Key takeaways
- Peace made with 2021: Toto Wolff confirmed that both he and Lewis Hamilton have made peace with the controversial ending of the 2021 World Championship in Abu Dhabi.
- Verstappen’s merit: Wolff acknowledged Max Verstappen as a deserving champion, emphasizing that the outcome of a long 22-race season cannot be reduced solely to the final afternoon.
- Reflections on Abu Dhabi: The Mercedes CEO detailed the emotional shock and rational control he experienced during the Safety Car restart in the closing laps of Yas Marina.
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Principal Toto Wolff revealed that he has fully made peace with the outcome of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship.
Speaking on the SAP podcast, Wolff reflected on the dramatic and controversial title decider at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton on the final lap following a late Safety Car restart to claim his maiden Drivers’ Championship. While the loss initially left deep scars within the Silver Arrows, Wolff affirmed that both he and Hamilton have moved forward.
(Photo: Mercedes)
“Winning eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships is a great achievement—it’s something that hadn’t been done before in any other sport, so that was a good moment. But how that race panned out is something that will stick with me forever. I’ve made my peace with it, as has Lewis, and Max deserves to be the champion. The season was decided on one afternoon, but that’s what remains from 2021,” Wolff said.
Wolff also recounted the internal struggle between emotion and rational crisis management during the final laps after Nicholas Latifi’s crash brought out the Safety Car:
“My only reaction was trying to stay in control. Ever since I was a child, I’ve tried to be in control because of a tough childhood—I remember being 9 years old and wanting to be independent. The moment I saw it was all decided with 10 laps to go, there was no scenario where we could lose, and yet we lost. It was a moment of disbelief.“
“That was my personal feeling, but then the fighter inside me stepped up, asking: how do we fight back? What options do we have to challenge the result? My rational self kicked in, reflecting alongside our CEO and Lewis. Everyone was trying to understand what to do next. Susie [Wolff] was also in disbelief having raced with Lewis. I navigated through those emotions step by step.“
Wolff’s reflections arrive amid a busy Formula 1 news cycle leading into Monza, including Mercedes acknowledging McLaren’s threat after Zandvoort, Lando Norris extending his McLaren contract through 2030, and Red Bull preparing an Italian GP backup plan for Isack Hadjar.
Formula 1 resumes track action from September 4–6 at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the 2026 World Championship. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of every session across all categories. Follow all updates on our news page.
World Championship Standings (Top 5 after Dutch GP)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Engine | Points |
| 1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Mercedes | 242 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | Mercedes | 183 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | Ferrari | 183 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Mercedes | 159 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | Ferrari | 155 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Does Toto Wolff believe Max Verstappen deserved the 2021 World Championship?
Yes. Toto Wolff stated on the SAP podcast that Max Verstappen deserved to be champion over the course of the 2021 season.
2. Has Lewis Hamilton also made peace with Abu Dhabi 2021 according to Wolff?
Yes. Toto Wolff confirmed that both he and Lewis Hamilton have come to terms with the outcome of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
3. When is the next race on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar?
Formula 1 returns to action from September 4–6, 2026, for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
