Zak Brown, the outspoken CEO of McLaren Racing, has once again injected high-voltage controversy into the typically buttoned-down world of Formula 1 management, reigniting one of the sport’s most painful and debated chapters.

In a recent interview, Brown boldly asserted that Lewis Hamilton “should already be an eight-time world champion,” a statement that instantly went viral and had fans furiously revisiting the most acrimonious season finale in recent memory.

Hamilton currently stands as a seven-time World Champion, a joint record he shares with Michael Schumacher.

The push for an unprecedented eighth title has been a driving narrative for years, one that was dramatically—and controversially—halted in the final moments of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It is this moment, one of institutional failure and sporting heartbreak, that forms the core of Brown’s sensational claim.

When asked by Race+ whether the 40-year-old Hamilton, soon to transition to Ferrari, was still capable of winning an eighth world championship, Brown’s response was swift, sharp, and unambiguous. “He actually should have been already,” Brown stated, with the clear implication being the 2021 title that slipped through Hamilton’s grasp to Max Verstappen.

Brown’s explanation, though brief, served as a powerful validation for the millions of fans who believe Hamilton was unjustly denied the record-breaking title due to the unprecedented and highly criticized handling of the late-race safety car procedure by the then-Race Director. That championship loss, which came down to a single final lap after a season-long battle, remains a deeply polarizing event, one that the F1 paddock and fanbase have been unable to fully reconcile.

The McLaren CEO, whose comments hold significant weight given his standing within the sport and his history with Hamilton’s former team, didn’t need to elaborate further; the context of the 2021 finale speaks for itself. The race’s conclusion, which involved decisions contrary to established safety car protocols, directly led to Hamilton losing a commanding lead and, subsequently, the title. For Brown to publicly state that Hamilton “should have been” champion re-energizes the debate, aligning McLaren with those who believe a procedural error robbed a generational talent of a historic milestone.

The immediate reaction from the global F1 fanbase was, predictably, a whirlwind. Social media platforms erupted with renewed arguments. Fans who have supported Hamilton since his devastating loss hailed Brown’s statement as a moment of truth, a highly respected figure finally acknowledging the widely perceived injustice. For them, the quote validates their long-held belief that the record books should reflect eight titles, not seven.

However, the remarks also drew fierce backlash from supporters of Max Verstappen and those who believe the result, however controversial, is final. Critics accused Brown of attempting to revise history and diminish Verstappen’s hard-fought victory. The controversy underscores F1’s ongoing struggle with the legacy of that race, where the human element in race control decisions overshadowed the sporting achievement.

Brown’s willingness to wade into such a sensitive and defining moment for the sport is characteristic of his bold leadership style. It is a powerful narrative device that not only generates headlines but also subtly frames the career of one of F1’s greats—and a driver who spent his crucial early years with McLaren—as a story of greatness marred by external forces. As Hamilton prepares for the final, critical phase of his career, Brown’s potent declaration ensures that the quest for the eighth title is seen by many not just as a future goal, but as a long-delayed correction of a historical wrong.