F1 seasons and races will come and go, but few will be as controversial as the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. A race that could have put Lewis Hamilton at the top of all record books but instead marked the beginning of Max Verstappen’s one-of-many World Championships. That topic still makes its way into today’s media interactions and the most recent instance is that of Toto Wolff hailing Hamilton for his transformation since.

One lap was all that was there for Hamilton to seal the deal on his 2021 season and get his 8th WDC. He was leading the race and there were 5 lapped cars between him and Verstappen, in P2. But in a freak occurrence, then-Race Director, Michael Masi, allowed those 5 cars to unlap themselves under the safety car to set up a final lap showdown. And that made Verstappen’s job easier. With his fresh Soft tires, he overtook Hamilton and won his 1st ever WDC.

After the recently concluded Belgian GP, Wolff told BBC that the 2021 loss made fans have sympathy for Mercedes. Though they lost some love from fans because they dominated the grid for almost 8 years, that race made them look like normal humans in the eyes of fans. And since then, Hamilton also has undergone a major change that has increased his fanbase and the love that he receives.

Wolff said, as quoted by RaceFans, “The interesting phenomenon was that we as a team, and Lewis as a driver, we didn’t have a lot of credit and sympathy because we won so many times and we became the underdog in that moment. People cheered for us and that is still a positive today.”

On that day and the winter break that followed the 2021 season, there might have been no consoling Hamilton. Though he’ll probably never get over it completely, he’s at least found the strength to joke about Verstappen’s current dominance.

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Lewis Hamilton Makes an Austin Powers Reference to Joke About Max Verstappen’s Rampage

F1 fans got to witness yet another Max Verstappen masterclass at the Belgian GP. Even though he started P6, he finished the race 22.3 seconds ahead of Sergio Perez, in P2. Meanwhile, Lewis finished way behind by almost 42 seconds in 4th, In the post-race interview, Hamilton was asked to comment on the Dutchman’s dominance. In reply, the Briton made a reference to a Dutch villain’s dialogue from an Austin Powers movie.

“What do you want me to say? I have not spoken to him,” said Hamilton jokingly. “He is having a smoke and a pancake. You know the film?” The 7-time champion was referring to the 2002 movie – ‘Austin Powers in Goldmember’, where the villain asks Mike Myers’ character, Austin Powers if he wants a “smoke and a pancake”.

As they say – “All’s well that ends well“. Lewis Hamilton has decided to let bygones be bygones and enjoy the current season and the challenges that come along with it.

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