10 July 2023 , 08:05
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Hannah Waddingham raised eyebrows at Sunday's British Grand Prix by referring to Lewis Hamilton as an "eight-time champion".
Hamilton, who has won seven Formula One world titles, was controversially denied an eighth crown in the 2021 season finale. Max Verstappen overtook the Brit on the last lap of that race in Abu Dhabi to win his maiden Drivers' Championship title.
Verstappen has dominated F1 since that triumph and is on course to win a third consecutive title this year after winning at Silverstone on Sunday. He's now won six successive races this year to go 99 points clear at the top of the Drivers' Championship.
Hamilton, meanwhile, hasn't won a race for 19 months but finished third at the British GP. Waddingham, who stars as Rebecca Welton in football comedy-drama Ted Lasso, made her feelings known on the 2021 title controversy at Silverstone on Sunday.
Waddingham delivered her opinion on the matter while speaking to F1 legends David Coulthard and Mark Webber, who were covering Sunday's race for Channel 4. The conversation started when Coulthard admitted he's been "binge watching" Ted Lasso.
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The Primetime Emmy winner said it was "very cool to meet you Mr Coulthard" before adding: "You know what, I've waited a long time to be here and am I allowed to say that I'm very much looking forward to seeing Lewis Hamilton, eight-time champion?"
Waddingham looked into the camera while saying "eight-time champion", which suggests the claim wasn't an accident. Coulthard replied: "You can say whatever you want, I don't think many people would disagree with that. He's already a legend of the sport."
Waddingham agreed with Coulthard's claim and called Hamilton "phenomenal" before adding: "I hope I get to meet him and give him a little curtsey." Waddingham could've been referring to Hamilton's eight wins at the British GP, but it's unlikely.
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Hamilton was on course to win the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP - boasting a 12-second lead - and an eighth Drivers' Championship before a crash with five laps to go brought out the safety car. That wiped out Hamilton's comfortable advantage over Verstappen.
Mercedes pleaded with race director Michael Masi for the GP to be finished behind the safety car, considering how late in the race it was, but Masi ordered the race to continue with one lap to go. That allowed Verstappen, on fresh tyres, to overtake Hamilton.
Mercedes were furious and F1 chiefs the FIA have since admitted Masi's decision was a "human error". Masi was also removed from his position as race director before the start of the 2022 season, but the result of the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP was upheld.
Hamilton is arguably the greatest F1 driver of all time. He's won 103 races, achieved 103 pole positions and finished on the podium 195 times - all of which are records. Yet he remains tied for the most Drivers' Championships with Michael Schumacher.