Lewis Hamilton’s title loss in 2021 is well documented, but James Vowles has provided further insight into how the Briton reacted behind the scenes.
Williams team principal James Vowles has shared an insight into how Lewis Hamilton reacted to the heartbreak title loss at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamilton saw the title slip from his grasp on the final lap of the race as a controversial safety car restart allowed Max Verstappen to complete an overtake to win the championship.
It has long been labelled as one of the most controversial moments in F1 history, as the FIA was found to have not followed standard procedures to resume the race.
At the time, Vowles had a leading strategy role within Mercedes and insisted he felt most sorry for Hamilton, who came agonisingly close to bagging a record-breaking eighth F1 title.
“My biggest feeling is for Lewis, because he is such an incredible character,” Vowles told Frankie Langan’s YouTube channel.
“He fought tooth and nail for it, and that’s where my feeling is – not for me personally, but for him.
“As a result of it, my life has moved on, I’m not with Mercedes anymore, I’m with Williams.
“It’s a part of my history, and if you let it take over too much, you will dull your future.
“I don’t want it to do that. It’s just a line in the sand for what happened five years ago.
“But I feel for Lewis, out of all of it, because to him, it was something that was right there in front of him.”
