Max Verstappen has opened up Sky Sports F1 about the incredible performance and his “miracle” final victory at last year’s Abu Dhabi GP, admitting he feels sorry for Lewis Hamilton as their “great” battle ended.
Special interview – which can be seen during Sky Sports F1 preparation for the Abu Dhabi GP 2022 today from 11.30am, with coverage at 1pm. – sees Verstappen run through the final race in detail, from when he was left behind to overcome the excitement of the last lap and the world title.
Verstappen is also revealing his feelings for Hamilton amid the end of the row, with the Dutchman only given the chance to stop the Mercedes driver from claiming an eighth crown due to the abuse of the rules by FIA race director Michael Masi.
“Of course, everything looked good [for Lewis]”says Verstappen Sky Sports F1 images David Croft from the scene of the conflict, Yas Marina area. “And something like that happening … it’s difficult.
“You know, there’s always one winner and one loser. If you’re on the losing side, it’s going to be bad no matter what. And no matter how, if you lose, you lose. And it’s even worse when you’re so close, right?”
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Describe the conflict between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen last year.
Verstappen adds: “The only thing I said to myself at the time was that, he has 7 world championships. And he won one where it looked like he was losing, and then at the last corner, he didn’t win. [referencing the 2008 Brazilian GP]. So I hope that he could understand at least a little difference of opinion.
“But yeah, I respect him and especially, you know, we had a time when we met that year, but I always respect him and I think we had a great battle.
“And finally, we had two teams fighting for the championship. I’m sure we’ll appreciate it one day.”
Verstappen and Hamilton had similar seasons in 2022, with Verstappen taking his second crown with four races to spare. Meanwhile, Hamilton heads into today’s race looking to avoid the first season of his career without a single win.
Verstappen on Abu Dhabi drama: Accepting defeat
“The first couple of laps made me nervous,” Verstappen told Crofty as he recalled watching what is one of the most exciting moments of any sport.
In an exclusive Sky Sports F1 interview, he reflects.
He is said to have already conceded defeat to Hamilton, who led 57 of the 58 laps after passing the pole-sitter Red Bull.
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Ride with Max Verstappen as the Dutchman beats Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in Abu Dhabi.
“We didn’t have that speed like they did,” he admits. “And yes, it didn’t look good. We tried another method, but it didn’t work enough, you know, to close that gap.
“At that point I was like, well, maybe we’re not going to win, but I’ll still remember this year as an amazing season. I mean, what we’ve done as a team, you know, to beat the odds that we’ve done over the years, I think we can be proud of that.
But I also said to myself, ‘I’m still going to give everything I have, until the end.'”
Even optimistic team boss Christian Horner appeared to be in the same boat as he spoke to Sky Sports F1 from the pit wall. “Christian mentioned it on TV, didn’t he?” says Verstappen. “We need a miracle right now. And we got it.”
Verstappen on controversial Abu Dhabi rules
Cue Nicholas Latifi rolling the barriers with eight laps to go, meaning a Safety Car – and a closing of the pack to take away Hamilton’s huge lead – seems inevitable.
“This guy needs to move quickly,” Verstappen remembers thinking. “We must run. Yes, of course – that was my only chance.”
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After Williams announced that Nicholas Latifi would be leaving the team, take a look back at his worst F1 moment – the crash in Abu Dhabi that led to the world final showdown between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Red Bull threw Verstappen on soft tyres, with Mercedes keeping Hamilton in the belief that the race would not be restarted due to F1 regulations regarding Safety Car restarts, and lapped cars.
The drivers were first told that cornering cars were not allowed to drop themselves, before Masi later ordered that only the cars between Verstappen and Hamilton could do so. The race was given the final green light – much to Mercedes’ surprise – with the FIA saying F1 stakeholders agreed they did not want the race to end behind the Safety Car.
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Experience the dramatic finish to the Abu Dhabi GP from the cars of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton and listen to the teams’ radio broadcasts, including Hamilton saying the race has been ‘changed’.
“I think it’s always difficult to please everyone,” says Verstappen. “Because here we had a race, then in Monza [in 2022], we didn’t. And then people are also complaining. So, what is better, not running or running?
“It’s always the loser who complains that it’s wrong, not the one who benefits from the way it works.
“Just crossing the line under the Safety Car is always a bit of a shame, really.”
Verstappen in the final: Stress, persistence, celebrations
Verstappen then remembers going into the last lap with the most unnecessary problems.
“I’m nervous, there were a lot of nerves,” said Verstappen. “This was the most important moment in my career up to that point… it was going to be a world championship or not.
“Then the worst thing that happened was I crossed the line [for the final lap]and my right leg hurt.
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Max Verstappen overtakes Lewis Hamilton on the final stage in Abu Dhabi to win the 2021 F1 Championship!
“It was the most stressful time of your life and struggling with a bad chest to keep it from moving. I couldn’t hold my leg! It was horrible.”
Verstappen, on his new tyres, caught Hamilton, and others, by surprise with a bold crash into Turn Five.
“My father didn’t expect it, Christian didn’t expect it, nobody expected me to do it there because they thought there was a long time between the two paths.”
Verstappen, struggling with a wobbly right leg, held off Hamilton and crossed the line as F1’s fourth world champion.
He said: “That was the biggest mental breakdown of my life.” “People are going crazy, people are crying.”
He will also take his first race back to Yas Marina today, from pole position.
Watch all the action on Sky Sports F1, tuning in at 11.30am before the race starts at 1pm.
