Speaking at the FIA Gala in Paris on Friday where he was collecting the trophy for winning the title, 2021 F1 World Champion Max Verstappen was understandably delighted after a dramatic ending at the end of last Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he overtook Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to claim the championship. 

Earlier on Friday, Toto Wolff said he couldn’t guarantee that Lewis Hamilton will drive in F1 next year following the contentious ending in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen sees no reason why he should retire and believes his rival should look back at all his achievements to give him comfort. 

''Of course I can understand that the first few days after a race like that you're not happy,'' he said. 

''You should also understand that is racing at the end of the day and these things can happen to you. 

''I think he should look back at what he's achieved already. That should give him a lot of comfort and that should be drive to keep on going because he is still to challenge for that eighth title and for sure he can do that again next year, so I don't see any reason why to give up or stop now.'' 

The two onboard views of that extraordinary final lap #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/1FiDGddxjC

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 16, 2021

Reflecting on his winning campaign, the 24-year-old mentioned Silverstone as a low moment but believes the wins, poles and fastest lap points he collected towards the end of the season when Mercedes started to regularly outpace Red Bull was critical for him to become champion after bad luck at Silverstone, Hungary and Baku cost him a lot of points. 

''Headbutting the tyre wall at Silverstone wasn't that great,'' he said.

''These were key moments at the end of the day, otherwise it would have been decided a lot earlier. 

''Especially towards the end of the season, getting a few wins where we didn't expect it or a pole position where we didn't expect it, or even a fastest lap... it is an extra point.

''These things do matter and nowadays when you have a championship fight like we had.''

Asked if he feels sorry for Hamilton about how the title decider ended, Verstappen said no. Nonetheless, he says he understands how much pain Hamilton is feeling. 

''No, I don't feel sorry, but I can understand that of course it can be very painful,'' he said.

''But at the end of the day, that's racing as well. You have to keep fighting until the end and you know in racing that anything can happen. 

''He also won a championship like that [Brazil 2008], so I think he can understand as well.''

Verstappen has now spent six years at Red Bull and became only the second driver to win a Drivers’ Championship with the team. Asked if the team feels like family, he agreed.  

''It does feel like that,'' he said.

''I think you heard on my radio as well on the in lap asking if I could stay for another 10-15 years. 

''I am very happy where I am and I can be myself, and I think that's also really important. 

''It's not only just purely about Formula 1; we can have fun, we can have a good laugh and I think that's also important. 

''It's not only about performance; you need to enjoy what you are doing.'' 

🏆😃 pic.twitter.com/cKXeaeXHUU

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 16, 2021

Presenting your 2021 @F1 Drivers’ Champion 🏆😁 @Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/r1RqgxmfHR

— Red Bull Racing Honda (@redbullracing) December 16, 2021