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Lewis Hamilton would have won title but Mercedes ‘missed a trick’ in final moments of Abu Dhabi GP, reveals Ecclestone

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FORMER F1 chief Bernie Eccleston believes Lewis Hamilton would have won an eighth world title if Mercedes had deployed a smarter strategy.

Hamilton was pipped to the championship by Max Verstappen on the last lap of the last race at a dramatic Abu Dhabi GP.

Eccleston reckons a better Mercedes strategy would have seen Hamilton win the titleCredit: Getty
Instructions could have been sent to Bottas to wind the engine down, which would have resulted in the Safety Car staying on the trackCredit: The Mega Agency
Hamilton was beaten at the death by Dutchman Verstappen in dramatic and controversial circumstancesCredit: Getty

But Mercedes could have possibly made sure the Safety Car stayed on the track until the end of the race after it was called out with five laps left to go.

That would have meant the leading driver at the time, Hamilton, would have won the race and also the title.

Eccleston was asked by Swiss outlet Blick whether Mercedes could have “radioed to [Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri] Bottas to let the car coast because they want to preserve the engine.”

Had they done so, in all likelihood the Safety Car would have stayed out and Hamilton would have won the race.

And Eccleston responded: “Pretty clever. I thought of that too, and it would have been ideal to make sure the Safety Car stayed out and the race wouldn’t have been restarted.

“Many people would have been upset, but there wouldn’t have been any changes to the final result.”

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He was then asked if they failure to make the call to Bottas had been costly in handing the championship over to Verstappen.

Eccleston replied: “Right, and I don’t know if Toto Wolff, with a third of the team shares, is still in the same strong position as before.

“But we will find out at some point.”

The controversial result still leaves Hamilton chasing an eighth world title.

His seven championships so far is the joint most of all time, tied with Michael Schumacher.

But following the events that unfolded at Yas Marina, speculation has been rife that Hamilton could even RETIRE from the sport.

However the 36-year-old Brit is expected to take to the grid again next season with Mercedes, but could face an even tougher battle for the title.

New F1 regulations mean Hamilton could face three fresh challengers for the driver’s prize in 2022.

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk

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