Mercedes have launched two protests following a controversial end to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which saw Max Verstappen deny Lewis Hamilton the world championship with a last-lap pass following a Safety Car period.
The stewards have summoned team representatives for both Lewis Hamilton and new champion Verstappen, with the reason given being a protest by Mercedes “against car 33 [Verstappen], alleged breach of Article 48.8 of the 2021 FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations”.
Article 48.8 states:
“With the exception of the cases listed under a) to h) below, no driver may overtake another car on the track, including the safety car, until he passes the Line (see Article 5.3) for the first time after the safety car has returned to the pits.
The exceptions are:
a) If a driver is signalled to do so from the safety car.
b) Under Articles 41.1c), 48.12, 51.6 and 51.12 below.
c) When entering the pits a driver may pass another car remaining on the track, including the safety car, after he has reached the first safety car line.
d) When leaving the pits a driver may overtake, or be overtaken by, another car on the track before he reaches the second safety car line.
e) When the safety car is returning to the pits it may be overtaken by cars on the track once it has reached the first safety car line.
f) Whilst in the pit entry, pit lane or pit exit a driver may overtake another car which is also in one of these three areas.
g) Any car stopping in its designated garage area whilst the safety car is using the pit lane (see Article 48.11 below) may be overtaken.
h) If any car slows with an obvious problem.”
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Shortly before the restart, prior to the final lap of the race, leader Hamilton backed up the pace as much as possible and Verstappen’s front wing was alongside the leader’s front wheels as they passed beneath the W Hotel in the final sector.
Mercedes are also protesting “against the classification established at the end of the competition, alleged breach of Article 48.12 of the 2021 FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations” which describes how race control can determine who may un-lap themselves during a safety car period.
Shortly before the race resumed, race control decided the five lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen on track could pass the Safety Car. Those behind Verstappen were not permitted to do so.
The penultimate paragraph of Article 48.12 begins: “Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking, and make every effort to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car.”
After describing how those cars must drive safely after un-lapping themselves, the paragraph concludes with “unless the clerk of the course considers the presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap”.
Upon lodging the protests, Mercedes put out their own statement.
“We lodged a formal protest within the required 30 minute time window after the end of the race,” it read. “We will not make any further comment on the detail of that until the hearing has been conducted.”
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