Steiner Claims Hamilton Robbed of Eighth Title in FIA’s 2021 ‘S*** Show’ Controversy

Guenther Steiner Claims: Lewis Hamilton Missed Out on Eighth Championship Due to FIA Chaos

Former Haas leader Guenther Steiner expressed that the 2021 F1 championship culmination was a chaotic mess of epic scale.

Ex-Haas leader Guenther Steiner is of the view that Lewis Hamilton could have secured his eighth F1 world championship title if Charlie Whiting, who has since passed away, had continued his role as the FIA's race director.

During the conclusive 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which was pivotal in determining the season's champion, Hamilton was in the lead and poised to secure an unprecedented eighth world championship title. However, a mismanagement of the Safety Car restart by then FIA race director Michael Masi led to an unexpected last-lap contest.

This allowed Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who had recently switched to new soft tyres, to execute a thrilling last-lap pass on Hamilton, who was running on worn hard tyres, capturing both the race win and his first-ever drivers' championship.

In his upcoming book 'Unfiltered', set to hit the shelves later this month, Steiner characterizes the Abu Dhabi finale as an utterly chaotic event, likening it to a disaster of epic scale. He further suggests that if Whiting, who passed away in 2019, had still been around, Formula 1 could have steered clear of the ensuing controversy.

"He noted that regardless of personal preferences towards the event (which, he concurred, was indeed an outstanding spectacle), it was, from a regulatory standpoint, a complete and utter disaster of epic scale."

"Regardless of the choice Charlie Whiting might have opted for in the role Michael Masi found himself in, the resulting controversy and embarrassment would have been significantly diminished."

"Let's be honest, it's clear to everyone what Charlie's decision would have been. If he were in charge, Lewis would currently be celebrating his eighth world championship."

Masi was dismissed from his position as Formula 1's race director following an investigation by the FIA, which attributed a mistake in applying the proper regulations during the 2021 championship finale to "human error."

In a recent interview with GQ Magazine, Hamilton expressed that he has come to terms with the controversy, stating he now feels "at peace" with what happened.

"Clearly, I was taken advantage of," asserted Hamilton. "You're familiar with what happened."

When inquired whether the race still occupies his thoughts, the 39-year-old British individual remarked, "Whenever I catch a glimpse of a segment from it, I indeed experience it anew, yet I have come to terms with it."

Explore Further

Sign up for our Formula 1 Newsletter

Receive the most recent Formula 1 updates, exclusive stories, interviews, and special offers straight from the race track to your email.

For additional details, refer to our Privacy Policy.

Recent Updates

Additional Updates

Site Index

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Copying or replicating any portion of the text, photos, or images is strictly prohibited in all formats.