With Verstappen running on fresher tires, there was nothing Hamilton could do. Under bizarre circumstances, Verstappen was crowned the new world champion, which prevented Hamilton from breaking Schumacher’s record and claiming his eighth world title. It was one of the most dramatic finals we’ve seen, but the decision sparked considerable backlash from F1 fans.
After the race, Mercedes challenged the commissioners and filed two protests against an earlier incident where Verstappen overtook Hamilton under the safety car and the controversy on the final lap. Both were fired, but Mercedes intended to appeal the decision. While the FIA has admitted that the actions “tarnished” the image of Formula 1 and is opening an investigation, Mercedes will take no further action.
