Overturning on the track this Sunday, will the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix also be behind the scenes? The Mercedes team, whose British driver Lewis Hamilton lost the world title to Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), officially contested the race result.
Mercedes lodged two complaints about the way the safety car period went at the end of the race, which allowed Verstappen to get the better of Hamilton on the last lap.
. @ MercedesAMGF1 filed a complaint ☝️#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 | #RDVAuLastTurn
▶ ️ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/Bpb59rlx9f
– CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) December 12, 2021
According to official documents communicated by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), guarantor of F1 regulations, the protagonists were to be heard by the stewards from 7.45 p.m. local (4.45 p.m. French).
The safety car entered the track after an accident for Canadian Nicholas Latifi (Williams) on lap 53. At first, race director Michael Masi did not allow late drivers (including Verstappen who had changed tires) to return to their original positions, leaving five cars between the two rivals. Then he changed his mind and allowed them to pass, replacing Verstappen behind Hamilton and giving him the possibility of passing him when the race resumed.
“I am disappointed but not surprised that they do it”, reacted on Canal + the boss of Red Bull Christian Horner, about the claims of Mercedes. Horner was calm: “Michael Masi made the right decision. It shouldn’t last very long. “