Fernando Alonso, at the end of Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP 2021, race in which Max verstappen was proclaimed F1 world champion on the last lap after a ‘Safety Car’ that changed everything in his favor, he pointed out that this course, “more than ever”, it was to distribute the crown between the two pilots, because both “they were outstanding” throughout the year.
“I think Max is a champion, it was a matter of time before he won the title. He was lucky in this race: without the safety car, Lewis was world champion, and with the safety car, Max is world champion. So it’s pure luck what happened “, commented on a controversial end of the Abu Dhabi GP due to the ‘Safety Car’ procedure, since Race Direction allowed the cars between Verstappen and Hamilton to unfold before the relaunch but not the rest of the folded, something that Fernando also defined as a confusing situation.
“But if you take all 22 races, as I said on Thursday, either one of us could be world champion. I think more than any other year, if you could split the trophy in two, this was the year to do it, because they were both outstanding. “added the Oviedo, making it clear that a battle as epic as that of Lewis and Max fighting in the last round of the season for a crown could be something that “we may not see more in our lives”.
Ferdinand praised Hamilton’s driving in the last part of the course, but stressed that the Englishman had a better car in the last few appointments, although he remarked that only Lewis in Mercedes He was able to get the most out of that car, making it clear that it was the British’s hands that made the difference.
On the other hand, Fernando considers that in the overall championship, as he said on Thursday, Verstappen had done some more merit since he was hurt by unfortunate actions, such as when Hamilton threw him out at Silverstone, or the same with Bottas in Hungary, or his puncture on the last lap when he led the Azerbaijan GP.
“Lewis was driving to another level, especially in the second part of the championship. The Mercedes was a faster car, yes, but Valtteri was not second and Lewis was doing those performances.”He commented about the British.
“When you lose the championship because of the safety car at the last minute, you sure feel a bit sorry, but as I said on Thursday, I saw it a little 51 to 49% in favor of Max, and it was clear to me from the beginning, because I felt that during the season there were a couple of more unfortunate moments for Max than for Lewis “, qualified. On Thursday at the press conference prior to Abu Dhabi, Fernando already said that for him Mercedes deserved the Constructors ‘title because he had a better car, but that Verstappen deserved the Drivers’ title because he drove at another level compared to the others. And after the race, he reaffirmed himself.
In addition, he spoke of the importance that another driver can have to win a title that breaks the monotony, since Lewis had been winning for four consecutive years, and in the last 7 courses a Mercedes driver had always won (6 Hamilton and one Rosberg). The same happened when Fernando himself ended the hegemony of Michael Schumacher in 2005 and 2006 with a Renault.
“The new is sometimes more attractive, in terms of a new champion. It’s good, when you see the grandstand. And if Max wins four or five championships one day, then a new guy will come and he will be like the big attraction, I think that is what’s happening now “, he pointed.
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