A Swedish star has emerged from the F1 Academy with a bold yet familiar sentiment. A sentiment shared by many F1 enthusiasts, lamenting the lack of intense battles at the front of the grid, especially missing the iconic duels between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Chloe Grant, a name steadily gaining prominence in the Formula world, recently spoke out on The Fast And The Curious podcast about the Dutchman’s dominance in 2023 while also asserting that the FIA “robbed” Lewis Hamilton of his 8th world championship during the controversial 2021 season’s finale in Abu Dhabi.

The 2023 Formula 1 season concluded with Max Verstappen securing his 19th victory of the year at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. His performance throughout the season showcased unparalleled dominance, with over 1,000 racing laps led and a staggering 575 points, establishing a comfortable 290-point lead over the second-place man, Sergio Perez.

Lewis Hamilton should have had that 8th Driver’s Championship

While Red Bull and the Dutchman’s success has been undeniable, the absence of a real challenge at the front of the grid has left many longing for the fierce rivalry that characterized the Hamilton-Verstappen battles. The 2021 season’s Abu Dhabi GP, where Max won his first driver’s title, continues to cast its shadows over the F1 community.

Chloe Grant, a fresh voice in the community, shared her views on the 2023 season, expressing admiration for Max Verstappen’s incredible driving skills. “Max won all the time. Everybody can agree, Max has done an incredible job and he’s an incredible driver and yeah, he’s done… I just can’t believe he’s that quick, to be honest with you. Obviously, the car is perfect as well.”

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However, she candidly admitted a desire for more diversity on the podium. “Every F1 fan wanted a bit more, different people on the podium, different people winning, making it more exciting. Kind of back, you know, when it was Lewis versus Max more. And because that last race in Abu Dhabi was unbelievable, and I think my opinion on that is that it was robbed, you know. I think both of them are incredible drivers, but I do think that Lewis should definitely have that 8th world championship.”

It’s not just the fans who echo this sentiment. The FIA itself released a report confirming that Michael Masi, the then-race director, had not applied the rules correctly during the 2021 season finale.

Forgetting Abu Dhabi Debacle, Lewis Hamilton Prioritizes F1 to Call Out Max Verstappen’s Supremacy

FIA admits that “human error” cost Hamilton his championship

In the aftermath of the controversial climax to the 2021 Formula One season, an exhaustive FIA report confirmed what many fans had suspected. The Mercedes driver was indeed deprived of his eighth world championship. The investigation into Max Verstappen’s title triumph revealed that race director Michael Masi’s decision on the final lap was incorrect.

Despite the acknowledgment that Masi acted in “good faith,” the report highlighted a critical error in the application of Formula 1 Sporting Regulations. Specifically, Masi called the Safety Car back into the pit lane without completing an additional lap, as required. The FIA attributed the incorrect application of rules to “human error.” The report, released over three months after the dramatic conclusion to the 2021 season, underscored confusion over Safety Car rules and a preference for races to conclude under green flag conditions as key contributing factors to the perceived injustice.

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The 2021 season finale remains etched in F1 history as a pivotal moment, where controversy and championship aspirations collided on the Yas Marina Circuit. Formula 1 enthusiasts will undoubtedly discuss the narrative shaping around Lewis Hamilton’s allegedly robbed title and the subsequent FIA admission for years to come.