Windsor saw tough time for Hamilton: 'Didn't want Russell as teammate'
F1 News
- Nicole Mulder
Lewis Hamilton won his first F1 race since the 2021 Saudi Arabia GP, when he fought a fierce title battle with Max Verstappen. For Peter Windsor, the Mercedes driver's victory feels like retribution for the defeat he suffered against the Red Bull Racing driver, who won his first world title in 2021.
""I think this race will be remembered because it was two and half years since Abu Dhabi 2021. Since everything that happened on that day when that eighth world championship was snatched from Lewis effectively on the last lap due to a mistake made by the race director, and it’s about everything that’s happened in Lewis’s life since then - a teammate that he didn’t really want, George Russell, instead of Valtteri Bottas, and then perhaps even more significantly, a very uncompetitive Mercedes," Windsor begins his analysis on YouTube.
He continues: "Despite all that over those two and a half years Lewis Hamilton has never lost his motivation or his drive or his enthusiasm for driving, for racing." Windsor argues that many athletes would have retired long ago to enjoy their fame and fortune. "But not Lewis. He just loves racing. He lives for racing," says the former Williams team manager.
Windsor: 'Hamilton's victory retribution for Abu Dhabi 2021'
In the closing stages of the Formula One race, Windsor had flashbacks. "It was down to Max Verstappen versus Lewis Hamilton. Abu Dhabi 21, retribution," he continued. According to the analyst, the final laps felt extra fraught because of the British crowd present in large numbers: "This was also a crowd probably in terms of the majority that had lived through Abu Dhabi 21 as well. I think that’s what made the difference. There was a huge emotional groundswell around the circuit and Lewis for sure could feel it, could see it."