Formula 1’s governing body the FIA have announced Mercedes’ protest regarding the restart during the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has not been upheld.
A controversial ending to the race saw Max Verstappen pass Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to claim victory at the drivers’ championship after race director Michael Masi called the safety car in with one lap remaining.
Mercedes lodged two protests, one in relation to how race control handled the race restart and the other for Verstappen allegedly overtaking Hamilton before the safety car line.
Having already dismissed Verstappen from any wrongdoing behind the safety car, the FIA confirmed it had not upheld Mercedes’ second protest – confirming Verstappen as world champion.
Mercedes argued Article 48.12 of the sporting regulations had been breached, which states that “any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car” and “once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.”
This led to a request from Mercedes to amend the final race results under the FIA’s International Sporting Code, believing Hamilton would have won the race and title had the rules been applied properly.
The stewards said that while that article may not have ben “applied fully” as the safety car was brought in at the end of the same lap, they stressed “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.”
The notice went on to state that Mercedes’ appeal to re-amend the final classification that effectively shortens the race was “not appropriate”, adding “accordingly, the Protest is dismissed.”
Shortly after the stewards’ verdict, Mercedes announced its intention to appeal the dismissal of its protests. The team now has 96 hours to decide if they want to take the matter further.
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