Susie Wolff on Abu Dhabi 2021: Lewis Hamilton was the “better driver” than Max Verstappen in the finale race of the season

Susie Wolff recently shared her thoughts on one of F1’s most controversial nights - the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The F1 Academy Managing Director called Lewis Hamilton the “better driver” in the race that decided the championship.

Speaking on the Road to Success podcast, Wolff admitted the ending still feels deeply unfair because of how the title was settled.

“I was so upset in Abu Dhabi, and not because Max won. He was a deserving champion. It’s nothing against Max,” Wolff recalled (44:09 onwards). “It was the way it happened. The fact that Lewis was so deserving on that day. He was the better driver. He was winning that race.”

The 2021 Abu Dhabi GP was a straight fight between Lewis Hamilton (then in Mercedes) and Red Bull's Max Verstappen for the world title. With both tied on points after a season of close battles, the Briton dominated the finale. He dominated until a late crash by Nicholas Latifi brought out the safety car with six laps to go.

Race director Michael Masi initially chose not to allow lapped cars to overtake, before changing his decision to permit only five - those directly between Hamilton and Verstappen - to unlap themselves. The restart came with a single lap to go, allowing Verstappen, on fresh soft tires, to overtake Hamilton’s worn mediums and snatch the title.

Mercedes immediately filed two protests, arguing the FIA had not followed its own procedures, but both were dismissed. Lewis Hamilton’s fans and many in the paddock were frustrated with the inconsistency of race control’s decisions. For Susie Wolff, it was agonizing. Her husband, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, was heard on the radio pleading with Masi in disbelief.

“So, it really upset me. But Toto’s really good about getting his emotions in check quite quickly,” Susie Wolff added.

After the race, FIA launched a full review and later admitted that “human error” had played a role in the restart procedure. Masi was removed from his position in 2022. By then, however, the damage was already done. Verstappen went on to win back-to-back titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024, while Hamilton has continued chasing a record eighth crown.

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Susie Wolff on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari move: "I got upset quite quickly"

Lewis Hamilton (R) and Susie Wolff during the F1 Academy podium ceremony in Singapore. Source: Getty

Three years on, the seven-time champion announced in 2024 that he would join Ferrari at the end of the season. The move marked the end of an era for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton that began in 2013 and produced one of the sport’s most dominant runs with six world titles and eight Constructors' championships.

Hamilton’s contract discussions with Mercedes had stalled, as the team offered only a short-term “one-plus-one” deal. Ferrari’s offer of long-term security and the chance to end his career with the team he admired as a child proved decisive.

Susie Wolff admitted that Hamilton’s exit initially stung.

“When Lewis left for Ferrari, I got upset quite quickly as to how it was done,” she said. “But he (Toto Wolff) said, ‘We’re going to be okay. We’re going to be friends with Lewis and this is all going to be okay. Just give it time.’ He’s really good at always seeing the bigger picture and not allowing his emotions to overrun.” (44:32 onwards)

Since the move, both sides have retained their mutual respect. Susie Wolff has recently expressed admiration for Hamilton for his support of the F1 Academy.

On track, though, results have been hard to find. Hamilton has endured his most difficult season in F1, sitting sixth in the standings with 146 points and no podiums after 20 rounds. Meanwhile, his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, has collected seven podiums.

At Mercedes, George Russell has stepped up with two wins and 258 points, placing him fourth overall. Meanwhile, rookie Kimi Antonelli, Hamilton’s replacement, has shown flashes of promise and trails the Briton by just 49 points.

Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar