Mercedes has confirmed that it has lodged its intention to appeal the Stewards’ decision to dismiss its protest at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton missed out on a record-breaking eighth world championship on Sunday, as Max Verstappen completed a last-lap overtake for the lead of the race.
The deployment of a Safety Car on lap 54 saw Verstappen, who was running in second place, pit for fresh Soft tyres while Hamilton stayed out on old Hards.
Five lapped cars sat between the two title contenders, who were originally instructed by Race Control not to unlap themselves by overtaking the Safety Car.
However, that decision was quickly reversed, allowing Verstappen to restart behind Hamilton for the final lap restart.
Mercedes expressed its frustration with the decision over the team radio to Race Director Michael Masi, before protesting the restart procedure after the race.
However, that protest, as well as a separate protest regarding Verstappen’s alleged overtake under the Safety Car, was rejected by the Stewards.
Although it missed out on the Drivers’ title, Mercedes still secured an eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, ensuring it remains unbeaten in the fight between teams in the turbo-hybrid era.
This just shows that the Mercedes’ team are sore losers. They could of pitted too and they looking like desperate fools. News flash Mercedes’ you lost and Redbull has also lost races with a few laps to go with luck favouring you. This time it happens to be Redbull who took the gamble and it worked. Do what Toto always tells Christian Horner take it on the chin ! Take your own advice Toto.
This wont change anything. I guess they figure it’s worth a shot in the dark.
This is simple Max can come in with yellow flag shown Hamilton chose to stay out he would have given up first if he pitted Max took advantage to better tires put on and was able to pass Hamiton that’s racing. Rules are Rules and at 200 mph the race official decided to have a race rather then end on a yellow. You can argue both ways for both teams.
Winers not winners + Toto lost his mind
It was a great championship season .. congrats to red bull and Mercedes..
I cannot believe this is the same Mercedes team that I once liked, long ago. Success has turned Wolff into a total lunatic. The way he is constantly on the radio with race control, demanding this and that is absolutely insane, unacceptable, and downright embarrassing for the sport (as if it doesn’t have enough to be embarrassed about already). It has be extremely aggravating for everyone working there. One must wonder if the final decision was made just to tick Wolff off.
Regardless, the race ended with an actual race, and the right person won anyway. Max had 10 victories, and probably should have had more — in an inferior car at that. What we saw this year was talent + inferior equipment vs. mediocrity & insecurity + amateur race strategies; and talent won. Hamilton should have won this championship easily but the mind games he successfully used on a weak-minded Nico Rosberg didn’t work on Max, and instead worked in reverse. I doubt we will see Hamilton ever win another championship again and I suspect retirement is not far away. The Mercedes dynasty has been collapsing for quite some time now, and historically a loss like this generally means it’s only going to get worse as more members flee; not to mention they keep selling shares of the team so when rather than if they exit F1 is the question. The one I feel sorry for is Russell, who I really think in the long run might have made a mistake by joining Mercedes.
On to 2022 and a new pecking order.
Just saying, Toto is from Austria.
Can think of another Austrian that was famous for his outbursts.
The name Adolf rings a bell?
good grief
Mercedes, sore losers. No surprise they are appealing the decision. Congratulations to Max and the whole team on deservedly winning the championship. Well done to Christian Horner, a true gentlemen, both when talking before, during and after races. Toto Woolf, take note, perhaps you could learn how to conduct yourself from Christian, instead of throwing your dummy out of the pram every time you don’t get your own way. Red Bull, CHAMPIONS.
Its going to be overturned if it goes to court as the FIA did not adhere to its own rules. Massi had to either not allow any lapped cars through at all or let them all through. He’s cocked it up badly. He’s hardly been in control the last few races – appearing to negotiate with Red Bull over which of 2 penalties they wanted was sort of understandable but made him look biased and weak. This looks like bias too because he took the only one of 3 options that would, given the tyre status, ensure that Max won. It’s great to see a kid come through, but oh dear, dont it only go to show how good Charlie Whiting was. ….. Also he may not have been crowned champion, but what astounding good grace from Hamilton and his father. LH is by far the cleanest GP winner since the days when tangling with another car usually ended in a death – Horner did look somewhat sheepish when they shook hands yesterday – and so he should, the way he tried to smear Hamilton after Silverstone was an absolute disgrace.