Verstappen confirmed as F1 champion as Mercedes protests fail
Max Verstappen has been confirmed as Formula 1 world champion as Mercedes’ two protests against the final result have failed in Abu Dhabi.
Max Verstappen is the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Champion. (Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team had filed two protests against the result, the first being that Verstappen had overtaken Lewis Hamilton behind the safety car.
The stewards dismissed that complaint, stating that Verstappen and Hamilton were jostling for position and it resulted in no gain for Verstappen at the restart.
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 second protest was against the actions of race control, who allowed the race to restart.
Mercedes argued that the restart did not follow proper procedure, and the rush to allow a final lap had allowed Verstappen to pass Hamilton for the championship victory.
The stewards dismissed the complaint, citing the ultimate authority of the Race Director to control the race, as well as the fact the “Safety Car in this lap” message had already been displayed before any other instructions had been given.
They also stated it would be inappropriate to issue any changes to the race result that shortened the race distance.
That Article 15.3 allows the Race Director to control the use of the safety car, which in our determination includes its deployment and withdrawal.
That although Article 48.12 may not have been applied fully, in relation to the safety car returning to the pits at the end of the following lap, Article 48.13 overrides that and once the message “Safety Car in this lap” has been displayed, it is mandatory to withdraw the safety car at the end of that lap.
That notwithstanding Mercedes’ request that the Stewards remediate the matter by amending the classification to reflect the positions at the end of the penultimate lap, this is a step that the Stewards believe is effectively shortening the race retrospectively, and hence not appropriate.
Accordingly, the Protest is dismissed. The Protest Deposit is not refunded.
Mercedes have lodged their intention to appeal the decisions.
