Max Verstappen unique on Abu Dhabi: Reflecting on ‘miracle’ F1 title win and Lewis Hamilton sympathy

Max Verstappen has opened as much as Sky Sports F1 in regards to the extraordinary drama and feelings of his “miracle” last-lap title victory finally yr’s Abu Dhabi GP, admitting that he sympathises with Lewis Hamilton over how their “great” championship battle ended.

The unique interview – which will be watched throughout Sky Sports F1’s build-up for the 2022 Abu Dhabi GP right now from 11.30am, with lights out at 1pm – sees Verstappen run by the championship finale intimately, from being resigned to defeat to the ecstasy of an overtake on the ultimate lap and a maiden world title.

Verstappen additionally reveals how he felt for Hamilton amid the controversial ending, with the Dutchman solely given the chance to cease the dominant Mercedes driver from clinching a historic eighth crown because of an incorrect software of the principles by FIA race director Michael Masi.

“Of course, it was all looking great [for Lewis],” Verstappen tells Sky Sports F1’s David Croft from the scene of the rivalry, the Yas Marina circuit. “And something like that happens… it is tough.

“You know, there was at all times going to be one winner and one loser. If you are on the shedding aspect, it is going to be unhealthy it doesn’t matter what. And it additionally would not matter how, for those who lose, you lose. And that it is simply horrible whenever you’re so shut, proper?”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Relive some of the most intense tussles on track between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen last year

Verstappen adds: “The solely factor I did say to myself on the time was, he has seven world championships. And he has additionally received one the place it regarded like he was shedding out, after which within the final nook, he did not [referencing the 2008 Brazilian GP]. So I hope that he may perceive not less than a little bit bit the distinction in emotion.

“But yeah, I felt for him and especially, you know, we had our moments when we got together that year, but I always respected him and I think we did have a great battle.

“And additionally lastly, we had two groups combating for a championship. I actually hope that we are able to respect that sometime.”

Verstappen and Hamilton went on to have contrasting 2022 seasons, with Verstappen clinching his second crown with four races to spare. Hamilton, meanwhile, goes into today’s race looking to avoid the first season in his career without a single race win.

Verstappen on Abu Dhabi drama: Accepting defeat

“The first few occasions it positively gave me goosebumps, for certain,” Verstappen tells Crofty as he recalls watching back what is surely one of the most remarkable conclusions to any sporting season.

In an exclusive Sky Sports F1 interview, he reflects on it again.

He says he had already accepted defeat to Hamilton, who led for 57 of the 58 laps after overtaking the pole-sitting Red Bull.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ride onboard with Max Verstappen as the Dutchman pipped his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez to pole in Abu Dhabi

“We simply did not have that tempo like that they had,” he admits. “And yeah, it did not look good. We tried a special technique as nicely, nevertheless it wasn’t catching sufficient, , to shut that hole.

“At the time I was like, OK, we might not win it, but I’m still going to remember this year as an amazing season. I mean, what we have done as a team, you know, to overcome that deficit we had to them over the years, I think we can be really proud of that.

“But I additionally stated to myself, ‘I’m nonetheless going to present it all the pieces I’ve, each lap till the top.'”

Even ever-optimistic team boss Christian Horner appeared to be in the same boat as he spoke to Sky Sports F1 from the pit-wall. “Christian even talked about it on the TV, proper?” says Verstappen. “We want a miracle proper now. And we acquired it.”

Verstappen on the controversial Abu Dhabi rules

Cue Nicholas Latifi crashing into the barriers with eight laps remaining, meaning a Safety Car – and the closing up of the pack erasing Hamilton’s big lead – appeared inevitable.

“This man wants to maneuver as shortly as potential,” Verstappen recalls thinking. “We have to race. Yeah, for certain – that was my solely likelihood.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

After Williams announced Nicholas Latifi is to leave the team, take a look at perhaps his most infamous moment in F1 – the crash in Abu Dhabi that led to the last lap world title drama between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton

Red Bull pitted Verstappen onto soft tyres, with Mercedes keeping Hamilton out and believing the race would not restart due to the F1 regulations on Safety Car restarts, and lapped cars.

Drivers were first told that the lapped cars would not be allowed to un-lap themselves, before a lap later Masi ruled that only the cars in between Verstappen and Hamilton could do so. The race was then given the green light for one final lap – much to the surprise of Mercedes – with the FIA claiming F1’s stakeholders were in agreement that they did not want the championship to end behind the Safety Car.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Experience the incredible conclusion of the Abu Dhabi GP from on-board Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton’s cars and listen to the team radios, including Hamilton saying the race had been ‘manipulated’

“I believe is at all times onerous to please everybody,” says Verstappen. “Because right here we did race, then in Monza [in 2022], we did not. And then persons are additionally complaining. So, what is correct, not racing or racing?

“It is always the one who loses out will complain that it’s wrong, not the one who benefits from it. That’s how it works.

“To simply cross the road beneath the Safety Car at all times seems like a little bit of a disgrace, actually.”

Verstappen on the last lap: The cramp, the overtake, the celebrations

Verstappen then recalls going into that final lap with the most inopportune of issues.

“I’m nervous, there have been plenty of nerves,” Verstappen states. “This was a very powerful lap of my profession up till that time… it is going to be a world championship or not.

“And then the worst factor what occurred was I crossed the road [for the final lap], and I acquired a cramp in my proper leg.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Max Verstappen passes Lewis Hamilton on the final lap in Abu Dhabi to win the 2021 F1 Championship!

“It was essentially the most nervous a lap of your life after which additionally coping with a cramp struggling to remain full throttle. I could not management my leg! It was horrible.”

Verstappen, on his fresh tyres, caught Hamilton, and others, by surprise with a bold overtake into Turn Five.

“My Dad did not count on it, Christian did not count on it, no one anticipated me to do it there as a result of they thought, there’s such a long term on the 2 straights.”

Verstappen, dealing with his spasming right leg, held off Hamilton through those straights and crossed the line as F1’s fourth-youngest world champion.

“It was the largest emotional outburst of my life,” he says. “People have been going loopy, folks have been crying.”

He will take his first racing lap again at Yas Marina right now, from pole place.

Watch all of the motion stay on Sky Sports F1, with build-up at 11.30am earlier than the race begin at 1pm.