Peter Windsor, a respected Formula 1 journalist and former team manager, has recently reiterated his belief that Lewis Hamilton should have been awarded the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship. Windsor’s comments bring the controversial conclusion to the 2021 season back into focus, years after the event.
Windsor has consistently maintained that the final lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix should not have counted. He argues that the circumstances surrounding the Safety Car period unfairly impacted the championship outcome.
During the decisive 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a late crash involving Nicholas Latifi triggered a Safety Car. This incident allowed Max Verstappen to pit for fresh soft tyres, while Lewis Hamilton remained on older hard tyres.
The then-Race Director, Michael Masi, made the contentious decision to allow only a select number of lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves. This cleared the path for a direct final-lap battle.
Verstappen, on his newer tyres, subsequently overtook Hamilton on the final racing lap to secure his maiden world championship. The decision drew immediate criticism and led to a formal protest from Mercedes.
The FIA launched an inquiry into the events of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In March 2022, the governing body concluded its investigation, acknowledging that ‘human error’ played a part in the decisions made.
Despite the findings, the FIA confirmed that the result of the race, and thus Max Verstappen’s championship, would stand. The governing body stated that it considered the matter closed.
Following the controversy, Michael Masi was removed from his position as Formula 1 Race Director. The FIA also implemented significant changes to the Safety Car procedures to prevent similar situations in the future.
These changes included automating the communication process for unlapping cars and clarifying that ‘all’ lapped cars, not ‘any’, must be permitted to unlap themselves. A virtual race control room was also introduced.
Windsor’s recent statements underscore the enduring debate surrounding the 2021 title. He previously suggested that Hamilton would be willing to exchange his 2008 title for the 2021 championship.
The discussion highlights the lasting impact of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the sport and its participants. The events of that day continue to be a point of contention among fans and pundits alike.
The 2021 season was marked by an intense championship battle between Hamilton and Verstappen, culminating in the controversial finale. The rivalry defined the season’s narrative.
In my opinion, the final lap in Abu Dhabi 2021 shouldn’t have counted. Lewis should have won that race and become world champion.
Windsor’s perspective aligns with a segment of the F1 community that believes the sporting integrity of the championship was compromised by the race management decisions.
