F1 Fans Call For Change Over Controversial Max Verstappen And Lewis Hamilton Moment
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been a major talking point since it happened amongst F1 fans. The controversial moment which has divided fans was the last lap shoot-out which saw Max Verstappen win his first championship and Lewis Hamilton finish in second. One particularly disgruntled fan has started a petition to have the result overturned, and it is almost at 100,000 signatures.
Williams driver Nicholas Latifi crashed in the latter stages of the race, causing a safety car which many assumed would run until the end of the race. However, then-race director Michael Masi instructed only the lapped cars in between Hamilton and Verstappen to un-lap themselves rather than all of the lapped cars.
This resulted in one final lap without the safety car and Verstappen, who was on newer tyres, very quickly overtook Hamilton to take the win. In normal circumstances, all lapped cars would have to un-lap themselves before a race got going again, however, Masi decided to let them race instead of ending the championship under the safety car, a situation which would have seen Hamilton win his record-breaking eighth championship.
The fan posted the following with the petition:
"I believe that justice was not served on Sunday, December 12th 2021, when the FIA stewards denied Lewis Hamilton of his win of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
"With less than 1 lap remaining, some lapped cars were allowed to pass the Safety Car, which does not comply with the rules of the F1 sport.
"This gave rival opponent Max Verstappen the opportunity to overtake Lewis Hamilton and win the Grand Prix.
"If you are an advocate of justice, honesty, and fairness, please sign this petition. Leaving this decision as it stands will send a very wrong message to youngsters and future racers."
Despite the push from the upset fans, the likelihood of any results changing from the 2021 season is extremely unlikely.