PARIS (AFP, REUTERS) – The Worldwide Vehicle Federation (FIA) mentioned on Wednesday (Dec 15) that it’ll undertake a “detailed evaluation” of the occasions that allowed Max Verstappen to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and take the world title.
Components One race director Michael Masi, an FIA official, sparked uproar for the way in which by which he ended a late security automotive interval in Sunday’s race and handed a bonus to Verstappen, who had pitted for contemporary tyres.
The standard protocol is for all lapped automobiles to go the protection automotive earlier than racing resumes, however on this case solely the automobiles between Verstappen and Mercedes’ race chief Lewis Hamilton, on older tyres, had been cleared.
Verstappen then had a transparent run to overhaul seven-time world champion Hamilton on the final lap of their winner-takes-all battle.
Hamilton, the game’s most profitable driver, mentioned over the radio he felt the race had been manipulated. His followers have declared the motive force robbed whereas others have expressed concern that Components One put leisure and pleasure over sporting integrity.
Mercedes are nonetheless contemplating an enchantment, with the deadline shortly earlier than Verstappen is because of be handed the champion’s trophy in Paris on Thursday evening.
The FIA mentioned that, following a proposal by outgoing president Jean Todt, “an in depth evaluation and clarification train for the long run with all related events will now happen”.
It added that “this matter will probably be mentioned… with all of the groups and drivers to attract any classes from this example and readability to be supplied to the contributors, media, and followers concerning the present laws to protect the aggressive nature of our sport”.
It mentioned that the controversy was “tarnishing the picture of the Championship and the due celebration of the primary Drivers’ World Championship title gained by Max Verstappen”.
Verstappen will obtain his trophy on the FIA awards ceremony on Thursday night.
The FIA aimed for suggestions and conclusions earlier than the beginning of subsequent season.
