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“Insanely Bad Decision”: Lewis Hamilton Receives Sympathy for 2021 Controversy After Similar Incident at Dutch GP

Published 08/29/2023, 6:30 AM EDT

A specific night that left a deep emotional mark on Lewis Hamilton and cast a shadow over Max Verstappen‘s championship win has been a topic of discussion yet again. Why? Simply because the FIA followed stipulated procedures as per the rulebooks at the Dutch Grand Prix a few days ago. This prompted the query in the minds of both Mercedes supporters and fans of Lewis Hamilton. Why did following a predefined set of regulations on that night in Abu Dhabi in 2021 turn entirely into an insanely bad decision?

While 2021 will be noted for introducing a new champion, the underlying truth will always be the prevailing sympathy extended to Lewis Hamilton. Despite the seven-time champion’s efforts to heal, a comparable occurrence at the Zandvoort circuit reopened his wounds. This led to former Ferrari chief Peter Windsor expressing understanding and compassion toward the Mercedes ace.

The events during the Dutch Grand Prix stirred sentiments of sympathy towards Lewis Hamilton

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Frequently, what unfolds once doesn’t necessarily replicate in the same manner on a subsequent occasion. However, if an incident remains etched in our subconscious, evoking a distressing day, then drawing comparisons becomes inevitable. Much like the episode during this year’s Dutch Grand Prix, where Zhou Guanyu from Alfa Romeo slid uncontrollably off the wet track leading to an initial Virtual Safety Car and later a red flag after 65 laps, the scene happened at Abu Dhabi.

Lewis Hamilton was cruising towards his historic eighth world title, but a timely safety car intervention provided Verstappen an opportunity for fresher tires. Subsequently, Michael Masi’s controversial decision altered the outcome, snatching a rightfully earned victory from Hamilton.

Sharing his perspective while extending empathy on his YouTube channel, while comparing both incidents he said, “It was a really impressive performance in Mercedes as well, to do as well as they did. To go on about it again, I was just thinking when the whole red flag thing came up from Zandvoort and they all stopped, and then they told everybody what tires to be on. But why didn’t they do that at Abu Dhabi?”

Peter Windsor raised pointed inquiries towards the FIA, asking some tough questions, “You know, if they could have stopped the race, why didn’t they do that? Everybody must be on a new set of soft tires, one lap sprint to the finish. That would have been OK. But to, you know, allow pit stops and then have the race start when it shouldn’t have, still sticks in the gullet, that one.” At last while wrapping up the ex Ferrari manager gave his verdict and said, “Nothing to do with Max deserving it or not, I just think it was an insanely bad decision at the wrong time.”

Lewis Hamilton Sympathises With Max Verstappen’s Genetic “Problems” While Highlighting His Undue Advantage

As the days have elapsed, nearing the two-year mark, a consensus among several F1 drivers pronounces Lewis Hamilton an eight-time champion. However, the era of Mercedes’ unrelenting supremacy is hard for Max Verstappen and his team to accept. Hence, Verstappen endeavors to disrupt the prevailing dominance of Hamilton and his team with an insulting remark.

Max Verstappen casts a stain on the era of Lewis Hamilton and his team’s supremacy

Frequently hailed as a once-in-a-generation talent, Max Verstappen’s dominance has garnered widespread recognition. His awe-inspiring performances, notably shining under the challenging conditions of the Dutch GP, consistently validate this distinction.

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While commanding the Red Bull rocket with unparalleled skill, he now finds himself in a position to mar the unparalleled eight-year era of Mercedes’ hegemony in the sport. Despite his resounding success, Verstappen, who has already matched Sebastian Vettel’s consecutive victory record, didn’t shy away from delivering a provocative remark about Mercedes.

According to Formulapassion, the Dutchman’s words sounded like an insult. He said, ” Winning such a complicated Grand Prix always gives great satisfaction, even if you have the best car, and I think that in the past we have seen even more dominant cars in F1 that have not obtained the results we are obtaining, it is difficult to put together successful strands like ours.” [Translated via Google]

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Can Mercedes deliver a fierce reply to Max Verstappen and his team at the upcoming Italian GP?

WATCH THIS STORY | Fans Lash Out at FIA President’s Double Standards as Lewis Hamilton’s Controversial Abu Dhabi Defeat Grabs Limelight Again

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Written by:

Aditya Srivastava is an F1 writer at EssentiallySports with over two years of writing experience. He developed a keen interest in the sport after the unforgettable Abu Dhabi 2021 race. As a graduate of a premier institute, Aditya is committed to producing high-quality content that is engaging, informative, and accurate.

Edited by:

Aishwary Gaonkar

“Insanely Bad Decision”: Lewis Hamilton Receives Sympathy for 2021 Controversy After Similar Incident at Dutch GP

The events during the Dutch Grand Prix stirred sentiments of sympathy towards Lewis Hamilton

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