The FIA has dismissed Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton's protest against Max Verstappen's world championship. Mercedes lodged two protests against the race result against Verstappen's maiden F1 title as he made the most out of the race restart under the safety car. Mercedes cited articles of the sporting regulations stating that no driver can overtake another car on track behind the safety car. And that all lapped cars must pass the safety car before the race resumes on the following lap. This led to hearings after the Abu Dhabi GP.
Also Read: Max Verstappen Snatches F1 World Title From Hamilton In Thrilling Abu Dhabi GP
Both Hamilton and Verstappen had their career-best performances this season making for a spectacular finale
In the first decision, the stewards dismissed the protest over overtaking behind the safety car. A bulletin issued by the stewards read, "Mercedes claimed that Car 33 overtook Car 44 during the Safety Car period at 1832hrs, in breach of Article 48.8 of the 2021 Formula One Sporting Regulations. 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."
Stewards did agree that Verstappen at one stage, for a very short period of time, move slightly in front of Car 44, at a time when both cars were accelerating and braking. He, however, moved back behind Hamilton and was not in front when the Safety Car period ended (i.e. at the line). The bulletin concluded by saying, "Accordingly, the Protest is dismissed and the Protest Deposit is not refunded."
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the championship decider between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen and the world got its first Dutch world champion as the Red Bull-Honda driver made the most of the race restart under the safety car. This wiped out Hamilton's lead as Verstappen passed the Mercedes driver to claim his maiden world title, and denied the Brit his record-breaking eighth victory.
Max Verstappen will retain his maiden F1 world championship title
Mercedes also lodged a second protest for the restart of the race as race director Michael Masi brought in the safety car with one lap to go.
A document released by the FIA read, "Article 15.3 allows the Race Director to control the use of the safety car, which in our determination includes its deployment and withdrawal. 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."
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 12, 2021undefined
This confirms Max Verstappen gets to keep his maiden world championship title and the first for Honda in over 30 years. Following the dismissal of both appeals, Mercedes has lodged its intention to appeal the stewards' dismissal of its Abu Dhabi race result protest.
"We have lodged our intention to appeal Document 58 / the decision of the stewards to dismiss the team's protest," said a Mercedes spokesperson after the race on Sunday.
The team now has 96 hours to decide if it will continue with its action and would want to formally lodge an appeal with the FIA's International Court of Appeal.
