Formula 1: 3 ridiculous lies to shoot down before 2022

The Formula 1 offseason has seen more talking points than usual after the 2021 season finale, but how much of that should be taken seriously?

The 2022 Formula 1 season is scheduled to get underway today with the Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit, but the events of the 2021 season, specifically of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit back on Sunday, December 12, are still fresh on the minds of many fans.

But there are several common talking points that need to be exposed as the lies they are before the 2022 season begins, with Max Verstappen aiming to defend his maiden world championship, Lewis Hamilton looking to break Michael Schumacher’s record with an eighth, and several other drivers hungry to make an impact in the first year of the new regulations.

So let’s not waste any time.

Formula 1 lies: No. 1 – Lewis Hamilton is a “crybaby”

There is nobody who would’ve handled what happened in Abu Dhabi better than Lewis Hamilton did, plain and simple. Was he perfect? Of course not. But then again, find me somebody who would have been.

While he didn’t pull into the P2 spot at start/finish after the race and he didn’t fulfill his post-race media obligation, he did congratulate Verstappen while they were on the podium and stayed throughout what must have been the most painful celebration of all-time. He also did speak to Sky Sports literally minutes after the heartbreaking finish.

Let’s also not forget that only a week beforehand, Verstappen left the podium during the celebration when he himself justifiably felt slighted by the way the race was handled. It’s heat-of-the-moment stuff that can’t be replicated from your living room.

Skipping the prize-giving gala was a bit sketchy, but that was addressed by the FIA almost immediately, and while new FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed his understanding for how Hamilton felt, it was made clear that it was unacceptable moving forward. It’s not like it was swept under the rug.

There has also been this misconception that Hamilton’s offseason silence was somehow him whining about the outcome, which really doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. If the initial reports are to be believed, it was he who stopped Mercedes from furthering their appeal.

So this period of silence probably never happens had Mercedes not dropped it — or kept “whining” about it, as some would say.