Lewis Hamilton learned life lesson after losing F1 title to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton says he learnt that failure has its benefits and ‘winning isn’t everything’ after missing out on the Formula 1 world championship to Max Verstappen at last season’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 37-year-old lost out to the Dutchman after former FIA race director Michael Masi’s unprecedented interpretation of the safety car rules rendered Hamilton a sitting duck and essentially gifted the title to Verstappen at Yas Marina, bringing to an end one of the most intense season-long battles in the seven-decade history of F1.

Mercedes protested the result in the aftermath and team principal Toto Wolff told the press that Hamilton was ‘disillusioned’ with the sport, which, combined with his silence on social media, led to speculation that Hamilton could be set to retire from the sport.

Hamilton eventually confirmed his return shortly before Mercedes launched their new W13 car for the 2022 season, after the FIA conducted an investigation into the running of the Abu Dhabi race and Masi had been removed from his position. Now, he says that missing out to Verstappen has had its benefits.

‘I have been racing for 29 years, so I think having that mentality of always knowing you can be better But I think during this time [since Abu Dhabi], realising that winning is not everything,’ he explained at the 2022 Dubai Expo.

‘Sometimes, when you lose, you actually win and grow. My advice for people is: Don’t be afraid of failure because you will always meet failure on the way to success. I will come back to fight for that eighth [world championship], that is what I do.’

The 2022 F1 season begins this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix and Sakhir. The W13 struggled with porpoising in a pre-season test at the same