Adrian Newey, the renowned Formula 1 aerodynamicist, found himself at the center of attention after making comments about the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which led to accusations from some fans that he disrespected Lewis Hamilton. Newey’s wife, Amanda Newey, stepped in on social media to defend her husband against these criticisms.
During a recent appearance on the *High Performance* podcast, Newey discussed the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi race, where Max Verstappen clinched his first F1 World Championship title, narrowly beating Hamilton. When asked if the outcome of the race affected him emotionally, Newey said it did not. Instead, he believed that the race had a more significant impact on Mercedes and their mindset. He remarked that instead of accepting the result and moving on, Mercedes appeared to let the controversy weigh on them mentally.
Newey likened the controversy surrounding the race to other instances of bad luck in racing, such as a car breaking down on the final lap. He emphasized that his approach has always been to move past such events quickly, waking up the next day ready to work and motivate his team, rather than dwelling on what he described as a sense of unfairness.
However, a portion of Hamilton’s fanbase took issue with Newey’s comparison, interpreting his comments as minimizing the significance of the controversial finish that denied Hamilton his eighth World Championship. In response, Amanda Newey defended her husband on X (formerly Twitter), stating that he holds a great deal of respect for Hamilton and did not intend to insult him.
Hamilton himself has expressed admiration for Newey’s work. Earlier this year, when rumors circulated about Newey potentially joining Ferrari, Hamilton spoke highly of the engineer, stating it would be a “dream” to work with him. He praised Newey’s engineering expertise and acknowledged that working with him would be an incredible experience.
Despite speculation that he might join Ferrari, Newey instead chose to sign a lucrative contract with Aston Martin, worth an estimated £30 million per year. His decision to join Lawrence Stroll’s team was seen as a significant move, enhancing Aston Martin’s efforts to compete for championships.
In summary, while Newey’s comments about the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP stirred some controversy, his wife Amanda clarified that there was no disrespect intended toward Hamilton. Moreover, Hamilton has expressed admiration for Newey, further emphasizing the mutual respect between the two F1 figures.
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