LEWIS HAMILTON feels he was ‘robbed’ in Abu Dhabi and is desperate to ‘destroy’ Max Verstappen this season, according to a former F1 driver.
The British superstar looked on course to claim his eighth world title on the final day of the 2021 campaign.
But race director Michael Masi ripped up the rulebook surrounding safety cars to set up a final-lap showdown between title rivals Hamilton and Verstappen.
The Dutchman was on brand new soft tyres and overtook the reigning champ to claim his maiden crown in controversial fashion.
But after a winter of speculation surrounding his future, Hamilton is preparing for a fresh bid at history.
And the Mercedes man has already fired a warning shot to Verstappen and Red Bull.
He declared: “If you think what you saw at the end of last year was my best, wait until you see this year.”
Former F1 star Anthony Davidson, who raced 24 times and is a simulator driver for Mercedes, believes that was a powerful statement of intent from hurting Hamilton – and is backing him to bounce back in style this year.
Davidson told Sky Sports: “When Lewis Hamilton comes out with a sentence like that, you have to take notice.
“He sure is fired up to win this thing once and for all and I think he’ll be hard to beat.
“He’s certainly coming into this season with a very bullish mentality.
“There will be nothing more than Lewis wants from this season than to destroy Max Verstappen.
“Let’s not beat around a bush, he feels absolutely robbed as to what happened last year in Abu Dhabi, he wants to come out with a dominant car and he doesn’t even want to see Max on track, I’m sure.
“He just wants to show him a clean pair of heels, disappear off into the distance and win his eighth world championship.”
Verstappen goes into his title defence on the back of signing a fresh £37million-a-year contract with Red Bull.
And he will be desperate to get the new 2022 campaign off to a flying start by claiming the chequered flag at the first race – in Bahrain on March 20.
Credit:SunUk,SkySports,CN
