Max Verstappen wins world title in controversial fashion; Mercedes lodge protests

Max Verstappen won his first F1 Drivers’ Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after a chaotic and controversial last lap. The Dutch driver overtook rival Lewis Hamilton in the very last lap of the race to clinch the title. 

The Red Bull Racing driver took advantage of a safety car situation to pit and get fresh tires when he was second in the race, while Hamilton didn’t. In the final lap of the race, the stewards allowed lapped cars to overtake, but only the ones between Hamilton and Verstappen, which set up a one-on-one between the two rivals in the final lap. 

Fresh tires helped the Dutchman pass the seven-time world champion easily to win his 10th race of the season. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was angry at the decision, which was evident in the radio call he had with F1 race director Michael Masi. He believed that all lapped cars should’ve been allowed to overtake the safety car, which is as per the rules. 

Mercedes lodged two protests against Verstappen and Red Bull following the race. The first alleged that all cars should have unlapped themselves, as per Article 48.12 of the Sporting Regulations, and that the restart should happen in the lap after all cars have unlapped, rather than the same lap. 

The second protest that Mercedes lodged with stewards purported that Verstappen overtook Hamilton under the safety car. TV visuals showed that the Dutchman briefly went ahead of the Brit at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

But, the stewards dismissed both protests by Mercedes, which means that Verstappen will remain champion.

“Having considered the various statements made by the parties, the Stewards determine that although Car 33 did at one stage, for a very short period of time, move slightly in front of Car 44, at a time when both cars were accelerating and braking, it moved back behind Car 44 and it was not in front when the Safety Car period ended [i.e. at the line],” said the stewards’ statement. 

Mercedes has revealed that they will appeal the verdict given by the stewards on Sunday night, and they will have 96 hours following the verdict to do so. The appeal will go to the International Court of Appeal of the FIA, and it could take a number of days for the verdict to be announced. 

While Verstappen clinched his first Drivers’ Championship, Mercedes won their eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, ending the season with 613.5 points – 28 points ahead of Red Bull Racing.