Guenther Steiner has offered his opinion on the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Image: Getty)
has called out the in his latest book, describing the decision to turn the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix into a final-lap shootout as a ‘s***show of biblical proportions’, and stating that should have been an eight-time world champion.
In a now infamous moment, Hamilton and ’s iconic title battle came down to a last-lap shootout after FIA race director Michael Masi moved only the lapped cars in between the two protagonists out of the way during a late safety car, despite this not being the standard protocol.
Verstappen won out at the restart thanks to his much fresher tyres, despite Hamilton dominating the race until that point. The legendary Brit was cruelly denied a record-breaking eighth World Championship, while the man left Abu Dhabi with his first of now three Drivers’ Championship crowns.
Steiner nailed his colours to the mast in his new book, ‘Unfiltered’, writing: “Wherever your loyalties lie with that one (and yes, I agree, it was amazing entertainment), from a regulations point of view it was a shit show of biblical proportions.
“And regardless of what decision Charlie Whiting might have made in Michael Masi’s position, there would have been far less controversy and embarrassment. Oh, f**k it. We all know what Charlie would have done. Had he been at the helm Lewis would now be an eight-time world champion.”
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Lewis Hamilton is still hurting from the 2021 finale in Abu Dhabi (Image: Getty)
Since watching Verstappen walk away from the 2021 title decider with the silverware, Hamilton has been unable to fight for the crown again. The 39-year-old was even forced to wait until the British Grand Prix earlier this season to end a win drought spanning back to the penultimate race of that campaign.
The hurt from the event still lingers, too. “Honestly, when I came back in 2022, I thought that I was over it,” he confessed after winning at Silverstone earlier this season.
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“And I know I wasn’t and it’s taken a long time for sure to heal that kind of feeling. And that’s only natural for anyone that has that experience. And I’ve just been continuing to try and work on myself and find that inner peace day by day.”
Hamilton will hope that his move to brings about a new chance to fight for his record-breaking title. The Brit will join forces with Charles Leclerc over the winter, calling time on a 12-year stay at that saw him establish himself as one of the sport’s all-time greats.