The last race of the 2021 Formula 1 season was one for the history books. The World Championship was decided in favour of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, with a controversial decision following a safety car late in the race that left Lewis Hamilton with virtually no chance of victory.
Since then, the British driver has itted on several occasions that he believes the decision made in the closing laps of the Grand Prix was the wrong one.
Eight months later, Hamilton is once again reflecting on that fateful day.
"You see things start to unfold, and my worst fears came to life," Hamilton told Vanity Fair.
"I was like, there's no way they're going to cheat me out of this. There's no way. That won't happen. Surely not.
"I don't know if I can really put into words the feeling that I had. I do just sitting there just in disbelief. And realising I've got to undo my belts, I've got to get out of there, I've got to climb out of this thing, I've got to find the strength.
"I had no strength. And it was one of the toughest moments, I would say, that I've had in a long, long time.
"I knew what had happened. I knew what decisions had been made and why. Yes, I knew that something wasn't right. I, for sure, considered whether I wanted to continue."
Hamilton's future
Despite being 37, Hamilton looks as strong as ever in a poor Mercedes car, though retirement rumours continue to persist.
"I'm still on the mission, I still love driving, it still challenges me. So I don't really feel like I have to quit any time soon," Hamilton states.
Hamilton's hug with his father
Hamilton also opened up about his father, Anthony's, during that moment.
"He hugged me and I think he said, 'I want you to know how proud I am of you'," Hamilton confessed.
"To have your dad hug you like that is one of the most profound things I've ever had, especially if you didn't grow up having that a lot of the time."