Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff insists Max Verstappen ‘deserves the championship’ but eight months later he still doesn’t think about the night of the 2021 season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. I admit no.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were side by side in points at the final round of the 2021 F1 Abu Dhabi GP. And Mercedes’ Hamilton dominated the showdown until the safety car was brought out just five laps after the checkered flag.
F1 race director at the time, Michael Masi, had a backmarker between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen during the safety car period, against regulations, to at least give fans a battle on the final lap. I unwrapped it and gave the final lap a green signal earlier than the regulation.
In contrast to Max Verstappen, who pitted under the safety car and put on new tires, Lewis Hamilton was helpless after staying out on used tires, and on the last lap Verstappen overtook Hamilton for the first time. He won the F1 World Championship, robbing Hamilton of his record eighth championship.
A subsequent investigation into the proceedings by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) led to Michael Masi’s dismissal as F1 race director, which ultimately led to his departure from the FIA.
Toto Wolff admits Max Verstappen deserves to be champion, but says the events of that fateful night at Yas Marina still haunt him.
“I think about it every day,” said Wolff.
“But Max deserves the championship, so I’m relieved that he won the championship.”
“In terms of how it unfolded, I think I have values about fairness, especially sporting fairness, which serves as my fundamental love for the sport.”
“And only that day it was kicked.”
The race’s failed epilogue and Michael Masi’s ill-fated decision led to a restructuring of F1’s racing division led by newly appointed FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem.
As a result, it was decided to share the F1 race director position between two individuals in order to reduce the pressure on F1’s chief stewards.
However, the new structure for this season has often frustrated Formula 1 drivers with a lack of consistency regarding stewards’ decisions on race weekends, leading to tense discussions during driver briefings.
Toto Wolff believes the changes Mohamed bin Sulayem made before the start of the season always required a break-in period, but said he was happy with the situation overall.
“I think the way Mohamed Bin Sulayem is hired and recruited points the way for me,” said Wolff.
“Everyone has their own strengths, and I think what I see is the main purpose of ensuring transparency, providing good governance and a good framework.”
“Will there be problems in that path because Mohammed’s organization needs to be put in place and everyone finds their role? I am happy with how we are progressing.”
“They are open-minded. They are not dogmatic. To me, they are transparent, honest and sincere.”
Category: F1 / mercedes / F1 Abu Dhabi GP