Will.i.am Reflects on Lewis Hamilton’s Resilience Post-2021 Abu Dhabi GP: The Road to an Historic Eighth Title
In a revealing interview with Alex Harrington for Sports Illustrated and Men’s Journal, will.i.am shared his unique perspective on Lewis Hamilton’s journey post-2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He discussed Hamilton’s mental battle and his belief in Hamilton’s imminent historical victory.
Key Takeaways:
- Lewis Hamilton’s Mental Struggle: Since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has been navigating a tough mental journey, contending with a car that doesn’t quite align with his style and preferences.
- Will.i.am’s Perspective on Hamilton’s Journey: Will.i.am expressed that Hamilton is dealing with the aftermath of something being “snatched” from him and believes it’s just a matter of time before Hamilton makes history by overcoming his current obstacles.
- The Historical Impact of Hamilton’s Potential Victory: Will.i.am emphasised that Hamilton’s eventual victory would be historical not just for him, but also for the sport, Mercedes, and the future generations inspired by him. He predicted that it would take years for anyone to break the record Hamilton is set to establish.
In an exclusive interview with Alex Harrington, will.i.am provided an insightful analysis of Lewis Hamilton’s current situation in Formula 1. The artist and entrepreneur empathised with the mental struggles Hamilton has faced since the contentious 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, highlighting the difficulty in dealing with setbacks and aligning with a car that may not fully suit one’s driving style.
Will.i.am said, “Right, so, anybody will struggle with something being snatched and it’s just a matter of time for him to wait, he just has to figure it out once and history’s made.” He continued, “They say just let the master do what he’s really good at. He’s figured it out a bunch of times, and this one time is gonna be history. Historical. And it’s historical for him, the sport, Mercedes, and all the folks inspired by him.”
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit stands as one of the most dramatic races in Formula 1 history. It was a fierce battle for the World Championship between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, leading to a tie in points heading into the final race. The controversy reached its peak on the last lap with a late-race crash from Nicholas Latifi and subsequent decisions by race officials regarding lapped cars and the safety car. Verstappen, with fresh tires, overtook Hamilton on the final lap to win his first World Championship, sparking debates over the fairness and consistency of the race’s management. Under normal circumstances, all lapped cars would un-lap themselves before racing resumed, but due to time constraints, only those between Hamilton and Verstappen did so, enabling the race to resume and ultimately leading to Hamilton missing out on his eighth championship.
