Lewis Hamilton was magnanimous in defeat to George Russell last season with Mercedes not in the title hunt – but it would be a different story if it happens with a faster car.
That is the view of veteran Formula 1 journalist Peter Windsor. He even thinks it could do more psychological damage to the seven-time world champion than what he experienced when he was cruelly denied an eighth crown at the end of the 2021 season.
Max Verstappen overtook him on the final lap in Abu Dhabi on much fresher tyres, after race director Michael Masi botched the safety car procedure in the late stages of that Grand Prix. Losing out through no fault of his own and in that way was understandably devastating for Hamilton and Mercedes.
