Losing a World Championship like this, on the last lap and when he seemed to be in control, must be really hard, but once again Lewis Hamilton proved to be a great sportsman.
While his team continued to complain over the radio with the race management for the management of the Safety Car and the decisive restart, in which Max Verstappen overtook, the 7-time world champion had the strength to go and shake hands. to his rival and also to congratulate him in the first statements he made hot.
“First of all, congratulations to Max and his team. I think we did a great job too, both on the track and in the factory,” Hamilton told Jenson Button, still wanting to give Mercedes a pat.
“It was one of the most difficult seasons, but I am proud to have embarked on this journey with them. We gave everything, in this last part of the season in particular. We never gave up and so I want to thank everyone,” he added. .
A defeat that must have really hurt the British, who at the start had succeeded in the magic of overcoming Verstappen, despite the Dutchman mounting soft tires.
Then he defended himself well after the first pit stop, when Sergio Perez tried to slow him down to help Verstappen rejoin. But just when it seemed done, Nicholas Latifi crashed and race direction sent the safety car out on the track.
A situation that condemned him, because Red Bull was quick to get Verstappen back to the pits to put him on the soft tires again. At the restart, which took place right on the last lap, he was unable to do anything to keep him behind. 2021 therefore ends with a bitter taste, but Lewis is already looking ahead.
“I felt great in the car, particularly in the last two or three months of the season. We are still in the midst of the pandemic, I hope everyone stays healthy and spends Christmas with their families, then we’ll see what happens next year.” he concluded.
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