Naomi Schiff Reveals 2021 Abu Dhabi Heartbreak Almost Ended Hamilton’s F1 Career

F1 insider Naomi Schiff has revealed she feared Lewis Hamilton would never return to the Formula 1 grid following his devastating 2021 title defeat to Max Verstappen.
Hamilton and Verstappen shared the podium together at the Canadian Grand Prix, a sight that felt significant given the turbulent history between the two drivers.
The pair carry a 13-year age gap between them yet are considered two of the most experienced and successful drivers in the entire history of the sport.
Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, Schiff reflected on her first interview with the seven-time champion and the weight of emotion surrounding that conversation.
“Well, I remember telling Lewis before I actually did the interview that I was incredibly nervous because I’d grown up borderline idolising him,” Schiff said.
“He was really like my hero growing up. I looked up to him and so to share this moment with him, which I wanted to fill with joy and happiness and we also had to talk about Abu Dhabi.”
Schiff noted that Hamilton’s absence from the paddock after 2021 left many uncertain about whether he would ever race in Formula 1 again.
“I mean he disappeared off the grid for a while, we didn’t know if he was coming back or not, there was a lot to unpack,” she added during the podcast discussion.
Schiff recalled that Hamilton was measured and clear-eyed when asked about facing Verstappen again, acknowledging the intensity of their rivalry without letting it define him.
“He just said, ‘You know what? At the end of the day, he’s my rival, and are we going to be best mates? Probably not, but I’m still going to respect him as a competitor on track,'” Schiff recounted.
Schiff also observed that the relationship between the two drivers remains visibly careful, with genuine warmth not yet coming naturally to either man.
“You can tell that it’s probably still not natural for them to engage easily because you don’t just forget that; there’s going to be some of that competitive scar tissue that will last forever,” she said.
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remains one of the most controversial finales in the sport’s history, with Hamilton leading for much of the 58-lap race after passing Verstappen at the start.
A late safety car triggered by Nicholas Latifi’s crash changed everything, with Verstappen pitting for fresh tyres and positioning himself to attack Hamilton for the lead.
Several lapped cars between the two leaders initially blocked Verstappen’s path, but race director Michael Masi controversially allowed only those specific cars to unlap themselves and not others further down the field.
The decision was widely condemned as a major injustice and ultimately led to Masi being removed from his position as race director.
Despite the controversy, Verstappen still had to overtake Hamilton on the final lap of the final race, with both drivers having gone into the weekend level on points.
Verstappen completed the pass and took the championship, denying Hamilton what would have been a record-breaking eighth world title.
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