The director of the iconic ‘Senna’ documentary slams F1 over the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP dram, brands it ‘a load of bollocks’

Max Verstappen won the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP in the most controversial fashion and thereby clinched the title.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton (Credits: Imago)

Asif Kapadia, the renowned director behind the iconic documentary “Senna,” has unleashed scathing criticism on the current state of Formula 1, particularly targeting the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen denied Lewis Hamilton an eighth world title. Kapadia didn’t mince words, calling the entire situation in Abu Dhabi “a load of bollocks.”

The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix unfolded as one of the most controversial chapters in Formula 1 history. With Max Verstappen and Hamilton tied in points entering the race, it became a showdown of epic proportions. However, the race took a contentious turn when race director Michael Masi deviated from safety car protocols, providing Verstappen with a crucial advantage over Hamilton. This decision ultimately led to Verstappen winning the championship.

Amidst the fallout from the Abu Dhabi controversy, Kapadia’s comments resonated with many in the F1 community. He expressed his discontent with the current Formula 1 landscape saying, as reported by Silverarrows.net “I don’t like current F1 where you have one person with all the best tech and everything, and then even when they don’t win, they’ll switch the rules on the last lap.”

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He expressed his discontent with the present state of F1, finding it unexciting due to a single driver’s dominance in the field. Additionally, he criticized the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of 2021, describing it as “a load of bollocks.” Although he refrained from explicitly referencing the controversial incident, his remarks strongly alluded to it.

Discover: Lewis Hamilton makes an audacious claim, says he was ‘as fast as Max Verstappen’ at the Dutch GP

Asif Kapadia takes a brutal swipe at Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez in the Red Bull garage (Credits: Formula1News.co.uk)

Kapadia didn’t just critique Formula 1’s current state; he also aimed at Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate. Verstappen dominates the current Downforce Era while Perez struggles to keep up, highlighting a stark performance contrast. Kapadia said, “What I find terribly boring is one great driver is like ‘I want a s*** teammate so I can win everything’.”

While Kapadia’s comments showcased his frankness about Formula 1’s current state, he also shed light on his career choices. Despite being approached to direct a Netflix documentary on Michael Schumacher, Kapadia declined the offer. He revealed that his decision was influenced by his lack of enthusiasm for Schumacher as a racing figure, stating bluntly, “I wasn’t a huge fan [of Schumacher], I’ll be honest.”

It began really well, but the ending wasn't what we had hoped for as we missed out on the podium.
Now on to Monza

Empezamos muy bien.
Pero no fue el final que queríamos, perder el podio. ¡Ahora con todo a Monza!#SP11 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/B0L28aoJia
— Sergio Pérez (@SChecoPerez) August 27, 2023

The 2010 documentary “Senna,” directed by Asif Kapadia, delves into the life of Ayrton Senna. It captures Senna’s charisma and tragic end during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. “Senna” earned critical acclaim and awards, including a BAFTA for Best Documentary, cementing Kapadia’s reputation as a masterful storyteller. Following the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, an FIA inquiry attributed the issue to human error but upheld the race’s outcome, resulting in changes to FIA procedures.