© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Lewis Hamilton says the feeling he felt after the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix “never really truly leaves you”, and adds it took him “the whole year to really push through it”.
At the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, F1 race director (at the time) Michael Masi chose not to follow the rules which govern the use of the Safety Car in the final laps of the race, and this allowed Max Verstappen to easily overtake Lewis Hamilton, who was on much older tyres, and claim victory and the 2021 championship.
Although Lewis already worked through what had happened on that night, and got over it, he says the “scar” never leaves you.
“Ultimately that feeling never really truly leaves you,” the Briton told ESPN ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
“It’s like when you think about your first love, it will always be that first love and first heartbreak. Abu Dhabi, the scar is there and there will always be that memory.
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“Even though I reprogrammed my mind, I think it still took me the whole year to really push through it because we were straight back into work. It wasn’t a quick thing.”
Despite the hurt this event caused, Lewis says Mercedes is stronger as a team because of it.
“It strengthened all of us at the team, but from my own personal experience it was a hugely strengthening experience.
“You can’t always win, and to go through that, and learn how to be a better team-mate, how to really lift people up, pull people together in a different way was a valuable lesson for me that I’m really grateful for.
“So that’s why I come into this season and I know it’s prepared us better for whatever we face moving forward,” Hamilton concluded.
