Eight-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier is confident Lewis Hamilton will return to Formula 1 in a bid to fight for his own eighth title, as the Frenchman shared his views on the dramatic season finale in December last year.
After being beaten to the championship by Max Verstappen, Hamilton has kept a low profile. The seven-time champion hasn’t spoken publicly about what happened and there are concerns he may quit the sport as a result.
Ogier doesn’t believe he will, despite the events of Abu Dhabi in which the rally legend described as “theft”.
“I think he will come back,” he said whilst on RMC’s Super Moscato Show. “He is in an ultra-competitive environment with the best team of the moment.
“It must have been very difficult for him to take. He really felt like he was robbed. He was robbed, let’s not be afraid to say that.
“Although I have a lot of respect for Max Verstappen, he had a great season, but at the last weekend Lewis dominates the race, he is in front until the end. Unfortunately for him, a few laps from the finish, there is this famous safety car.
“One or the other, either of them were deserving champions but on the face of that weekend alone, it was theft. It’s hard to swallow for Hamilton.”
Mercedes have also remained silent on Hamilton’s future, with just a handful of social media posts referencing the Briton. However it’s believed he may be waiting until a report into the race is released by the FIA, before making a final decision on his future.
Theft! Robbery! Not so nice to keep posting such strong biased so untrue words. it sets the whole of F1 in a nasty light. Again the decisions made in the last decisive race where controversial but within the rules. Again over the whole year there was only 1 driver who deserved the championship more. So in the end despite the controversial ending we met a fresh very good new wel deserved and earned world champion. Hamilton only succeeded to be an outstanding world champion with having fas superior material in the hybrid era. As soon as Russel is in the second seat you will see what happens with sir Lewis Hamilton. Even in his first year he will give Hamilton a very hard time, but most think Russel will outshine Hamilton. So please stop this biased nonsense and give f1 some credibility. That way it keeps making fun to watch. Constantly hearing words as robbed, theft, give Masi the sach is so pethatic.
I expected nothing less from you Klaas.
“One or the other, either of them were deserving champions but on the face of that weekend alone, it was theft. It’s hard to swallow for Hamilton.”
Discuss….
True, that race all in all Hamilton should have won. If you look at the total picture the season produced the rightfull World champion.
Deserving to win and winning something are two different things… Being handed over a trophy for being consistent and coming from behind to fight for the trophy are two different things… Have a blessed one
No words 👏🏽
Full Klaas 🤡
Theft. Plain and simple.
Which ever name u want to call him sir or Lewis or Hamilton u guys all watch the race and Max would have lost it by miles safety car saved him and Masi unprofessional decision ruined the race .it was all a racist move to give white boy Max the win and title and to save other white boys legacy of owning the crown of 8 championship so all u haters of Lewis he be back to make u all eat shit
Theft, robbery, racist and what is next? As a Verstappen fan i just love Hamilton. What would a championship be without them battling? So we need them both. First next season Hamilton has to try and hold of Russel. That alone will be hard enough. Than he has a very talented and fast driver next to him, with the same superior machinery.
Dont forget that Hamilton won 6 titles with a extreme superior car. There was no car even close. Mercedes even turned the engine down. They where 2 to 3 seconds faster for many years. easy wins with no competition. Personally i thing Russel will eat hamilton alive. It will be fun to watch.
I love George and he is a brilliant driver bit Sir Lewis Hamilton is not your average driver so no he will not be eaten alive… Put some respect to a seven robbed eight times wolrld champion name….
No he didn’t. The McLaren was by no means the fastest car of the season.
He also lost to a team mate in an identical car.
Having the best car for a few seasons is immaterial, don’t forget it took Mercedes 4 years to build a competitive car, which beat the dominance of the Red Bull which had won the previous 4 seasons.
Does that mean Sebastian Vettel’s 4 WDCs are diminished by him having the best car when at Red Bull?
correction: team mate
You mean the same Russell who wasn’t significantly faster than his own the team. 😂 You don’t seem to understand racing.
You mean the same Russell who wasn’t significantly faster than his own the team. 😂 You don’t seem to understand racing.
And I thought the bad old days of Senna being disqualified in Brazil and stopping Monaco in the rain was behind us. FIA needs to earn our trust all over again.
Klaus get a grip! F1 not only cast itself in an unfavorable light, they shopped for the damn light bulbs!
Max is fake. Mickey mouse champion.
Thats maybe why team principals, journalists and racing specialists call Max he best F1 driver at the moment.
He is fake and not real.
@Klaas the Dutch are by nature thieves and corrupt. History supports this just look at the VOC theft, corruption and genocide.
Thank god Great britain did nothing wrong in her collonial days.
To bring genocide into a racing topic points out how twisted and poor minded some are. Shame on you!
I wonder what would have happened if the roles were reversed? What do you think would be posted if Hamilton passed Verstappen in the same circumstances?
I bet we would be getting heaps of praise for Lewis’s wonderful move on Max to earn his 8th title. Masi would be getting praised for letting the race finish under racing conditions.
I’m saying this from a pretty neutral viewpoint. I’m neither a Lewis or Max fan.
@Bill C, the same outrage. Theft is theft and cannot be sugar coated. The 8th commandment is clear about thou shall not steal.
Max is a great driver we are not doubting that, However Lewis has been robbed of his eighth title in the most cruelest way…. There will always be a question mark next to Max on stealing this title…. Those who know,Know….
“True, that race all in all Hamilton should have won.”
Exactly.
So true, but over the whole season Max was just better in a slower car. Looking at the whole season there is 1 champion. Thats max
Think also about Imola, Silverstone and Hungary. Twice taken out by a mercedes. Imola hamilton was extremely lucky. Once again a mercedes couple(Bottas and Russel) caused a red flag wich gave Hamilton 6 points free in his lap. Remember Max was taken out 2 times and hamilton was very lucky. looking over the total season there was 1 guy who just deserved it a bit more. Two wonderfull drivers who gave their best, but in the end a bit controversial the best that year won the champion ship. So overlooking it all just give the guy the credit he deserves.If the whole season without bad luck had played out as it should, Max would be champion 2 races earlier. But unfortunate sometimes unforseen things happen. in the last race of the year finally it went the right way. Controversial yes, but so well deserved overlooking all. I hope that Hamilton fans can also see that.
What about Belgium…
This has nothing to do with it being a Hamilton, as many people can be objective and root for a fair match. one needs to be objective and able to call a spade a spade and you not understanding the rules is the problem here. Failure to call the race correctly is why the race director got his ass canned (fired) in the end, and rightfully so. The shit-canned likely got a few million 💸 out the door as a warm reward for the entertainment he provided. It was a piss poor judgement call that made for great entertainment at the cost of the rules. Rules are rules.
A hard rule is also that Masi can make his own decision. Thats a hard rule. You should know that Masi did not follow the most implied rule that all cars should be unlapped. He used the rule that he can change that habit when he tinks its better or safer or whatever. There is no hard rule ….simple……so your comment is worthless. That it was unconvential, yes, but with that frase it stops,