Mercedes submit their plan to appeal AGAIN after the FIA rejected protest over safety car drama

Mercedes were ‘discussing’ taking fight for the world championship to court on Sunday night in the belief that Lewis Hamilton was robbed of a record eighth title in the deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Team principal Toto Wolff was locked in talks with the team’s barrister, Paul Harris QC, a distinguished sports lawyer who has acted for Premier League football clubs, including Manchester City and Liverpool.

Mercedes confirmed: ‘We have lodged our intention to appeal.’ That was after their initial protest into the safety car incident that cost Hamilton victory was rejected by the stewards four hours after the end of the race.

Mercedes will appeal to the FIA again after their initial protest of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix result (above) was rejected

Mercedes will appeal to the FIA again after their initial protest of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix result (above) was rejected

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff (above) is considering taking this dispute into court

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff (above) is considering taking this dispute into court

One insider indicated that no legal option was off the table. Mercedes now have 96 hours to confirm whether they will press ahead with the appeal. 

If they do, the FIA would look to convene their International Court of Appeal (ICA) prior to the official award of the champion’s trophy at the governing body’s gala dinner in Paris on Thursday night.

If every avenue open to Mercedes within the FIA’s framework is used up, they would consider taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – involving Formula One in a long and potentially damaging litigation.

Wolff took the unusual decision not to speak to the media on Sunday night as he instead sat down with Harris in the team hospitality area. 

F1 race director Masi overturned his decision to keep lapped cars inbetween Hamilton (second left) and Verstappen ahead of the final lap

F1 race director Masi overturned his decision to keep lapped cars inbetween Hamilton (second left) and Verstappen ahead of the final lap

Verstappen (right) overtook Hamilton (left) on the last lap of the winner-takes-all Abu Dhabi GP

Verstappen (right) overtook Hamilton (left) on the last lap of the winner-takes-all Abu Dhabi GP

Hamilton talked only briefly and graciously in offering Verstappen congratulations after losing the title, finishing two seconds back after the late safety car deployment that was central to the intrigue.

Race director Michael Masi allowed Verstappen, on newer rubber, to take a final-lap dart at Hamilton, rather than let the grand prix run down under the safety car. The lull in racing was brought about by Nicholas Latifi crashing his Williams five laps from the end.

The fury was led by Hamilton’s team-mate of next year, Williams’ George Russell, who tweeted: ‘THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!’ 

‘Max is an absolutely fantastic driver, who has had an incredible season. I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely not acceptable. I cannot believe what we’ve just seen.’ 

Verstappen (right) crossed the line before Hamilton (left) to take his first ever Formula One title

Verstappen (right) crossed the line before Hamilton (left) to take his first ever Formula One title

After hearing that Mercedes’ protests had been rejected, Horner said: ‘First of all the feeling is elation. It’s the right result. You have to look at this championship across the 22 races and Max has been truly outstanding this year. He has driven with heart and passion and he’s a really deserving world champion. That Lewis is the most successful driver of all time only makes it more valuable.

‘We never wanted to end up in front of the stewards. There was obviously a lot of debate before the race. But we don’t go racing with barristers and so on. It’s a shame it ended up there.

‘But the stewards made the right call. We’ve talked about “Let them race”. Niki Lauda (the late Mercedes non-executive chairman) was the guy who pushed hard for it. And we’ve always talked about not finishing races under safety cars.

‘I think the race director under difficult circumstances also made absolutely the right calls today.’ Referring to Mercedes’ protests, Horner said: ‘It obviously felt a little bit desperate. They’ve been great competitors this year. Lewis is obviously a phenomenal driver. 

Mercedes lodged a protest over two aspects of the race which they believe unfairly allowed Verstappen (right) to beat Hamilton (left)

Mercedes lodged a protest over two aspects of the race which they believe unfairly allowed Verstappen (right) to beat Hamilton (left)

‘It wouldn’t be a surprise if they were to appeal but the race director made his position clear, the stewards made their position clear, and the ruling is very clear.

‘What a rollercoaster day It started with a bad start, Lewis getting a great start and they had a bit more pace than us today. They elected to do a one-stop, we went on to a two-stop and when Latifi crashed we obviously elected to take another set of tyres. They got the race going again and Max had to make it count.

‘He had one lap to do it and he nailed it. So we had the elation of that moment. And then obviously the summons start coming through and then another one for some other stuff. So it’s been a tense few hours but the FIA got it right.’ 

The FIA threw out Mercedes' appeals on Sunday night. Pictured, race director Michael Masi

The FIA threw out Mercedes’ appeals on Sunday night. Pictured, race director Michael Masi

Horner was refused entry to Mercedes’s paddock HQ, where he had gone to shake hands immediately after the race with Wolff – a sign of the lingering bad blood that has stained the intense championship season.

Verstappen, who sat in joyous conversation with his father, former F1 driver Jos, in the immediate aftermath of the race, later tweeted: ‘World champion! This is just unbelievable. I started racing with my dad many years ago. We dreamed of becoming a world champion and now we are.

‘To all my family and friends, thank you so much for all your support over the years. Couldn’t have done it without you!’ 

Horner, meanwhile, promised Latifi a lifetime’s supply of Red Bull. 

source: dailymail.co.uk