'Hamilton would be 8x champion if...'- Former Formula 1 Team boss gives verdict on 2021 Abu Dhabi drama

The 2021 Final race in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was unforgettable not because Max Verstappen won his first world title but because the race was controversial as Lewis Hamilton lost his chance to become an 8-time world champion. 

Guenther Steiner the former Haas F1 boss has now given his verdict on the controversial race. Michael Massi was the race director then who gave a controversial call to all the lapped cars to unlap themselves during the safety car period. 

Hamilton was completely in control of the race as Max Verstappen couldn't catch him. But due to this decision, he regained his position behind Hamilton and he overtook the British racer in the final lap and became the world champion. 

Lewis would have been 8x champion

Talking about the unforgettable event Guenther Steiner believes if Charlie Whiting had been the race director Lewis Hamilton would have been 8 eight-time world champion. Charlie Whiting served as FIA race director until he died in 2019. He was known to add more safety elements like Halo to the race cars which saved many drivers including Hamilton and Leclerc from Serious injuries. 

Steiner says ‘Sh** show of biblical proportions’ would not have taken place if Charlie was in leadership. After the race, Michael Masi came under fire for giving a controversial call and breaking Formula 1 rules. He is now fired by FIA and he is serving as V8 Supercars commission director in Australia. Even many other drivers believe Hamilton is an eight-time world champion.

Lando Norris on Lewis Hamilton:
”When Lewis won his 8th world champ…” lol we know Lando
pic.twitter.com/hKk914zs2q

— Unicorn🦄 (@hamburgerh0tdog) April 4, 2023

Lando Norris during a podcast accidentally called Lewis Hamilton an Eight-time world champion and laughed. Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff has said the controversial Race in Abu Dhabi will forever be a scar on the entire team. He also called Michael an idiot for giving the bad call during the race. 

After the race Mercedes were never dominant like before and Red Bull started dominating the sport with new regulations. Max Verstappen has become a three-time world champion and he is on the road to becoming a fourth time this year. 

Also Read: The Replacement drivers who became the champions in Formula 1