F1 news LIVE: Mercedes ‘back off’ Max Verstappen appeal as Lewis Hamilton receives knighthood

Mercedes are expected to abort their appeal of Max Verstappen’s dramatic victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as they “don’t want to look like bad losers”, according to Sky’s David Croft. Lewis Hamilton didn’t appear at yesterday’s post-season testing in Abu Dhabi but Verstappen claimed he “definitely” believes reports that the Briton had asked Mercedes’ to withdraw their two initial protests of the result.

Hamilton is set to receive a knighthood at Windsor Castle today as the fallout continues after he was controversially denied a record-breaking eighth world title on the final lap. However, former team owner Eddie Jordan claimed Hamilton has been “too nice for too long” and needs to “harden himself up again” if he wants to hold off Verstappen next year.

The Dutch driver, who confirmed he will have the #1 on his car next season, meanwhile said he was looking forward to some time away from the track as Red Bull and Mercedes’ engineers begin work on their respective cars for next season, which must be unveiled before the first day of pre-season testing in Barcelona in February.

Follow all the latest news and reaction below.

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Hill: Verstappen had got the place

11:28 , Sarah Rendell

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has attracted a lot of discussion, particularly around the final lap of the race.

However, there was another call that has come under scrutiny. Verstappen made a good push to wrestle the lead from Hamilton but the action pushed the British Driver off of the track. Red Bull claimed Hamilton should give up the lead as it was a legal and fair challenge.

But stewards claimed Verstappen was at fault for pushing Hamilton off and so the Mercedes driver remained ahead. Former driver Damon Hill says Verstappen should have been given the lead.

“What had happened was [Hamilton] got away with it,” said Hill on the F1 Nation podcast. “He stopped the car before he went off the road, Lewis had to take evasive action but actually, when you look at that pass, it was a clean pass.

“Actually, [Verstappen] was ahead, so I don’t understand why when Lewis got back on the track, why he didn’t give the place back because in a sense really, Max had got the place.”

Don’t let F1 finale detract from Verstappen’s merits as world champion

11:16 , Sarah Rendell

The finale of the 2021 F1 season is being discussed for the controversial circumstances the final lap came down to. But these shouldn’t take away from Max Verstappen’s merits as world champion, according to our writer Vithushan Ehantharajah.

He writes: “Six years after taking to the track as Formula One’s youngest driver, he has returned a season to remember. The statistics tell a story of consistency: 10 victories, eight second-place finishes, 10 pole positions and 395.5 points.

“The eyes tell one far more alluring: cavalier driving, veering over reckless on plenty of occasions in what felt a season-long game of chicken with the 36-year-old Hamilton.”

Read the full piece:

Don’t let F1 finale detract from Max Verstappen’s merits as world champion

“Verstappen focused on doing an amazing job"

11:05 , Sarah Rendell

Red Bull boss Helmut Marko has hailed his driver Max Verstappen on an “amazing job” this season.

The Dutchman gave the team their first world title since 2013 and earned himself his first. It all came down to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi where he defeated Lewis Hamilton to lift the trophy.

Marko told BBC: “He is not worried by all this media stuff and so on. And it’s nice to see such a young guy be so focused on doing an amazing job.

“Fortunately, now it’s done with the first World Championship. I’m sure it’s not the last [World Championship] and we will work hard to go for the next one.”

Russell: It’s strange driving for Mercedes

10:53 , Sarah Rendell

George Russell has been testing Mercedes cars over the last few days as the British driver replaces Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate next season.

The star, who drove for Williams in the 2021 season, has spoken about how it felt to finally get behind the wheel.

“It’s a strange feeling because I’ve tested with the team numerous times after races, end of season, but here we are again but obviously this is my first time as an official driver for the team,” Russell told Formula1.com.

“It was a really great day to be back with the guys and learning about these new tyres. It’s always a pleasant experience driving a World Championship-winning car, the 2019 Mercedes, and with these 18-inch Pirellis, which seem to be reacting pretty positively – so it was a nice day.”

“Totally unacceptable team prinicpals can speak to racing director"

10:45 , Sarah Rendell

Martin Brundle says the FIA is not feared by teams and Mercedes and Red Bull speaking to Michael Masi during the final race shows that.

