Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff will miss the FIA awards ceremony tonight in view of their persistent anger over the events of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
While Mercedes decided to drop its appeal on the FIA’s handling of the late-race restart of the safety car at the FIA season finale, the German automaker remains deeply dissatisfied with the way the events were handled.
Mercedes had already made a decision not to send their masterful F1 and Formula E cars to Paris for pre-gala photos and it has now been confirmed that neither Hamilton nor Wolff will be attending.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Wolff said the team will be represented by their Chief Technical Officer James Allison to pick up the Constructors’ Championship trophy.
“Neither of us will be there,” said Wolff when asked whether he or Hamilton would travel to Paris for the season finale.
“I won’t be there because of my loyalty to Lewis and my personal integrity.
“But we will be represented as a team by James Alison, who will accept the trophy on behalf of all the people in Brackley and Brixworth who should celebrate our eighth consecutive world title, who deserve to be celebrated because it is a fantastic achievement . ” which we are very proud of. “
Wolff admitted he was having a hard time balancing the joy of winning the eighth Mercedes Constructors’ Championship against the anger he had about how the FIA decisions in the closing stages cost Hamilton the driver’s crown.
“In a way, I’m trying to limit the anger about the outcome of the F1 drivers’ championship and, on the other hand, the pride and joy at having achieved something unprecedented and which has to be celebrated.”
Hamilton’s absence from the FIA awards gala constitutes a violation of the F1 sporting regulations, which makes it compulsory for the top three winners to take part in the championship.
Article 6.6 of the F1 Sports Regulations states: “The drivers who finish first, second and third in the championship must be present at the annual FIA award ceremony.”
It is unclear whether the FIA will impose a sanction on Hamilton for not attending the event.
