© Wolfgang Wilhelm for Daimler AG
Sky Sports’ Matt Morlidge says back in 2021 “the crushing, infamously unfair, despair of an Abu Dhabi title finale” saw Lewis Hamilton “robbed of the record”.
Back in 2022, Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz got into hot water with Max Verstappen and Red Bull, after he openly said Lewis Hamilton was “robbed” at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
After this Verstappen decided not to talk to Sky Sports during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, and he was quickly backed by his team – Red Bull.
Now, in an article discussing Lewis Hamilton’s chances to win his eighth world title, Sky Sports’ Matt Morlidge again said the decisions made in Abu Dhabi were “unfair” and “unjust”.
“When Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven Formula 1 world championships, his fate as the leader in the sport’s statistical clubhouse appeared set,” Morlidge wrote.
“Mercedes, after all, had just dominated the 2020 season and a still-on-top-of-his-game Hamilton had claimed six titles in seven years.
“One more crown, would make him F1’s most decorated driver of all time.
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“But then came a much more competitive campaign than expected against Max Verstappen and Red Bull, and the crushing, infamously unfair, despair of an Abu Dhabi title finale that saw him robbed of the record.”
Morlidge continued to explain what happened in that infamous season finale.
“We’d be remiss talking about Hamilton’s quest without starting with just how close he got to completing it.
“No driver, bar Felipe Massa at the hands of Hamilton, has ever been denied so late on in a season.
“And that 2008 finale, while dramatic, had nothing on 2021 in terms of controversy and unjust conclusions.
“You know the story by now. Hamilton, after an incorrect application of the rules by F1’s race director and his team, was thrust into a one-lap showdown against Verstappen he was never going to win, on older tyres.
“Verstappen would pass Hamilton on the last lap of the last race, in the cruellest ending to what was an incredible title battle,” the Briton concluded.
