P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hamilton 2021 revenge strategy floated
Sky Sports F1 pundits Jacques Villeneuve and Martin Brundle discussed the theory that Lewis Hamilton aimed to seek revenge on Max Verstappen during the 2021 Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton received a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during a battle with Verstappen. The fight for positions between the two former champions had implications for Verstappen’s title chances in the current season’s contest with McLaren. Brundle questioned if Hamilton would be willing to harm Verstappen’s championship hopes, considering their intense rivalry from 2021.
Villeneuve rejected Brundle’s suggestion, stating that Hamilton now respects Verstappen for his achievements and race victories. Hamilton, in an interview before the race, commended Verstappen for rejoining the title fight, adding excitement to the competition and emphasizing the appeal of multiple teams contending for victories. The debate over Hamilton’s penalty in Mexico raised accusations of bias from the stewards, but Villeneuve clarified the difference in handling track limit violations during the race.
The former F1 champion highlighted that while both Verstappen and Leclerc briefly left the track, they promptly returned the positions they gained, unlike Hamilton. By not conceding the position to Verstappen, Hamilton was deemed to have unfairly benefited, altering the dynamics of the race. These events have sparked conversations on the fairness of race penalties and steward decisions in Formula 1.
