Lewis Hamilton returns to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 11 months on from one of the most furious days in Formula One history this weekend and insists he has put the past behind him. His bid for an unprecedented eighth drivers’ world title at the Yas Marina circuit last December was thwarted by a combination of wrong decisions by race officials, bad luck and Max Verstappen’s opportunism. As a result, while his Mercedes team won the constructors’ title race for the eighth consecutive season, he was left to digest the consequences of a sporting injustice that has reverberated ever since.
But Hamilton, who will turn 38 in January, and whose act of congratulating his Dutch rival in the immediate aftermath of that bitter defeat hides a deep disappointment, has remained steadfast.
Red Bull and Verstappen excelled in both the teams’ and drivers’ championships this year, while Mercedes struggled to understand and develop a stubbornly temperamental car to become more fully a team man.
His third consecutive place finish came as teammate George Russell claimed his maiden grand prix victory in Brazil last Sunday was a prize of emotional significance, ironically given that Red Bull’s unity was threatened by internal strife.
“I’m very much here in the present,” he said, ahead of this weekend’s season-finale.
“I’m not thinking about the past here at all, not even a little bit. I’m focussed. I’m not sure our car will do well here this weekend, but if there’s a chance, we Will go for it.” ,
As more unverified allegations on Wednesday fueled a spat between Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez, whose heroic defensive drive helped enable the Dutchman’s victory last year, the ‘Silver Arrows’ united captured the situation.
“For me, our success in Brazil, the one-two last Sunday, is down to the enormous effort from our team workforce in Britain,” Hamilton said.
“They’ve been so determined all year.”
Sunday’s race will not have the high stakes of 2021, but it represents one last chance for Hamilton to keep alive his record of winning at least once every season of his record-breaking Formula One career.
He has a record total of 103 wins, including five at the Yas Marina track where Verstappen has won the last two events, but such figures are not his or Mercedes’ priority.
Team boss Toto Wolff said, “Lewis does not need us to make him a priority, nor would he ever want to.”
As Hamilton is lauded and Russell lauded, Verstappen faces scrutiny for refusing to follow team orders and assist Pérez last Sunday at Interlagos in a way that sparked social media outrage. Widely criticized.
Perez said with an icy undertone, Verstappen had “shown who he really is” while the two-time champion refused to explain his motives.
After an emergency meeting, Red Bull said the pairing was made and Verstappen would assist Pérez this weekend as he attempts to finish second in the title race and give Red Bull a couple of seasons to finish. does.
Verstappen will seek a record-rising 15th win in a single season but appeared to falter in Brazil, where he finished sixth and was blamed for a reckless collision with Hamilton – and Ferrari followed the two Mercedes home. Red Bull performed for.
After a weekend of many decisive performances, two-time champion Fernando Alonso will bid for Alpine to flourish, hoping to finish fourth in the constructors’ standings before moving to Aston Martin.
They lead McLaren, who suffered a pointless double retirement in Brazil by 19 points, so assured of taking the millions of dollars in prize money on offer.
Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, 35, will also bid farewell to not just Aston Martin, but F1 and a return to the circuit where he won his first title in 2010.
“I am sure this race will bring back happy memories of the last 15 years,” he said. “And I want to go on a high.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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