Christian Horner and Toto Wolff had conversations with Masi around the time he was making a decision on whether to restart the final race after Nicholas Latifi crashed.

“The final few laps in Abu Dhabi, when the world’s eyes were on us in staggering numbers, were not our finest moment and some things have to change this winter. We certainly confused our fans on Sunday,” wrote Brundle in his Sky Sports column.

And he added:“Until this year, any correspondence from the pit wall to Race Control was not broadcast, and it’s totally unacceptable to hear team bosses and team managers even pre-empting situations and lobbying.”

‘Rudderless’ FIA ‘not feared by teams’, Martin Brundle claims

Celebrating in style

10:34 , Sarah Rendell

How else would you celebrate winning your first F1 title other than spraying your boss with champagne? That’s exactly what Max Verstappen did after he was crowned in Abu Dhabi.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner was covered in it after Verstappen was finished!

Vettel wants “consistency” in F1

10:21 , Sarah Rendell

Sebastian Vettel has called for more consistency in the F1 but admits there’s a “human side” to consider.

Both Mercedes and Red Bull have criticised officials this season for a lack of consistency in their decisions. But Vettel says it’s hard for stewards to get everything right.

He said: “Ideally, we’d like more consistency, but there’s also a human side. It’s probably difficult to get it 100% right. But I don’t think it has been any better or any worse than the past, with the exception of the fines for reprimands, in terms of cash. That’s just unnecessary.

“I think it looks stupid to ask for €10,000, €25,000, €50,000... I would like to see the receipt for what happens with the money!”

Sebastian Vettel calls for ‘consistency’ and end to driver fines amid F1 controversy

Hamilton: This has been manipulated

10:11 , Sarah Rendell

British driver Lewis Hamilton said on his team radio “this has been manipulated” after Max Verstappen overtook him in the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The result meant the Dutchman claimed the win and the world title in controversial circumstances. A safety car was dispatched after Nicholas Latifi crashed and after the track was cleared five cars were allowed to unlap themselves. This cleared the way for Verstappen to overtake Hamilton and deny him his eighth world title.

Mercedes lodged protests but they were dismissed and they have until Thursday to launch an official appeal.

‘This has been manipulated’: Lewis Hamilton’s reaction to Abu Dhabi drama revealed

Relive dramatic final lap

10:00 , Sarah Rendell

F1 fans were glued to their screens throughout the Abu Dhabi race but the dramatic final lap had them on the edge of their seats.

Lewis Hamilton had led for the majority of the race but with race director Michael Masi allowing some drivers to unlap themselves after Nicholas Latifi crashed, Max Verstappen was on his tail.

The Dutchman managed to get past Hamilton at turn 5 to claim his first world title. Despite the controversial circumstances, it’s been quite a season for Verstappen.

Impact of teammates

09:55 , Sarah Rendell

Sergio Perez did a great job in the Abu Dhabi race to keep Max Verstappen in the running as he staved off Lewis Hamilton at the front of the pack.

However, Valtteri Bottas didn’t help teammate Hamilton as he was stuck in the midfield for the race. Commentator Jolyon Palmer claims this had an impact on the result and cost the British star the title.

Valtteri Bottas cost Lewis Hamilton F1 title, Jolyon Palmer claims

Hamilton wasn’t the only loser

09:51 , Sarah Rendell

The end of the F1 season was controversial and Dan Austin has written a piece all about the chaotic final race.

He writes: “The stewards and the FIA could have been forgiven for thinking their involvement in a chaotic campaign full of dissent and wrangling was over, and that they could watch the final few laps in peace.

“But as soon as Nicholas Latifi spun off circuit while battling Mick Schumacher and caused terminal damage to his Williams car, right at the very back of the field, FIA race director Michael Masi will have known that the pressure was on. With six laps remaining, a safety car was clearly necessary, but the minutiae of managing its introduction and eventual return to the pits was not.”

Read the full piece:

Lewis Hamilton wasn’t the only loser from F1 season’s farcical finish

Horner and Wolff won’t be able to pressure race director next season

09:38 , Sarah Rendell

Christian Horner and Toto Wolff won’t be able to pressure race director Michael Masi next season, says F1 managing director of motor sports Ross Brawn.

