Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen had a heated rivalry in 2021 and the controversial ending in Abu Dhabi would not have helped matters.
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Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says he has no issues with Max Verstappen amid the fall-out of the 2021 season and the Abu Dhabi GP.
Hamilton and Verstappen had a heated rivalry in 2021 and the controversial ending in Abu Dhabi would not have helped matters.
There was even talk of Hamilton feeling disillusioned with the sport after the way the race ended. And while the Brit confirmed that, he said there was no hard feelings towards his rival for the race ending.
“This has nothing to do with Max,” Hamilton told reporters at the Mercedes W13 launch event. “Max did everything a driver would do given the opportunity he was given.
New car, new teammate, new year, new drive. @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/A72n5VhcgO
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) February 19, 2022
“He is a great competitor and we will go into another battle like we did last year and conduct ourselves.
“We will obviously grow from our races and experiences we had last year also this season. I have no issues with him.”
There were question marks over whether Hamilton would return to the sport this season. However, he was present at Mercedes’ W13 launch event and confirmed he never spoke of retirement.
He also took part in the team’s shakedown in Silverstone after the launch, where he went out second after new teammate George Russell.
It probably helped that, on the eve of their car launch, the FIA announced sweeping changes to the way the sport would be governed.
The changes included the sacking of FIA race director Michael Masi. It was his calls in the Abu Dhabi GP which caused plenty of outrage among fans.
The changes also include the introduction of a ‘virtual room’, akin to VAR in football. And the duties of being race director will be divided among Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas.
Hamilton welcomed the changes made to the way the sport would be governed. However, he also stressed he held no grudges at all anymore over the way last season ended.
“I don’t hold any grudges with anybody, I don’t think that is ever a good thing to carry around with you so I move forwards,” he said.
“I don’t dwell on the past. As I said before, I feel fresh, I feel centred and fully focused.
“I don’t have anything holding me back this year. Not that I did last year but I am not letting that experience be one of those.”
