One of Mercedes’ protests over Red Bull and Max Verstappen at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been dismissed by the Stewards, after Mercedes alleged Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton under the Safety Car.
The stewards are still yet to deliver a verdict on Mercedes’ other protest, which relates to the restart procedure at the end of the race.
As the drivers prepared to get underway for the final lap of the grand prix following a handful of laps behind the Safety Car, Verstappen drew alongside Hamilton in preparation for the restart.
While acknowledging that Verstappen moved ahead, the Stewards say it was only for the briefest of moments while both cars were accelerating and braking.
“The Stewards consider that the protest is admissible,” read a statement. “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 where 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). Accordingly, the Protest is dismissed and the Protest Deposit is not refunded.”
The document added that “Red Bull argued that Car 44 was not overtaken by Car 33, that both cars were “on and off the throttle” and that there were “a million precedents’ under Safety Car where cars had pulled alongside then moved back behind the Car that was in front.”
Verstappen went on to overtake Hamilton during the final lap of the race, before going on to take his first world title.
LOL 😄🤣
Between race control not controlling a race and teams whining and crying about everything , why not just abolish at all he rules.
When Max first started , I thought good on I’m let’s see this kid do some great things, within three years I start tuning him out because of his over aggression and poor sportsmanship .
This entire Fiasco could have been avoided by leadership on f1’s part , and by having elitist rules and overcompensating the founding & winning teams they only created a bigger divide. ( direct shot Ferrari)
Definitely time to stop following F1 so closely.
Agreed, although I never thought Max was ready for F1 and really needed time in F2. I still think he is too rough around the edges for F1. But the F1 we once knew is long gone anyway. It’s all flashy screens, music, celebrations, announcers screaming for no reason, and the horrible new disproportional F1 logo (big surprise an “artist” who designs 90s-looking album covers can’t design an F1 logo). But hey, what else could be expected in the clown world we now live in?
RIP F1.
This result ,like Belgium, was a complete and utter travesty.Mr Masi should resign forthwith. Who is he anyway? Has he ever driven a racing car (of ANY) sort???
He certainly defies any consistent logic other than to help Red Bull.
Red Bull themselves have not covered themselves in glory. As for Verstappen, he was Desperate to win,dangerous,childish at times ,utterly churlish and simply not a nice person. He may claim that everyone was against him, but he was gifted 2 wins on plates and cries as soon as someone says boo. He has bought the sport I have followed and loved for over 60years into disrepute and because of that I will never ever like or respect him. I have complete disdain for him and Red Bull ( a team I used to admire and held in regard). Thanks Mr Horner, I hope you and your cohorts are delirious. Most fans of F1 will feel CHEATED
No, only fans of Hamilton will feel cheated, and they’ll be incorrect.
If they still used gravel traps instead of stupid runoff areas, the race would have been over on lap 1. There would be no controversy.
I do not understand why F1 allows pit stops when a safety car is deployed. By allowing this practice the trailing cars always gain an advantage over the car running in the lead. Today was the perfect example of this. If Mercedes pits Redbull gains track advantage. If Redbull pits they gain tire advantage. Other motor sports has figured this out and close the pit lane until the safety car leaves the track. And why do the cars need to unlap, hold position until the safety car leaves the track and resume racing. Simple.
Let me taste your sweet, sweet tears
– Eric Cartman.