Gareth Bale Reveals the Reason Why He Quit Watching Formula 1

• The controversy surrounding the 2021 F1 Championship has had an adverse effect on some fans
• Max Verstappen versus Lewis Hamilton cemented its place as one of the sport's greatest rivalries
• Gareth Bale admitted to anger over how Hamilton was denied the 2021 world title in Abu Dhabi

Wales football icon, Gareth Bale has admitted he no longer watches F1 after what happened to Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

While both Mercedes and Hamilton have made it clear that they've moved on from the dramatic circumstances that led to Max Verstappen's first world title, that view isn't shared by many.

Hamilton stalwarts on social media regularly bring up the controversy, which saw the FIA take on huge criticism for the way they handled the final lap fiasco. They eventually sacked race director, Michael Masi, as reported by planetf1.

All lapped cars between Verstappen and Hamilton were able to pass through, allowing the Dutchman to close up on fresh tyres.

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Hamilton was helpless on old hard tyres as Verstappen eventually made his move to take the win and clinch his first world title.

Gareth Bale quits Formula 1

Eighteen months on and it seems F1 has lost a fan forever in the shape of Bale.

The 33-year-old, who retired from football earlier this year, was a keen follower of the sport, but has now admitted he doesn't watch it anymore because of how Hamilton was denied his record-breaking eighth World Championship.

Bale was appearing on the popular YouTube channel, Random Golf Club, where both he and Erik Anders Lang were attempting to break 90 around this year's US Open course.

When asked whether he is a viewer of F1, Bale responded:

"You know, I don't after what happened to Hamilton a few years ago. It wasn't fair.”

Fans want Max’s title stripped

A petition to have Verstappen stripped of the 2021 World Championship was started immediately after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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It gained some momentum earlier this year on social media as it surpassed 100,000 signatures.

Patel Gordon-Bennett, who is behind the petition, was quoted by Formula1news UK saying:

"I believe that justice was not served on Sunday, December 12, 2021, when the FIA stewards denied Lewis Hamilton of his win of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"With less than one lap remaining, some lapped cars were allowed to pass the safety car, which does not comply with the rules of the F1 sport."

The petition explained how this gave Verstappen the opportunity to overtake Hamilton and win the Grand Prix.

"If you are an advocate of justice, honesty and fairness, please sign this petition. Leaving this decision as it stands will send a very wrong message to youngsters and future racers."

Hamilton to extend Mercedes contract

Earlier, Sport Brief reported that Lewis Hamilton's Formula 1 future could be resolved before this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, according to Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff.

The English former champion has six months to go on his £40mil-per-season deal with Mercedes, but Wolff has claimed his superstar driver is on the brink of agreeing to new terms.