Formula 1 Awards Ceremony: Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton remained absent as fans spoiled Max Verstappen’s F1 trophy presentation at Formula 1 Awards ceremony on Thursday. The development comes days after a controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw the Briton miss out on record 8th World Championship title. Follow F1 updates on InsideSport.IN
Formula 1 Awards Ceremony: Furious Lewis Hamilton refuses to attend ceremony, but his fans crash Max Verstappen’s F1 trophy presentation
Formula 1: Max Verstappen confirmed world champion as Mercedes drops appeal
Hamilton’s decision comes despite F1 sporting regulations that the top three drivers must attend the prize ceremony. The fans were seen carrying a van outside the parking lot with the message: “WeStandWithLewis.”
The final race of 2021 went down the wire with Verstappen coming out on top in the dying seconds of the game.
Hamilton was leading by 10 seconds entering into lap 54 but a safety car deployed after Latifi crashed into barriers and fresh tyres for Verstappen with the stewards’ decision to allow lapped cars to take over meant Hamilton was denied the record championship title.
FIA director Michael Masi had initially indicated lapped cars between Hamilton & Verstappen would stay in their formation only to change his decision at the last-minute.
Hamilton & Mercedes boss Toto Wolff were pissed after multiple protests and decided not to attend the prize distribution ceremony.
Speaking at Formula 1 prize ceremony in Paris, Verstappen said Hamilton had no reason to walk away.
“Of course, I can understand that the first few days, after a race like that, you’re not happy. You should also understand this is racing and these things can happen to you. I think he should just look back at what he has achieved, and that should give him a lot of comfort and that drive to keep on going,” he said.
“He is still trying to challenge for that eighth title, and he can do that again next year, so I don’t see any reason why to give up or stop now,” he added.
However, Verstappen said he doesn’t feel sorry for Hamilton but accepted that it can be very painful.
“At the end of the day, that’s racing as well. You just have to keep fighting until the end and you know that in racing anything can happen,” he concluded.
Formula 1 Awards Ceremony: Furious Lewis Hamilton refuses to attend ceremony, but his fans crash Max Verstappen’s F1 trophy presentation
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