For many fans of Formula One, their lasting image of the 2021 season will be the sight of Max Verstappen’s RB16B literally on top of Sir Lewis Hamilton’s W12. This moment has already been described by the new F1 Drivers’ World Champion, Max Verstappen as ‘an iconic shot’. However, there are also those fans who will have the post-race images after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix engrained on their mind. None more so than the shot of Max Verstappen sharing a moment of contemplation and reflection with his father Jos after he had claimed the victory which saw him become F1 Drivers’ Champion of the World. Not to mention the fact that Lewis Hamilton’s father Anthony Hamilton came to congratulate the pair while the engines were still warm in Abu Dhabi. The content of this conversation has now been shared by Jos Verstappen and shows once again that in such an emotional season bringing about so many feelings - respect is the most important one of all.

When Jos Verstappen, his son Max Verstappen and former F1 driver David Coulthard sit down together for a carnext.com interview, it is always a hit in the ratings. Their last encounter drew thousands of viewers and was mid-way through a stunning season. Most recently, the trio sat down together on the day after Max Verstappen claimed his maiden F1 Drivers’ World Championship in Abu Dhabi. This interview has now been aired and once again, the encounter did not disappoint.

“The whole team were going crazy, but of course you have the other side where they are very disappointed and upset,” said Max Verstappen during his interview one of Red Bull Racing’s sponsors, CarNext.com.

“I think what was nice, of course, Lewis immediately came to me [and said] ‘well done, congrats’ and I said ‘thank you very much for an amazing season’ because at the end of the day I think it was an amazing season, whether we won or came second. We did push each other every single race to the limit, with ourselves but also the car and the whole team.” Max Verstappen explained.

One such moment where the pair were beyond the limit was the aforementioned Monza encounter which saw Max Verstappen literally drive over Lewis Hamilton. On this encounter the new F1 Drivers’ Champion remarked to interviewer David Coulthard “I think, soon, we can laugh about it all. That’s for sure.”

There is however, a moment prior to this one, at Silverstone, which still does not sit well with Jos Verstappen. Having joined his son in hospital after his (now well-documented) high speed crash, the pair saw the image of a celebratory Hamilton family. This did not sit well with Jos and he told David Coulthard as much:

“I had to go to the medical center, I just wanted to see him and how he’s doing. Then afterwards you look at the incident and how things are happening and I have my own view about what happened there….they were also celebrating like they one the Championship, Toto and the driver and I was sitting with him in the hospital to see if everything was alright. As a Dad, I don’t like that, I mean, you can’t, you put someone in hospital and then they are celebrating like crazy. For me that was very difficult to handle.” Jos Verstappen reflected.

However, another moment from the 2021 F1 season which a father would find very difficult to handle, for a very different reason, will only ever be applauded. In the moments after his son, Lewis, had lost out on a record-breaking 8^th F1 Drivers’ Championship, Anthony Hamilton approached Max Verstappen and his father Jos to congratulate the pair – just as his son already had done moments earlier.

On the recent carnext.com interview, Jos Verstappen explained for the first time what was said:

“When I was sitting with Max before he went up to the podium, Anthony was there and he congratulated us. That was really nice,” said Jos. “Also, during the season I had some conversations with him over WhatsApp. He’s really nice. They won seven titles already, so for them it’s a bit different, I think, [to] when we win the first one. But he’s always respectful.”

Such remarks bode well for the future of the sport and should remove any potential animosity which Netflix Drive to Survive or the like may try to stir up. This also can only be a good thing for the sport.

After a 22-race F1 season which saw Max Verstappen claim 10 pole positions and 10 race victories, another point which is clear to see is that everyone is ready for a rest and Jos Verstappen also highlighted this in in his recent remarks:

“I think everyone is very happy that the season is over, to have a bit of a break because it has been very tense and very tough on everyone. But it was definitely a great rivalry.” Said the father of the new F1 Drivers’ World Champion.

Time will tell as to whether this rivalry will continue in 2022 as there are so many question marks over Lewis Hamilton’s future. However, what does not have any question marks attached to it, is the magnanimous way the Hamilton family have taken this loss.

At the end of the day this is sport and there will be many more than 34 F1 Drivers’ Champions in its future. What matters though is the kind of champion you are and how you are remembered.

The 2021 F1 season was one which was hard, brutal and relentless but after the dust had settled in Abu Dhabi – was still one of respect. For that it is to be applauded and most importantly, remembered.