Bburago Signature Mercedes W12 1:43 44 Hamilton

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The Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance, commonly referred to as the Mercedes W12, was a Formula One racing car for the 2021 Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. The car is based on the Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance, which won the Drivers' and Constructors' Championship the previous season. While the W12 won its eighth consecutive constructors' title, it was the first Mercedes F1 car since the start of the V6 turbo-hybrid era in 2014 that Mercedes failed to win the drivers' championship with neither driver finishing second in the standings.

The W12, while still highly competitive, was not as dominant as its predecessor even in pre-season testing. Although Verstappen beat the Mercedes of Hamilton (2nd) and Bottas (3rd) to take the lead in the season opener, Hamilton narrowly won ahead of Verstappen and Bottas finished third.

In the final race of the season, Hamilton crossed the finish line in second place, missing out on his record eighth World Drivers' Championship. Hamilton claimed the race result was "rigged" via team radio to his senior race engineer Peter Bonnington, most drivers claimed Masi's decision was "made for TV" and criticized him for the safety car dispute and failure to follow the rules properly.