© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff compared the way in which Lewis Hamilton lost the 2021 title, to the infamous ‘Hand of God’ incident from Diego Maradona in 1986.
Lewis Hamilton lost the 2021 Formula 1 championship after FIA race director Michael Masi chose to ignore Safety Car rules and protocols, which basically gifted Max Verstappen the race win and the world title.
Toto Wolff says the situation reminds him of the infamous ‘Hand of God’ incident during the 1986 FIFA World Cup, when Diego Maradona scored a goal against England in the quarter-finals, with the help from his hand.
The goal was allowed to stand, because the referees failed to see the incident.
“It is definitely on a par with the ‘Hand of God’ by Diego Maradona or the Wembley goal from 1966,” Wolff told Bild.
When directly asked if he believed Lewis was cheated out of the title on purpose, the Austrian said:
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“No. An inconsistent decision by the Race Director took the title away from Lewis.”
Wolff was then asked why the team decided against appealing the decision.
“We decided together that we would protest and wanted to carefully consider a possible appeal. We decided together not to do this.
“The FIA would have been a defendant and a judge at the same time. This creates a feeling of powerlessness.
“Just like on Sunday in the last lap, I felt like a child,” concluded Mercedes’ team boss.
