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Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton haunted by 2021 title scandal: will they ever move on?

James Taylor by James Taylor
December 11, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton haunted by 2021 title scandal: will they ever move on?

In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the motorsport community, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that both he and Lewis Hamilton are haunted by the controversial events of the 2021 Formula 1 season finale. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a race that will go down in history as one of the most disputed in F1 lore, saw Hamilton on the brink of claiming an unprecedented eighth world championship—only to have it snatched away in a dramatic twist of fate.

During the race at Yas Marina Circuit, Hamilton was comfortably leading, seemingly destined for victory. However, disaster struck when Williams driver Nicholas Latifi crashed, leading to a safety car that would alter the course of history. Max Verstappen, who had been trailing behind, seized the opportunity to pit for fresh soft tires, while Hamilton was left on old hard tires. As the safety car came into play, the rules were bent in a way that allowed Verstappen to close the gap and launch an attack on the final lap.

The controversy deepened when race director Michael Masi made the contentious call to allow only some lapped cars to un-lap themselves, a decision that many believe violated the regulations. Had the race concluded under the safety car, Hamilton would have emerged victorious and crowned champion. Instead, Verstappen’s audacious overtake on the last lap at Turn 5 secured him his first title, igniting a firestorm of debate and anger that still burns brightly today.

In an intense exchange before the São Paulo Grand Prix, Wolff expressed the ongoing turmoil, stating, “We haven’t got over it. I talked to Lewis about it yesterday — I think about it every day and so does he. And it’s stayed with the team, too.” Wolff emphasized the injustice of the situation, likening it to a referee making a bad call in football that cannot be reversed. “Both were deserving champions, but the referee made a bad call, to use a football analogy, and you can’t reverse it. The goal has been scored, the game is finished,” he lamented.

The fallout from that day has had long-lasting effects on the championship landscape. While Hamilton has not been in a title fight since, Verstappen’s career took off, leading to a period of dominance that continued until he lost the 2025 crown to Lando Norris. The rivalry didn’t just simmer between the drivers; it spilled over into the team principals’ arena, with Wolff and former Red Bull chief Christian Horner frequently clashing.

Wolff’s frustration with Horner is palpable, as he revealed that Horner has never acknowledged the wrongdoing of the 2021 finale. “Never. He was never able to admit it,” Wolff asserted. He attempted to view the situation from Red Bull’s perspective, recognizing their own grievances throughout the season, but he criticized Horner’s lack of introspection. “Christian was never able to admit the same – that if it was the other way round and had happened to them that day, it would have been catastrophic,” he charged, highlighting what he perceives as a glaring flaw in Horner’s character.

This gripping saga of ambition, rivalry, and controversy continues to captivate the world of Formula 1, as Wolff and Hamilton remain entrenched in the memory of that fateful day. The echoes of Abu Dhabi 2021 are far from silenced, and the implications of that race will undoubtedly reverberate through the sport for years to come.

Tags: 1958-formula-1-season2025-formula-1-world-championshipjamarr-chases-mercedes-maybachLando NorrisLewis Hamiltonmax-verstappen-enoracle-red-bull-racing
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