© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Recently a petition aiming to overturn the decisions made at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has reached 100,000 signatures. The creator speaks about it publicly for the first time.
Immediately after the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, several Formula 1 fans aired their displeasure with what had happened by setting up petitions aiming to overturn the results.
One of those petitions has recently started gaining traction again, and has now surpassed 100,000 signatures! Change.org notes that at 150,000 signatures, the petition becomes one of the top signed on the platform.
The petition was created by Patel Gordon-Bennett back in December of 2021, and RaceFans.net reached out to find out more about the reasons behind why it was started.
“I started the petition a few hours that evening after the race on December 12th, 2021,” Gordon-Bennett said.
“I was in my living room watching the race on Sky Sports F1 with my family. As soon as we saw the injustice, we were in shock and disbelief.
If you like SilverArrows.Net, consider supporting us by buying us a coffee!
“I felt that this was a scheme to rob Mercedes and Lewis just as it was when they changed the rules to suit Red Bull’s car.”
“Lewis had always been speaking out on other’s behalf, the disadvantaged, the disenfranchised and those without a voice. I felt it was time we spoke up to help Lewis when he was being faced with injustice.
“In addition, it was disgraceful to the sport to see how one person can change the rules in the spur of the moment to get the result they want.
“If this was going to be F1, I did not want to be a part of it.”
Gordon-Bennett reveals she did not expect the petition will attract so much attention.
“I didn’t expect many signatures and in fact I had almost forgotten about it.
“I was quite surprised when a friend from Ghana texted me a few days ago to say they saw my name in The Mirror newspaper as the person who started this petition and how it had gained 80,000 signatures.
“I have no idea what has caused an increase in the signatures recently.”
Asked if she received any response from anybody in F1, the FIA, Mercedes, or Hamilton himself, she said:
“No feedback from anyone in motorsport or F1 or from Hamilton. From the latter, it would be marvellous just to meet him,” Gordon-Bennett concluded.
You can sign the petition here.
