Lewis Hamilton rated F1 GOAT even though Max Verstappen denies Michael Schumacher’s record | F1 | sports

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Express Sport readers still rate Lewis Hamilton as the greatest ever (GOAT) in Formula 1 despite losing the 2021 Drivers’ Championship to Max Verstappen last Sunday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Briton was defeated on the final lap at the Yas Marina Circuit after taking the lead in most of the season-ending race, with the two hitting the decider square in the desert exactly equal in terms of points in the standings.

Hamilton looked set to win his eighth world title to overtake Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher and become the most successful Formula One driver ever.

However, Nicholas Latifi’s Williams strike led to the controversial downfall of the 36-year-old’s bid, with Red Bull’s Verstappen becoming the first non-Mercedes driver to excel since 2013.

Pulling out the safety car late, telling the five cars tangled between race leader Hamilton and Verstappen to give themselves up – unlike the rest of the grid – made the 36-year-old a sitting duck.

Verstappen was using new soft tires compared to Hamilton’s worn hard ones, meaning he could only battle his opponent for so long, as the Dutchman found his way in the Turn Five.

Mercedes twice protested the race result, both of which were kicked out by the hosts, and eventually abandoned Thursday’s appeal, despite the apparent violation of FIA rules from race director Michael Massey.

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It is believed that Hamilton, despite Mercedes’ strong legal case, was reluctant to try to win his eighth title in the courtroom rather than the right track.

A team statement read: “The reason we protested against the race result on Sunday was because the safety car regulations were implemented in a new way that affected the race result, with Lewis in the lead and on the way to winning the world championship.

“We have advocated for sporting justice and have since entered into a constructive dialogue with the FIA ​​and Formula 1 to create clarity for the future, so that all competitors know the rules they are racing under, and how they will be enforced.”

More F1 news… Toto Wolff makes damning FIA comment after Hamilton appeal canceled

Silver Arrows “welcomes” the FIA’s decision to set up a committee to properly look into events in Abu Dhabi and “improve the robustness of rules, governance and decision-making in Formula 1”.

And despite the result, with Hamilton staying on par with Schumacher in seven championships, Express Sport readers still largely support the Briton as the greatest F1 driver ever.

Our poll hasn’t closed yet, but so far, 62 percent of our readers – as of Saturday morning – think Hamilton is the greatest mover of all time.

Another 14 per cent insist that if Hamilton wins an eighth title before retiring from Formula 1, he will be considered the Goats above the likes of Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and Juan Manuel Fangio.

Despite his success, 24 per cent still don’t think Hamilton is the absolute best, even though the 2021 season saw him turn two centuries old.

The seven-time world champion snatched his 100th place at the Spanish Grand Prix and later won his 100th Formula 1 race at the Russian Grand Prix.

He now stands on 103 wins and a pole, as well as an unrivaled 182 podiums, but the Mercedes driver was still grappling with the nature of his loss to Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.

As such, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has suggested he is not 100 per cent certain he will return to the grid in 2022 even though he is under contract with the Brackley-based champs until 2024.

The new F1 season is set to begin in Bahrain on March 20 with a 23-race calendar that includes the Miami Grand Prix’s debut. The Australian, Canadian, Japanese and Singapore Grand Prix races are set to return after a two-year absence.

Do you agree or disagree with the voting method? Our survey is still open and you can give your opinion below.

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