The two team principals were able to speak to Masi while he was making the decision of whether to restart the final race fo the 2021 season.

“We will stop this contact next year,” Brawn said, per Auto Motor und Sport. “It’s unacceptable that team bosses put Michael under such pressure during the race. It’s like the coaches negotiating with the referee in football.

“Toto can’t demand there shouldn’t be a Safety Car and Christian can’t demand the cars have to un-lap. That’s at the discretion of the race director.”

F1 to ban Toto Wolff and Christian Horner from pressuring race director

The best of Verstappen is still to come

09:23 , Sarah Rendell

Red Bull boss Helmut Marko has said he believes Max Verstappen can only get better after his first F1 title win.

Verstappen has shown what he can do this season with 18 podiums - an F1 record.

“He is a driver who I’m sure is not at the end of his abilities,” Marko told the BBC.

“We saw his qualifying performance at the last two races, in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi. He did qualifying laps that were so much more than the car could deliver.

“And that’s why we believe we haven’t seen the climax of Max Verstappen. The more he wins, the more relaxed he gets.”

Perez speaks on role in F1 race

09:13 , Sarah Rendell

Sergio Perez found himself in the lead in Abu Dhabi with the job of holding off Lewis Hamilton while his teammate Max Verstappen was in the pit.

The objective was to slow the British driver as much as possible to giver Verstappen the chance to catch him and take the title. Of course the circumstances ended up being more controversial but Perez’ role contributed to the Dutchman winning his first championship.

Perez told motorsport.com: “I was in a position where I had not much to lose. It’s not a place that you want to be in but at the same time I will always put my team above anything. It was a gamble because at that point you are just a piece of cake basically when you are after 18, 19 laps on the soft tyres and Lewis was on fresh rubber. Getting him back out of Turn 6 [re-passing Hamilton] was the key to it.

“I’m just happy that it worked out because I could have cost him half a second at the time, but I’m just happy that I cost him a bit longer.”

Sergio Perez explains key to disrupting Lewis Hamilton’s race at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Did Bottas cost Hamilton the title?

09:02 , Sarah Rendell

Commentator Jolyon Palmer says if Valtteri Bottas was more affective in the Abu Dhabi race Lewis Hamilton would have taken the win.

Bottas had a disappointing race, stuck in the midfield, and had the complete opposite impact that eventual winner Max Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez had. Perez held Hamilton off while Verstappen was in the pit with the Dutchman calling him a “legend”.

Palmer said on BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast: “Bottas had a shocker. Now, did that cost Hamilton the title? If Bottas is within a pit-stop window of Verstappen, Verstappen is not having ‘free’ stops willy nilly.

“A great driver for the team for so many years, his last race he went missing and it meant Verstappen had a ‘free’ stop at the Virtual Safety Car, ‘free’ stop at the Safety Car.

“If you’ve got another Mercedes there within 23 seconds of him, in a car that’s quicker with Lewis Hamilton at the wheel, he can’t do it and Hamilton is the champion.

“Bottas has been solid but when it counted, he couldn’t help his teammate, and Perez did everything he possibly could, and he was in contention to do so.”

Bottas “gutted” by F1 result

08:53 , Sarah Rendell

Valtteri Bottas competed in his final race for Mercedes on Sunday before his move to Alfa Romeo and he’s gutted his teammate Lewis Hamilton didn’t win.

Bottas didn’t have an impact in the race and couldn’t help Hamilton in Abu Dhabi. If the British driver won he would have claimed his eighth world championship.

“It hurts that Lewis didn’t get the drivers’, I feel like I lost the championship because he lost it,” Bottas said in quotes on the official F1 website. “I really feel gutted for him because I feel like he deserved it.”

Lewis Hamilton deserved to win F1 title, ‘gutted’ Valtteri Bottas claims

Ecclestone tells Hamilton he ‘shouldn’t be complaining’ over result

08:41 , Sarah Rendell

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says Lewis Hamilton shouldn’t complain about how the F1 title race played out.

The 91-year-old said the result wasn’t unfair and mentioned the earlier decision in the race that went Hamilton’s way.

