Former F1 driver and Top Gear’s original Stig Perry McCarthy shared his thoughts on Michael Schumacher’s legacy with Alex Harrington of Sports Illustrated. Discussing the legendary German driver, the motoring show icon also reflected on the contentious conclusion of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton narrowly missed his eighth world title to Max Verstappen.

• McCarthy’s Respect for Schumacher: McCarthy expresses admiration for Michael Schumacher, noting his remarkable achievements in Formula One and the impact he had on the sport. He recalls personal interactions with Schumacher, emphasizing his respect and fondness for the seven-time world champion.
• The Abu Dhabi GP Controversy: The interview delves into the controversial ending of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton lost his chance at an eighth world title to Max Verstappen. McCarthy candidly shares his opinion that Hamilton should have been the champion, highlighting the contentious nature of the race’s conclusion.
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• Evolving Standards in F1: Reflecting on the history of Formula One, McCarthy observes the evolution of the sport from the era of Schumacher to the present day. He discusses how the standards and expectations have changed over time, with current champions like Lewis Hamilton pushing the boundaries further.
• In an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated, former Formula One driver Perry McCarthy discussed his views on the legends of the sport and the controversial end to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. McCarthy did not hold back in expressing his thoughts on this pivotal moment in F1 history.
  

  “Every time I saw [Michael Schumacher], I liked to think he liked me. I may be wrong on that, but we often had a chat about a few things,” McCarthy reminisced.

  His huge amount of respect for the 7-time world champion was evident as he spoke about the F1 legend’s unparalleled achievements and the high standards he set in the sport.

  McCarthy then shifted to the recent drama in Abu Dhabi, where Lewis Hamilton was on the verge of clinching his eighth world championship.

• The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was highly controversial due to a series of decisions taken during the final laps of the race, which ultimately decided the Championship result for that season. The controversy began when Nicholas Latifi crashed on lap 50, leading to a safety car being deployed. Initially, race director Michael Masi stated that the lapped cars would not be allowed to un-lap themselves. However, he later changed his mind, but only allowed the five lapped cars between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to do so, setting up a last-lap battle for the championship.

  This decision was controversial for several reasons. Firstly, it was inconsistent as not all lapped cars were allowed to un-lap themselves. Secondly, it directly influenced the outcome of both the race and the championship, as Verstappen, on fresher soft tires, was able to overtake Hamilton, who was on older hard tires, in the final lap. There was also criticism of the decision to resume racing for the final lap instead of finishing under the safety car, as some felt it contrived a dramatic but artificial end to the race.

  The controversy led to protests from Mercedes, Hamilton’s team, who argued that the rules had not been applied consistently or fairly. However, these protests were ultimately dismissed, and Verstappen was declared the winner of both the race and his first World Championship.

  “Actually, don’t get me started on that,” Perry told me. “Because Lewis probably should have been the eighth world champion, but that’s a different situation.”

  Continuing on Michael, McCarthy reflected on the evolution of Formula One since Schumacher’s time.

  “When Michael set all these records, I don’t think anybody ever thought that seven would be equalled, let alone possibly eclipsed.

  “But that was Michael, and what he brought to his approach to Formula One was really an evolution of what we’d seen from even the best people before that.”

  With is soon to be the tenth anniversary of Michael Schumacher’s skiing incident, Perry’s thoughts on the driver left me very emotional. It was lovely to hear how much respect Perry had for Michael – a respect that all of us share.