The current Williams boss, who was Mercedes' strategist that year, highlights the Briton's sportsmanship, says he united the team in the most difficult moment, a true champion's display.
The years go by, but the 2021 Formula 1 season remains an open wound for many. That titanic fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, which was decided on the last lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a controversial overtake by the Dutchman, is remembered as one of the most intense and controversial in history. Now, almost five years later, James Vowles, current Williams boss and then Mercedes' strategy director, has wanted to highlight Hamilton's reaction after that defeat.
Vowles, affectionately known as "Uncle James" by fans, offered a unique perspective on what happened inside the German team after race director Michael Masi decided not to let the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen unlap themselves after Nicholas Latifi's crash. That decision allowed the Dutchman to attack and overtake the Briton on the last lap, snatching away a title that many had taken for granted.
"People ask me about drivers and why I put Lewis where I put him, sportsmanship is fundamental," Vowles said when recalling those moments. For the strategist, the most revealing thing wasn't how Hamilton lost, but how he acted afterwards: "I'm sure we've all been through difficult situations in life, and sometimes it's hard to accept what happened. But that wasn't the case for him after the race," he explained.
Far from sinking or showing bitterness, the seven-time world champion adopted a leadership role within a shattered team: "He actually ended up being one of the strongest leaders within the team, bringing everyone together at a time that was one of the most difficult for us," Vowles said. "That's a true champion, regardless of what happens on track," he stated.
The current Williams boss's comments come at a time when Formula 1 is going through a forced break due to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, action will return from May 1 to 3 with the Miami Grand Prix, but in the meantime, the echoes of the past resonate strongly.
Vowles also wanted to put the Abu Dhabi controversy into perspective. Although Masi's decision was decisive, the strategist recalled that Verstappen and Red Bull were up to the task throughout the entire season: "We can't ignore that Red Bull and Max were there fighting for the championship. Even if we put Abu Dhabi aside, he would have won the title under those circumstances," he concluded.
His words serve as a reminder that, beyond controversial decisions, sport is also built on gestures of greatness off the track. Hamilton, despite the bitterness of that ending, proved that a champion is defined not only by the titles he wins, but by how he behaves when he loses them.