Mercedes registered two protests after Lewis Hamilton misplaced the Formula One world title to Max Verstappen on the ultimate lap of the ultimate race on the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
After a crash involving Nicolas Latifi, Verstappen thrilled Hamilton on lap 58.
One protest was about overtaking and the opposite was associated to the security automobile restart course of.
Before Latifi’s crash, Hamilton was reaching the world title at No.
Completed that extraordinary last lap of the title race of 2021. In#AbuDhabiGP I # F1 pic.twitter.com/kknTMDfpAF
– Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
A digital security automobile was already deployed within the run-up to a minor accident, however this time there may be little time left to take away Latifi’s automobile and clear particles from the monitor.
Verstappen’s Red Bull workforce determined to pit him to modify to new tyres, whereas Mercedes held out to keep up monitor circumstances. But it finally left Hamilton on the mercy of Verstappen, with far sooner, brisker tires than Hamilton’s fading, gradual one. They had been about to take him over the road, however ultimately they may not cease Verstappen.
Initially, it was determined to not let the lapped vehicles go previous the security automobile, which might have meant that many drivers can be in Verstappen’s method on the restart and it could have been tougher to succeed in Hamilton on lap one.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner was in radio contact with F1 race director Michael Massi on the time and stated “(but) we only need one lap” to complete a race correctly.
A dramatic last chapter of the 2021 season was performed in Abu Dhabi on Sunday
Watch Yes Marina’s Race Highlights Now!#AbuDhabiGP I # F1
– Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
Masi then reversed the decision to permit the lapped vehicles to cross and arrange that last lap of racing.
“When everything is clear, you have to release the track, so it’s a fair point from the race direction,” Verstappen stated after the race in settlement.
However, among the many lacking drivers, solely Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel – between Hamilton and Verstappen – didn’t, whereas Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Mick Schumacher didn’t.
Verstappen made his cross within the fifth flip and Hamilton had one final shot. He additionally pulled his Mercedes from Red Bull however couldn’t clear it. Verstappen grew to become the primary Dutch world champion and thwarted Hamilton’s try to overtake Michael Schumacher as probably the most profitable driver in F1 historical past.
BREAKING: Mercedes has protested “against the classification established at the end of the competition” regarding alleged violations of Articles 48.8 and 48.12 of the FIA ​​Sporting Regulations.#AbuDhabiGP I # F1 pic.twitter.com/bO6BLN8lv5
– Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021
The end angered Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who sought to “reinstate the last lap”.
But Maasi was agency on her reply.
“Toto, it’s called a motor race,” he stated. “We want car racing.”
The second protest was to the way in which Verstappen had pushed earlier than the beginning of the race. He pulled forward with Hamilton close to the top of lap 57 and partly on lap 58.
The guidelines state, “No driver may overtake any other car on the track, including the safety car, unless he or she crosses the line for the first time after the safety car has returned to the pits.”
Mercedes lodged its protest inside the allotted 30-minute window after the race.
The workforce stated it could not remark additional on the matter till the listening to is over.
Verstappen was requested to touch upon Mercedes’ protest.
“There really isn’t much to say about it, it also tells the season a little bit,” stated Verstappen, who has expressed disappointment over among the penalties awarded to him in earlier races – together with within the final race in Saudi Arabia. Two are included.
He had reacted with sarcasm to the preliminary determination to not let lapped vehicles overtake the security automobile.
“Of course I’m not surprised,” Verstappen stated with an air of resignation.
Minutes later, he was trailing Hamilton on his method to glory.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
