It’s time to review the most recent set of important talking points from yet another eventful day in the Formula 1 world.
Lewis Hamilton’s 2021 Abu Dhabi title loss to Max Verstappen was a contentious one, and Christian Horner, the former team manager of McLaren, has harshly criticized Mercedes’ involvement in it. Hamilton has also fallen short of the top three driver rankings in Horner’s eyes.
All of this and more, so let’s get started.
Christian Horner: In Abu Dhabi, Mercedes “f*cked up”
Tuesday, December 12th, is the second anniversary of the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that concluded the 2021 season and saw Hamilton lose to Verstappen in the race for the championship.
Speaking on Sky’s A League of Their Own gameshow, Horner asserted that Mercedes is solely responsible for the events that transpired.
He exclaimed, “Mercedes f*cked up. They left Lewis out there on tires that had pretty much worn out for the entire race, and since Max and I had pitted, Lewis had new tires. Max took the action and…”
Andrea Stella does not include Lewis Hamilton in her top three.
Despite being the seven-time World Champion and, statistically speaking, the most successful driver of all time with the most victories, pole positions, and podiums, Hamilton is not good enough to rank among the top three drivers in equivalent machinery for McLaren Principal Stella.
The head of the McLaren team said to DAZN, “My top three drivers with the same cars would be Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Fernando Alonso.”
Jos Verstappen requests that Mercedes agree to Abu Dhabi 2021.
Speaking exclusively, Max’s father Jos Verstappen relived the day his son became the World Champion for the first time two years ago.
He says the team and driver must accept the outcome of the Abu Dhabi title-decider, although he can understand Mercedes and Hamilton’s intense frustration.
He remarked, “I can imagine it’s not as nice for Lewis and Toto.” “But you have to accept it the way it is, you know?”
Jacques Villeneuve praises Max Verstappen’s diligence as a game-changer.
Verstappen is frequently seen competing in the virtual racing world when he is not out on the track for Formula 1 action.
Furthermore, 1997 World Champion Villeneuve stated to PlanetF1.com that Verstappen is the reason behind Red Bull’s success. With the exception of Fernando Alonso, the others would have a better chance of beating him on the track if they aspired to his level of work ethic.
He remarked, “Maybe they would be at Max’s level if they all focused like Max.”
The FIA trophy will be returned to Lewis Hamilton.
The location of Hamilton’s trophy, which he had won for finishing third in the Drivers’ Championship, was a source of confusion after the FIA Prize Giving Gala.
Based on information obtained from an insider, the trophy has been returned to the FIA and is en route to either Hamilton or Mercedes. This comes after a social media user falsely claimed to have received the trophy as a gift, an allegation that Mercedes quickly refuted.
Alpine announces the departure of yet another senior employee.
During the F1 2023 campaign, Alpine lost Otmar Szafnauer, Alan Permane, and Pat Fry. The team has confirmed that Davide Brivio will now join them through a mutual parting of ways, which will take effect at the end of the year.
Upon joining Alpine in 2021 as racing director, Brivio—one of the most successful motorcycle team managers in history—was eventually promoted to director of racing expansion projects.
The news was released concurrently with Alpine’s confirmation to PlanetF1.com that Bruno Famin will continue to serve as the team principal for Formula One in 2024.
