Angry Hamilton and Mercedes exchange leads to SHOCK early exit
Lewis Hamilton is on his way out at Mercedes having already signed a deal to race for Ferrari in the 2025 Formula 1 season and beyond.
It’s been a largely miserable final year at the Silver Arrows for the seven-time world champion, who despite winning two races has once again been nowhere near a title fight he so desperately wants to eclipse given he shares Michael Schumacher’s championship record.F1 HEADLINES: Hamilton Mercedes release announced as chief holds team-mate crisis talks
The mood has risen slightly after a superb drive to claim second place behind team-mate George Russell at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last weekend, having started from 10th place that led to him being voted Driver of the Day by fans.
However, while Hamilton and many of his supporters will always look back at the Abu Dhabi 2021 finale with Max Verstappen as the title opportunity that controversially slipped away, there is another year where the British star also suffered heartbreak at the Yas Marina circuit.
Before 2021, there was 2016 and another bitter championship battle in Abu Dhabi with then team-mate Nico Rosberg which is now over eight years old
Lewis Hamilton finished second behind George Russell in Las Vegas
What happened in the 2016 Abu Dhabi GP?
Heading into the final race of the season, Rosberg led the standings knowing that a third place finish would be enough for him to be crowned champion.This was a huge problem for Hamilton as the Mercedes was the class of the field, meaning if he zoomed off into the distance to win the race, Rosberg only had to follow in second to effectively stroll to a surprise title win.But that was how the start of the race played out. Hamilton took the lead and perhaps surprisingly built a comfortable gap to the German that worked against his title hopes.
However, as the race neared its conclusion he purposefully eased his pace to the point he was caught by Rosberg. Rosberg refused to duel or even challenge Hamilton, perhaps fearing an incident could damage his championship hopes. Instead he radioed in to Mercedes with a bizarre request (in isolation at least) asking them to give Hamilton the ‘hurry up’.Rosberg said: “This is really slow pace so maybe at some point invert the cars and if by the end of the race Lewis is still second I’ll let him by again. I know that’s a really stupid request but this is really slow at the moment. He’s doing exactly… he’s quick in sector one so it’s difficult for me.”Hamilton, of course with a title on the line, wasn’t playing ball and eventually the pair were then caught by the following Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Hamilton’s plan was coming together. Back Rosberg up to the pair in the hope both would overtake the German, allowing him to sneak a then third consecutive world championship. It was the only weapon he had at his disposal to save his fast dwindling championship hopes.
The Mercedes pitwall though had other ideas. They had to remain neutral in the drivers’ title chase, therefore priority was to focus on securing a one-two finish – even though the constructors’ championship had long since been sealed.
Lewis Hamilton leads from Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen
Hamilton and Mercedes’ radio war in Abu Dhabi
Four laps from the end, technical chief Paddy Lowe barked orders at Hamilton telling him: “Lewis this is Paddy. We need you to pick up the pace to win this race. That is an instruction.”Hamilton unsurprisingly responded saying: “Paddy I am actually in
