F1 News: Will.i.am Rages About Lewis Hamilton's '21 Abu Dhabi GP Results - "Snatched"
In an exclusive interview with Alex Harrington for Sports Illustrated and Men's Journal, will.i.am shared his insights on Lewis Hamilton's challenges and the potential for an eighth championship title. The conversation touched on Hamilton's struggles since the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and his relationship with his car.
Key Takeaways:
- Lewis Hamilton's Mental Struggle: Since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has been facing a mental battle, struggling with a car that doesn't quite align with his style and preferences.
- Will.i.am's Perspective on Hamilton's Journey: Will.i.am expressed that Hamilton is dealing with the challenge of something being "snatched" from him and believes that it's just a matter of time before Hamilton makes history by figuring out how to overcome his current obstacles.
- The Historical Impact of Hamilton's Potential Victory: Will.i.am emphasised that Hamilton's eventual victory would be historical not just for him, but also for the sport, Mercedes, and the future generations inspired by him. He predicted that it would take years for anyone to break the record Hamilton is poised to set.
Watch the interview here.
The exclusive interview with will.i.am revealed a thoughtful and in-depth analysis of Lewis Hamilton's current situation in Formula 1. Will.i.am highlighted the mental struggles Hamilton has faced since the contentious 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He empathised with Hamilton's challenges, understanding the difficulty of dealing with setbacks and the process of aligning with a car that may not fully suit his driving style.
In his words, will.i.am said:
"Right, so, anybody will struggle with something being snatched and it's just a matter of time for him to wait, he just has to figure it out once and history's made."
The artist and entrepreneur further elaborated on the potential impact of Hamilton's success, stating:
"They say just let the master do what he's really good at. He's figured it out a bunch of times, and this one time is gonna be history. Historical. And it's historical for him.
"First, all the folks that have been inspired by him, the flock, the school, the herd, that's going to come after him. It's going to be historical for the sport. It's going to be historical for Mercedes.
"And all it is, is him figuring how to figure it out once and I think he's going to do that. And then the person that comes after him, it's gonna be some years for that record to be broken. And he will hold that forever."
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, held at the Yas Marina Circuit, was one of the most dramatic and controversial races in Formula 1 history. This season finale was the culmination of a fierce and closely contested battle for the World Championship between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Throughout the season, both drivers displayed exceptional skill and tenacity, leading to a situation where they were tied in points heading into the final race.
The controversy peaked on the last lap. A late-race crash from Nicholas Latifi brought out the safety car, and the subsequent decisions by race officials regarding lapped cars and the safety car's return to the pits led to heated debates. Verstappen, who had pitted for fresh tires, overtook Hamilton on the final lap to win the race and his first World Championship, leaving fans and teams divided over the fairness and consistency of the race's management. Usually in that situation, all lapped cars un-lap themselves before the racing resumes, however, there was not enough time until the end of the race to do this. So, only the lapped cars in between Hamilton and Verstappen un-lapped themselves in order for the racing to resume. Otherwise, the race would have ended under the safety car conditions in which case Hamilton would have taken his eighth championship.