P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff has revisited the fateful 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, underlining his view that in “no scenario” should Lewis Hamilton have not won a record-eighth F1 drivers’ title.
Toto Wolff expressed his regrets over the controversial ending of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, criticizing the decisions made by then-F1 race director Michael Masi that ultimately cost Lewis Hamilton his eighth drivers’ championship. Wolff stated that under no scenario should Hamilton have been overtaken by Max Verstappen, who went on to win his first F1 drivers’ title. Wolff outlined three possible outcomes that could have secured the championship for Hamilton, emphasizing that Masi’s intervention was unprecedented and not in line with the rules. The Mercedes team principal also criticized Masi for his decision to restart the race with just one lap to go, a move that deviated from established regulations and drew widespread controversy. According to Wolff, Masi’s actions went beyond a mere judgment call and were not grounded in the rulebook, making it one of the most disputed incidents in F1 history.
