Verstappen world champion, Mercedes appeal: that’s why

Mercedes presents a formal protest after the Abu Dhabi GP that crowned Max Verstappen world champion with Red Bull. Mercedes, team of Lewis Hamilton, identified 2 irregularities in the final stages of the race, before the safety car left the track and allowed the race to resume. According to the team led by Toto Wolff, Verstappen – currently second behind Hamilton – would have violated article 48.8 of the regulation by bringing the nose of his car in front of Hamilton’s Mercedes under the safety car. Furthermore, Mercedes disputes the decision of the race director, Andrea Masi: some dubbed drivers – Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, – Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel – were allowed to recover a full lap and this allowed Verstappen to leave immediately behind Hamilton. Other dubbed drivers – Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Mick Schumacher – did not receive similar indications.