Lewis Hamilton has yet to speak publicly after his loss in the last race of the 2021 Formula 1 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen sealed his first F1 Drivers’ Championship. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes that everyone at the team, including Hamilton,
are struggling to comprehend what happened in Abu Dhabi, where the Englishman was leading for practically the whole race before being overtaken by his Red Bull counterpart on the last lap after some confusion over safety car protocols.
“We are all wavering in emotions and Lewis most of all,” Wolff told Motorsport-total.com. “He was winning the world championship until the last lap, and then everything is taken away from you from one second [to the next]. Of course you lose faith because you can’t understand what has just happened.” The silence is there, of course, because he simply lacks words as well.” Wolff went on to reveal the piece of advice he gave to Hamilton during the three days where Mercedes were considering whether they would appeal against Verstappen’s victory.
“Lewis was in the office with me and everyone else involved, and we were also in constant contact over those days,” added Wolff.” What I told him before [receiving the knighthood] was that he should take those few hours paying homage to his life’s work so far and his performances, that he should try to take those positive moments with him. I think that’s what he did. You could see that too, how honourable that was for him.”
