A few years on from one of the most controversial title deciders in Formula 1 history, the events of the 2021 season have returned to the spotlight. A new wave of comments has reignited the debate about what happened in the desert that night, and whether the outcome was influenced by the show itself.
The 2021 championship battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen was one of the fiercest the sport has ever seen. Race after race, the two drivers traded victories, collided on the track and pushed each other to their absolute limits. Tensions between their respective teams, Mercedes and Red Bull, simmered as the title fight intensified heading into the final round.
A rivalry that defined an era
By the time the championship reached the decisive race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the stakes could not have been higher: Hamilton, who was then driving for Mercedes, was chasing a record-breaking eighth world championship. Meanwhile, Verstappen was on the brink of securing his first.
They arrived in Abu Dhabi level on points, guaranteeing a winner-takes-all showdown.
The decisive moment in Abu Dhabi
For much of the race, Hamilton appeared to have the upper hand. He was comfortably in the lead in the closing stages and seemed certain to win the title. However, a late safety car period changed everything.
A controversial race control decision allowed certain lapped cars to unlap themselves before the restart, specifically those between Hamilton and Verstappen. This effectively set up a one-lap sprint to the finish, with Verstappen on fresh tyres directly behind Hamilton.
On the final lap, Verstappen made his move, overtook Hamilton and secured both the race victory and his first world championship title. The aftermath was immediate and explosive. Many observers argued that Hamilton had been denied a fair shot at the title. Others maintained that, however unusual they were, the procedures were within the rules. The debate has never fully faded.
Lando Norris weighs in
Now, years later, fresh comments have brought the controversy back into focus. Reigning 2025 world champion Lando Norris has spoken candidly about what happened in Abu Dhabi, and his remarks are likely to provoke renewed discussion.
Reflecting on the title decider, Norris suggested that the way the race concluded appeared designed to create a dramatic showdown.
“I didn’t even know at the time that only the top drivers, up to Max, had been allowed to do it,” he explained. “It was obviously done to create a battle; it was for television, of course, and for the result. Whether it was fair or not, that wasn’t for me to decide.”
His comments imply that the late-race procedure was shaped, at least in part, by the desire to deliver a climactic finish. The notion that sporting decisions may be influenced by entertainment value is a sensitive subject in Formula 1, a championship balancing global spectacle and elite competition.
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Norris: “It should have been eight.”
Norris also addressed Hamilton’s legacy, making clear his admiration for the seven-time champion.
“It’s a different car. You know, he has more experience than practically anyone else. Clearly, he didn’t win seven world championships for nothing… It should have been eight,” he said.
“He absolutely didn’t do all that by being ‘just’ good enough. He clearly has everything it takes.”
The remark, ‘It should have been eight’, is particularly striking. While Norris stopped short of directly declaring the 2021 result unjust, the implication is clear: in his view, Hamilton had achieved enough over the course of his career, and perhaps that season, to deserve another championship title.
He added that it would be ‘powerful’ to see Hamilton back at the front fighting for the title again, suggesting that fans may yet witness more championship battles involving the British driver.
A decision that still divides opinion
Norris admitted that the manner in which the race was restarted surprised him.
“To do that suddenly, just for the last lap and a one-lap sprint, surprised me a bit,” he said.
This mirrors the surprise expressed by many drivers and team members at the time. The governing body later acknowledged that ‘human error’ had played a role in the handling of the safety car procedure, and changes were subsequently made to race control structures.
Yet the fundamental question remains a matter of perspective: Was the decision a legitimate interpretation of the rules under intense pressure? Or did the desire for a dramatic finale override sporting consistency?
Why do the comments matter now?
Formula 1 has moved on in many respects. Verstappen has since won more titles, while Hamilton continues his career with renewed motivation. New rivalries have emerged and a new generation of drivers, including Norris, has stepped into the spotlight.
However, the 2021 finale remains a defining chapter in the history of modern F1. When a reigning world champion openly suggests that the climax was ‘obviously done to create a battle’ and ‘for television’, it inevitably sparks debate.
For some, Norris’s remarks validate long-held suspicions. What is certain is that the rivalry between Hamilton and Verstappen continues to resonate. With leading figures continuing to reflect on that dramatic night in Abu Dhabi, the conversation surrounding one of Formula 1’s most controversial moments is far from over.
NEXT ARTICLE – Christian Horner reveals what message Toto Wolff sent him after his dismissal from Red Bull Racing
For years, the rivalry between Christian Horner and Toto Wolff has been one of Formula 1’s most reliable subplots. While the drivers battled it out on the track, their respective team bosses provided the drama in the paddock, sometimes subtle, often not.
So, when Horner was dismissed from Red Bull Racing shortly after last year’s British Grand Prix, many wondered whether Wolff would raise a quiet toast or send a quiet message.
As it turns out, he chose the latter.
In the latest season of Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Horner reveals exactly what his long-time rival sent him in the aftermath of his exit. In true Wolff fashion, it was equal parts sharp and sincere, and just self-aware enough to be dangerous.
When ‘porpoising’ nearly caused a diplomatic incident
To understand the tone of that message, it helps to revisit one of their more combustible flashpoints.
Three years ago, amid the chaos of Formula 1’s ground-effect return, several teams were battling severe ‘porpoising’, the high-speed bouncing that turned multimillion-pound race cars into mechanical pogo sticks. Wolff, whose driver Lewis Hamilton was visibly suffering from back pain, pushed hard at a meeting of the team principals for regulatory changes.
The problem? Sympathy was in short supply.
Horner, never one to miss an opportunity for mischief, suggested the discussion might be better held away from the ever-present Netflix cameras. Wolff did not appreciate the meta-commentary. Tempers flared. Tempers flared. Subtlety left the room.
Horner eventually snapped: ‘Then adjust your bloody car!’
Wolff countered by invoking Sergio Pérez, claiming that even the Red Bull driver had complained. Horner flatly denied it. Wolff, with theatrical precision, declared: “I have it printed out.”
It was peak Drive to Survive. Shakespeare, but with data sheets…CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE
Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
Oh come ON! WHO gives a f**k what LN thinks?! He’s trying to minimalise what MV has achieved in an effort to boost his own standing and failing miserably … HE’s someone who’s NOT the best driver – not even close! – but has had HIS success massaged by the team … he’s undeserving of column inches