Struck by Deja Vu, F1 Veteran Labels Hamilton’s Abu Dhabi Defeat Against Verstappen as His “Best Moment” in Controversial Declaration

“Of all the drama, of all the controversy, of all the magic moments in Formula 1 in 2021, it comes down to this. And at this moment, it looks like it’s going to go the way of Max Verstappen. Mercedes not happy. Red Bull will be delighted. They have shared a brilliant championship battle, but the championship can only be won by one, and it’s going Dutch in 2021. Max Verstappen, for the first time ever, is Champion of the World!” If commentary can give someone goosebumps, it’s been done right. And this piece of art (that Lewis Hamilton would not look back too fondly on) by F1 veteran broadcaster David Croft is one of the right ones.

That last lap battle for the title between Hamilton and Max Verstappen in 2021 will go down as one of the most controversial laps in F1 history. Be that as it may, Crofty’s ability not just to honor the two champions but also do justice to everything that happened in 2021 with his last-lap commentary in Abu Dhabi is destined to go down in history as well. Looking back at it, the F1 veteran explained why that infamous night in 2021 was his “best moment.”

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fulfilled Crofty’s dream

It’s not easy being a commentator, especially in a sport as fast-paced as F1, especially when you have to take over commentary duties from the legendary Murray Walker. It’s safe to say Crofty has done well with his current reign as the voice that stands out during races. With every race starting with his trademark, “It’s lights out, and away we go,” the Brit has done his best over the years to make the closing moments of a race just as enjoyable. Well, Abu Dhabi ‘21 was one of those moments, not just for viewers but also for him.

On an episode of The Fast And The Curious Podcast, Crofty was asked what his best moment as a commentator was. He replied, “As a commentator, for the championship to be decided on the last lap of the last race is like something we dream about occasionally, but wake up and be like, ‘Nah, that’s not going to happen.’ It happened in 2008 in Brazil, but it’s not going to happen again, is it? And it did happen in Abu Dhabi.” While the LH Amry may think anyone who wasn’t on Hamilton’s side during the last-lap controversy will automatically be on the wrong side of history, Crofy gave his reason for choosing that race as his standout moment.

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He revealed, “That moment where you are trying for one lap to sum up as much as you possibly can so that everyone watching understands what that moment is about. And then get the action described as well, and prepare yourself for the moment where he crosses the line. That’s a challenge that you want as a broadcaster. And people come up to me and say, ‘No, we loved your line when he crossed it. We loved that lap.’ That’s my standout moment of many.” Instead of focusing on the controversial aspects of that night, Crofty urged the LH Army to move on and appreciate everything else that happened, especially considering their hero himself let Verstappen off the hook.

Lewis Hamilton doesn’t hold Verstappen accountable for Abu Dhabi ‘21

Hamilton and Vertappen’s rivalry was born (and slowly died) in 2021 as they battled each other in a season-long title fight. Throughout the year, there were controversial races and moments here and there that highlighted the tensions between them. It all boiled over in the season finale in Abu Dhabi. That infamous night was one of the most controversial things to have happened in F1, and needless to say, it didn’t sit well with Hamilton. 

After signing a two-year contract extension with Mercedes following prolonged negotiations, the seven-time champion revealed he has “unfinished business” with Mercedes, expressing his motivation to win more championships. According to a YouTube video by The Race, “Discussing his new contract at Monza, Hamilton refused to acknowledge his controversial 2021 defeat to Max Verstappen as a key motivator, saying, ‘I’m not really a revenge person. It’s not about revenge.’” 

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What is your favorite piece of David “Crofty” Croft’s commentary? Does the last-lap description of Max Verstappen overtaking Lewis Hamilton for the title give you goosebumps?