“It’s complete and utter nonsense,” Ecclestone told Sky Sports News. “If you want to think about it carefully, on the first lap of that race he [Hamilton] went off the circuit and came back on again and Verstappen stayed on the circuit and did absolutely nothing wrong.

“Lewis wasn’t punished at all for this so he shouldn’t be complaining too much. These things happen all the time in sports. We shouldn’t blame the race director, he did exactly what was the right thing to do.”

Lewis Hamilton ‘shouldn’t be complaining’ over title result, Bernie Ecclestone claims

Mercedes have to live with their decisions

08:29 , Sarah Rendell

Former driver Jan Lammers says Mercedes shouldn’t accuse others over the F1 result and should live with their own decisions.

Lammers adds it was a mistake from Toto Wolff’s team to not pit Hamilton when the safety car came out after Nicholas Latifi crashed. Verstappen did, getting new tyres in the process, which meant he had the speed to overtake and hold off the British star in the final lap.

“They all make their decisions and in the end you see at the end of the race which ones were the right ones,” Lammers told the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com.

“If you didn’t make the right decisions in those circumstances, as in the case of Mercedes, then you shouldn’t start beating around the bush and accusing others. Then you really just have to put your hand in your own pocket.

“At the time that yellow flag and Safety Car were there, there were still six corners to go for Mercedes and Hamilton to consider whether or not to come in. Lewis drove past the accident of [Nicholas] Latifi, they had enough time and also enough people behind the scenes thinking about the strategy.

“So I think you can expect them to have had every opportunity to make a decision to come in or not. They chose not to come in, that was their choice. Verstappen was of course in a better situation because he was a bit later. But that doesn’t mean Mercedes didn’t have a choice.”

Brundle: I wish Verstappen and Hamilton could share title

08:20 , Sarah Rendell

Though the outcome of the final race is being heavily discussed, there’s no doubt Max Verstappen deserved the title after an impressive season.

But Lewis Hamilton also did well to stay in the title fight and for this reason former driver Martin Brundle says he wishes they could share the championship.

He wrote for Sky: “Does Max deserve the championship? Of course he does. He led 652 laps compared with Lewis’ 303 laps. He departed 15 of the 22 races leading the championship, including the last seven. He won 10 races compared to eight for Lewis (yes I know, we’ll get onto that shortly), and it was 18 podiums playing 17.

“And he didn’t have the best of luck along the way, until the last few miles of course,” the Briton added, before giving credit to compatriot Hamilton.

“Lewis would equally have deserved his eighth title. I wish they could share it to be frank. His raw speed, consistency, determination, style, class and stamina – particularly in the closing stages – was outstanding as he delivered another blistering start in his 288th GP at approaching 37 years old.”

Martin Brundle wishes Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton could share F1 title

Ricciardo says F1 ending was ‘pretty f***** up’

08:13 , Sarah Rendell

Daniel Ricciardo has added his opinion to the discussions taking place over how the final race of the F1 season finished.

The controversial decision from race director Michael Masi to allow some cars to unlap themselves and others not led to Max Verstappen overtaking Lewis Hamilton in the final lap. Many have argued the result shouldn’t stand but Mercedes are yet to launch an official appeal after their protests were dismissed on race day.

Ricciardo said of the ending: “I’m glad I’m not part of that, whatever just happened. Seemed, uh, pretty f***** up.”

‘Pretty f***** up’: Daniel Ricciardo explains view of controversial F1 finale

Hamilton set to receive knighthood at Windsor Castle

07:49 , Tom Kershaw

Welcome to The Independent’s daily coverage of all the latest F1 news and reaction following Max Verstappen’s dramatic and controversial final-lap victory over Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi.

Mercedes have until Thursday evening to lodge an official appeal, although some reports now suggest they will reluctantly accept the result.

Verstappen remained in Abu Dhabi yesterday to participate in post-season testing, however, Hamilton has returned to England and is set to receive a knighthood in a ceremony at Windsor Castle today.

“When I think about that honour of being knighted, I think about people like my grandad who served in the war,” Hamilton said last year.

“I think about those unsung heroes and I don’t look at myself as an unsung hero. I haven’t saved anybody. It is an incredible honour that a small number of people have bestowed on them.

“I hear the national anthem and I am a very proud Brit. It is a special moment to be up there representing a nation and having the flag over your head.”