Lando Norris has reignited the controversy surrounding the 2021 Formula One World Championship by suggesting that Max Verstappen should hold only three titles, implying that Lewis Hamilton was unjustly deprived of his eighth crown that year.
The dramatic climax of the 2021 season saw then race director Michael Masi make a contentious decision allowing Verstappen to overtake Hamilton on the last lap. After a late safety car, Verstappen was permitted to unlap himself and line up directly behind Hamilton, equipped with fresher, faster tyres. This enabled Verstappen to overtake Hamilton and clinch both the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victory and the World Championship.
This ruling sparked intense criticism at the time, including from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who publicly stated that the decision was “not right.” The incident remains one of the most controversial moments in Formula One history and continues to divide fans, teams, and drivers alike.
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During a recent pre-2026 season interview reported by the Express, Norris was asked whether Hamilton could stage a strong comeback with Ferrari. His pointed response caught attention: “He’s not won seven world championships,” he initially stated, before quickly correcting himself, “it should’ve been eight.”
Norris’s remarks underscore the lingering debate over the fairness of the 2021 title outcome, subtly questioning Verstappen’s disputed victory and reaffirming Hamilton’s legacy as one of the sport’s greatest champions.