Lewis Hamilton lauds Formula 1 for calling Abu Dhabi fiasco a ‘human error’

Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion, lauded Formula 1 for admitting ‘human error’ in its 2021 Abu Dhabi GP report that was released earlier this week. In the report, motorsport governing body FIA concluded that ex-Formula One race director Michael Masi validated the result of last year’s controversial season finale that costed the Mercedes driver an eighth world title. 

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When told that there was no apology to him in the report, Hamilton said that he wasn’t expecting one. 

“Look, I wasn’t expecting an apology and it is not something I have focused on. We know that is the way it is, and that was probably not going to happen,” the Mercedes driver said. 

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Masi was replaced as race director last month after the wild Abu Dhabi ending. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won his first world title after overtaking Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton on the last lap following a controversial restart procedure.

Hamilton led comfortably until a crash by Nicholas Latifi brought out the safety car with five laps remaining. Verstappen stopped under yellow flags for quicker tires, and Masi flipped his decision and let the five drivers separating Verstappen from Hamilton pass the safety car under yellow. But not all eight, which would have taken longer.

Also read: F1: Max Verstappen sure Mercedes will be competitive in 2022

Calling it a human error, the FIA said that a software has been developed to automate the communication of the list of cars that must un-lap themselves. 

“But at least there is that transparency, and it has been called a human error and that is a positive step. We cannot go back unfortunately and change the past so I just look at what I can do now,” Hamilton added. 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the acknowledgement by the governing body means the chapter can be closed. 

“You can read it either way, but, for us, there are the words that say ‘human error’ and the acknowledgement of that is very important and now we close the chapter,” Wolff said. 

Masi was cleared of any wrong intent and the FIA said he was just doing his best to finish the race.