DESERT STORM
Daily Record|December 13, 2021
Lewis' title bid is blown in last lap drama. but Mercedes rail at safety car chaos
ANDY DUNN
DESERT STORM

MAX VERSTAPPEN was crowned one of Formula One's most controversial world champions after the governing body rejected two appeals from Lewis Hamilton's outraged team.

But the saga still looks set to rumble on after Mercedes immediately lodged a notice of intention to submit another, which would need to be tabled by Thursday.

The Dutchman overtook Hamilton on the final lap in Abu Dhabi to deny him a record-breaking eighth crown.

But the 24-year-old only got his chance after race director Michael Masi allowed five lapped cars to go past Hamilton before a safety car came in, putting the Red Bull driver on his tail with just one lap to go.

And after Verstappen - on a set of faster, soft tyres - darted ahead of Hamilton to win the title, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff launched a double protest. The Silver Arrows claimed Verstappen had, at one point, illegally nudged ahead of Hamilton when behind the safety car and that regulations were not followed when Masi brought in that safety car.

This story is from the December 13, 2021 edition of Daily Record.

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This story is from the December 13, 2021 edition of Daily Record.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.