‘I felt for Lewis’ - McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo opens up on 2021 F1 title controversy at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo admits he felt sympathy for Lewis Hamilton in the aftermath of last season’s Formula 1 title-decider at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton was leading the season finale heading into the final laps, but race director Michael Masi’s decision to allow cars between the Mercedes driver and fellow title contender Max Verstappen to un-lap themselves under a late safety car allowed the Dutchman to pass his rival on fresher tyres to seal a sensational, albeit controversial, title triumph.

Ad/> Masi's actions caused Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to fume over team radio as the last-lap drama unfolded, with the German saying: ‘No Michael, this is not right’.” Formula 1'He didn’t want to become the second driver'- Horner on Ricciardo’s departureA DAY AGO Masi left his role following an FIA investigation, which found that ‘human error’ was to blame but added that Verstappen’s title win would remain ‘valid’. Verstappen: Michael Masi has been ‘thrown under a bus’ Red Bull chief: Mercedes ‘bullied’ Michael Masi into F1 exit ‘He didn’t want to become second driver’ — Horner on Ricciardo’s Red Bull departure For Ricciardo, who himself finished eighth in the 2021 drivers’ standings, the dramatic scenes at Yas Marina Circuit brought back memories of the 2008 season, when Lewis Hamilton’s overtake on Timo Glock at the Brazilian Grand Prix saw him steal the world title from home favourite Felipe Massa.

“At the time, I couldn’t believe what happened,” he told 10 Sport ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. “I remember 2008 when the championship ended on the final lap and I was like ‘that will never happen again’.

“And I was seeing it happen in front of me and I was just like ‘oh my god’. I felt for Lewis