Nearly 4 years have passed since that fateful night in Abu Dhabi. An unforgettable finale that capped what many still call the greatest championship battle in Formula 1 history. Two generational talents entered the race level on points. One final showdown. One lap that changed everything. And one moment that, for Lewis Hamilton’s most devoted fans, remains a wound that refuses to heal.
Zak Brown Rekindles Haunting Memories of 2021
Every now and then, some figure in the F1 world comes out with their hot take on the 2021 title fight to stir the pot. The latest in the long list of famous figures is McLaren’s CEO.
In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Brown got candid on a lot of topics, ranging from the resurrection of McLaren from its darkest days to his never-ending feud with ex-Red Bull Racing CEO and Team Principal Christian Horner.
In a rapid-fire question, he was asked, “Can Lewis Hamilton become a record-breaking eight-time F1 Champion?”. Brown bluntly responds, “He should already be”, seemingly referring to the 2021 title loss to Max Verstappen, reigniting the social media firestorm yet again.
🚨| Zak Brown says Sir Lewis Hamilton “should already be” an 8 time world champion in Formula One!
In the same interview, he says:
“Max has crossed the line on track at times. In Brazil against Lewis Hamilton over time. A handful of his passes on Lewis were overly aggressive.”… pic.twitter.com/cXwFSgsuLf
— sim (@simsgazette) November 17, 2025
Hamilton’s fans flooded Twitter (X) with outraged tweets and comments. One fan said, “Remember when Horner said people would forget? No one will ever forget the injustice that happened that day”. Some fans even questioned why Brown chose to speak out after nearly 4 years of silence, “They all knew it in their hearts, but in the past, none of them was willing to speak out”.
One fan even went as far as saying, “Interesting interview with Zak Brown. Basically confirms that Max is a dirty driver and Horner is a dirty team boss. Oh, and like anyone who knows anything about #F1, he confirms that Lewis should be an 8-time WDC”, as if a subjective opinion from a rival team boss counts as “facts”.
This has sparked a response from those who have moved on from the past. One fan clapped back, “Confirms? Cause he’s sharing his opinion? Many people, former drivers, more accomplished than Zak will ever be in F1 have shared opposing opinions. Were there opinions confirmations too or does it only work like that when you agree with said opinions?”.
Confirms? Cause he’s sharing his opinion? Many people, former drivers, more accomplished than Zak will ever be in F1 have shared opposing opinions. Were there opinions confirmations too or does it only work like that when you agree with said opinions?
— Valerijaa (@Valerijaa132749) November 17, 2025
Brown’s quote also reignited the conversation around Hamilton’s legacy. Had 2021 ended differently, he would already hold the most world titles in F1 history outright. Fans argue that the controversial finish unfairly overshadowed what was one of Hamilton’s greatest seasons and a career-defining performance. Of course, not everyone agreed. Critics pushed back, saying fans are stuck in the past and that the sport has already moved on.
As Hamilton has nearly completed his first season in Ferrari red, the shadow of Abu Dhabi still follows him. Brown’s four-word answer proved something the F1 world keeps trying to forget: Hamilton fans aren’t letting go. Not now. Not ever.
