showdown

Max Verstappen prevails in world title shoot-out

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F1 world champion Max Verstappen has provided additional detail on his post-race conversation with Lewis Hamilton after their dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi. The Dutchman prevailed on the final lap to clinch his first crown, but not much has been heard from the Mercedes camp since amid a feeling of injustice regarding how the race played out. 

Hamilton and team boss Toto Wolff were understandably wounded after the race at Yas Marina, which was effectively a straight shootout for the championship. 

Both drivers came into the contest level on points, and the Brit was leading comfortably until the closing stages. 

Nicholas Latifi’s crash brought out the safety car, however, and race director Michael Masi effectively wiped out Hamilton’s lead by ordering the lapped cars between the Mercedes man and Verstappen to pass through before the race was restarted. 

On fresher tyres, the Dutchman took his chance to overtake on the final lap, snatching the title away from his bitter rival. 

Despite the outrage of Wolff and the Mercedes garage, Hamilton was quick to congratulate Verstappen after the chequered flag. 

“I think what was nice is Lewis, who came to me and said ‘well done, congrats’,” Verstappen told the CarNext YouTube channel.

“I said ‘thankyou very much for an amazing season’ because, at the end of the day, I think it was an amazing season.

“We pushed each other to the limit every single race.

“I think everyone is happy to have a break now that the season is over, because it has been very tense and tough on everyone.”

Indeed, Hamilton was knighted in the days following his agonising Abu Dhabi defeat, but not much has been heard from the driver himself since the drama of last weekend. 

Both he and Wolff snubbed the FIA prize-giving gala in Paris last week, with Red Bull’s victorious star the main attraction. 

And the Austrian has worried fans by refusing to rule out Hamilton’s retirement, adding that he may never get over the way things unfolded at Yas Marina. 

The Brit missed his opportunity to take the outright lead in terms of all-time world titles, remaining tied with Michael Schumacher on seven. 

And the landscape is set to shift significantly in 2022, with a much-changed car accompanying a brand new team-mate. 

George Russell will make the switch from Williams to the Silver Arrows ahead of the new season, as Hamilton, if he opts against retirement, will set about getting revenge on Verstappen in pursuit of his eighth crown. 

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