Who can forget the iconic moment when Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso came together during the final 2018 race and performed donuts for the crowd? It felt like the perfect sendoff for Alonso, who retired from the grid. Going into the Abu Dhabi Race this year, a lot of talk and attention was about Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes. The seven-time champion will be competing in his final race for the team after making a switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season.

It is only natural that Mercedes scheduled an extravagant celebratory send-off for their star driver. But it looks like FIA is also chipping in, trying to make this day a memorable one for Hamilton and the Mercedes fans. They have released a document that allows Hamilton a reserved place on the racetrack after the completion of the race. Presumably for doing donuts.

But that seems to be coming at the cost of the champions as they are instructed to follow the directive mentioned in the documents. “After taking the checkered flag, the top three drivers and the driver of car 44 (if outside the top three) should stay on track, drop to the back of the field, and then proceed directly to the grid. Where there will be the opportunity for post-championship celebrations should they wish to do so.” FIA shared in the statement.

Well, that was not it; FIA even shared a diagram to make things easy for the entire grid to understand and grasp. The diagram clearly shows Lewis Hamilton being given a special preference along with the podium winners.

And this treatment by FIA towards the Mercedes didn’t go down well with the fans. Many of them took to social media, calling out FIA.

Is Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes departure stealing light from those worthy of a celebration?

Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, and Zhou Guanyu are all out of seats for the year and could be out of Formula 1 racing altogether. Technically, they should also have a good farewell and allow their respective teams to celebrate their contributions. But that doesn’t seem to be the case, and this certainly ticked off this race fan. “Drivers who leave F1 for good won’t make doughnuts, nor will the 2024 world champion if he doesn’t get on the podium. But the driver who stays in F1 does. And don’t let anyone say that there is no influence in F1.”

The practice is not entirely unusual for drivers. Back in 2022, during Sebastian Vettel’s final race in an F1 car, the FIA issued similar guidelines for drivers. Those who finished in the top 3 could join Vettel on the starting grid to celebrate. One fan was just baffled to see the FIA designate an area for Hamilton to do the celebratory donuts, which was just before the Start Lights Gantry. “The ‘celebratory donuts area’ diagram might be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on an official document.” Given that it will be Hamilton who is likely to celebrate all three podium cars, irrespective of their championship status.

Hamilton is certainly more hungry for success at the Formula 1 level. This is why he opted to jump ships and join Ferrari in a new environment and culture where things are a bit different. However, with his departure from Mercedes being celebrated on massive scales, one can only imagine how big of a deal it will be once he hangs up his boots from racing.

“If its like this when hes just changing teams, whats is it going to be like when he retires,” a fan chimed in with this comment. What fans may not be considering is the legacy Lewis Hamilton leaves Mercedes with. During his time with the team, he won six Driver Championships and eight Constructors titles with the team.

A similar case can be made for the championship-winning drivers. Max Verstappen, along with the two drivers who won the constructor’s title for their team. Perhaps drivers who are not sure of their future at the F1 level should also be allowed to celebrate their last run with their respective teams, right? This was the argument made by several fans on social media. “Huh? Why dont the WDC and the drivers leaving get to do it but Lewis does because hes leaving a team?” 

Although donuts in the victory lane are ideally done by the race or championship winner. But, seeing Hamilton being given special treatment by the FIA, fans are arguing everyone should be able to celebrate. It doesn’t matter where the driver finishes after the race; everyone is entitled to do donuts. “I’m sorry but quite some people should be able to donuts if they wanted today, regardless of where they finish.” However, most teams do not permit their drivers since it means they have to pay the additional cost of ruined tires. Mick Schumacher was famously told not to perform donuts during his final season with the team because they racked up a massive bill for all the crashes in the season.

What are your thoughts about this gesture of appreciation by FIA towards Lewis Hamilton? Does he deserve a champion’s celebration, or could this be delayed for his retirement race?