“My worst fears got here alive. I used to be like, there is not any method they will cheat me out of this. There is no method. That will not occur. Certainly not.”
Hamilton was nicely on his strategy to successful his eighth world title till Williams Racing driver Nicholas Latifi collided into the limitations with 4 laps remaining, ensuing within the security automobile being known as out.
Former F1 race director Michael Masi allowed racing to restart on the ultimate lap and Verstappen was permitted to begin nearly side-by-side with Hamilton, regardless of the Mercedes driver having beforehand earned a large lead.
Verstappen ultimately overtook Hamilton on recent tires and went on to win his maiden F1 world title.
Hamilton mentioned that after the race, he remembers sitting in his automobile “in disbelief.”
“I do not know if I can actually put into phrases the sensation that I had,” he added.
“I do keep in mind simply sitting there simply in disbelief. And realizing I’ve obtained to undo my belts, I’ve obtained to get out of there, I’ve obtained to climb out of this factor, I’ve obtained to search out the power,” he added. “I had no power. And it was one of many hardest moments, I might say, that I’ve had in a protracted, very long time.”
‘One thing wasn’t proper’
The result of the race prompted combined reactions on social media.
When requested if he felt cheated by Masi’s resolution and the controversy that adopted, Hamilton informed the journal: “I knew what had occurred. I knew what choices had been made and why. Sure, I knew that one thing wasn’t proper.”
After a feverish ending to an intense season, Hamilton mentioned he discovered consolation in his father’s arms.
“He embraced me, and I believe he was like, ‘I would like you to understand how proud I’m of you.’ Having your father embrace you in that method is among the most profound issues,” he mentioned.
“Particularly as you have grown up not many occasions having that.”