I still think about Abu Dhabi every day

In last year’s F1 season finale, Lewis Hamilton After dominating most of Yas Marina’s competition, he looks ready for his eighth world title.

However, things took a turn when a late safety car was triggered Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams.

During the restart, then-F1 race director Michael Massey failed to follow the correct procedure – selectively allowing only a few back lane markers to get off the lap and then restarting the race one lap earlier as required.

This allows Max Verstappenhe pitted for new tires, passed Hamilton on the final lap and won, giving him his first world title.

Mercedes Initially protested the outcome and appeared prepared to take the matter to the Court of Appeal, but eventually backed down in the interest of the sport.

The FIA ​​has launched a full investigation into what happened, and Marcy moved aside as part of an overhaul of the way F1 race controls.

But not all Hamilton fans were distressed by what happened that night, and Wolff admitted he had a hard time forgetting it too.

Asked in an exclusive interview with Autosport if he was still reflecting on what happened in Abu Dhabi, Wolff said: “I think about it every day. A well-deserved champion.

“How it turned out, I think I have values ​​about fairness, especially fairness in sports. That’s my fundamental love for the sport. And then got kicked that day.”

Toto Wolff, Mercedes-AMG Team Principal and CEO

Photography: Mark Sutton / motorsport pictures

While there are still many questions about what exactly happened in race control that day, especially with the recent emergence of Marcy signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) never to talk about it, the FIA ​​has sought to draw a line under these events .

But there have been questions this year about the consistency of the new race control structure and the approach and attitude of the new FIA president, Mohammed bin Sulayem.

Reflecting on the work Ben Sulayem has done so far, Wolfe said some difficulties are inevitable given the change in approach he hopes to bring about.

“I think the way Mohammed Ben Sulayem was recruiting pointed the way for me,” he said.

“Everyone has his strengths. I think the main goals of transparency, providing good governance and a good framework are what I see.

“As Mohammed’s organization needs to be in place and everyone needs to find their role, will there be bumps in the road? Yay, of course. But I’m happy with how it’s going.

“They’re open-minded. They’re not opinionated. To me, transparency, honesty and integrity.”