Daniel Ricciardo reveals sympathy for Lewis Hamilton 'heartbreak' in Abu Dhabi

McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo has said that he felt sympathy for Lewis Hamilton’s ‘heartbreak’ in Abu Dhabi at the end of the 2021 season.

Hamilton saw his chance of winning an eighth world title snatched away from him on the final lap of the final race of the season after a contentious Safety Car bringing in call, coupled by only letting certain cars unlap themselves, by Michael Masi paved the way for Max Verstappen on fresh tyres to take the title.

Indeed, Ricciardo was the first driver not allowed to unlap himself with him watching on in the best seat in the world to see the drama unfold, right behind Lewis and Max’s respective gearboxes.

And, that said, what he saw play out left him feeling pretty bad for Lewis:

“All I knew at the time is that Lewis had a relatively big lead,” said Ricciardo. 

“It looked like it was going to be wrapped up and then with one lap to go there was a restart and I knew that Max had pitted for fresher tyres and I don’t think Lewis could have pitted, so I was just like ‘wow’. 

“At that time, I really just felt for Lewis. He was laps away [from winning the title] and then through this he couldn’t pit and then he was a bit of a sitting duck with one lap to go. 

“It’s not often you put yourself in another driver’s shoes but for whatever reason I was putting myself in his shoes that night, probably because I was seeing it all unfold in front of me. I was like ‘I would not like to feel that, that’s some real heartbreak’.”