Ferrari: "Lunatic" Michael Masi slammed for robbing Lewis Hamilton his 8th F1 title by Toto Wolff in a fresh shot at the sacked FIA race director

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's 2021 championship finale was one of the closest and perhaps the most controversial in recent history. The 7-time F1 champion lost what would have been a historic eighth title - an achievement that would have made him immortal in the history books. One of the main characters who denied Lewis his championship was Michael Masi, whom Toto Wolff describes as a "lunatic".

Speaking to the Telegraph in his latest interview, the Mercedes honcho reminisces about the Abu Dhabi 2021 scandal and his behavior post everything. The Austrian said:

"There is one lunatic who can basically destroy the record of the greatest champion of all time. I have not experienced the loss of control of a situation since I was a child."

Lewis Hamilton really struggled to dominate in F1 after Abu Dhabi GP in 2021. The boy from Stevenage has since moved to Ferrari from Mercedes.

Max Verstappen added 3 more championships to his resume. The Red Bull driver is currently challenging for a fifth straight title against McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Michael Masi was sacked by the FIA in February 2022 after being responsible for botching the Safety Car procedure.

Susie Wolff reflects on the Abu Dhabi GP 2021 and says Lewis Hamilton was better than Max Verstappen in the finale race

Many people have had their say on what happened with Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi in 2021. Hamilton's close friend Susie Wolff revealed she was very upset watching the former Mercedes man lose out on his title.

Sir Lewis and Susie Wolff have known each other since their karting days, where they used to compete against each other. The 40-year-old has constantly lent his support to Susie for her multiple initiatives.

Susie Wolff said:

“I was so upset in Abu Dhabi, and not because Max won. He was a deserving champion. It’s nothing against Max,” Wolff recalled (44:09 onwards). “It was the way it happened. The fact that Lewis was so deserving on that day. He was the better driver. He was winning that race.”

Many people believed Lewis was done racing for good after being robbed of his 8th F1 title. However, he did return to Mercedes for the next season, whilst also being knighted shortly before.

However, four years on from the Abu Dhabi race, Hamilton has failed to reach the peak of his form since. His move to Ferrari has been abysmal as well, creating many unwanted records in the process.

But with the new regulations coming into the picture next season, Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for a fresh start and a better car. Can Ferrari deliver to the 7-time F1 champion's request?

Edited by Tanmay Khanna