Max Verstappen says that on the day after the epic and controversial season finale 2021 on Sunday, Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff finally belatedly congratulated Verstappen on winning the title.
While Lewis Hamilton and his father Anthony personally congratulated the new world champion right after the race in Abu Dhabi, Wolff concentrated angrily on first protesting and then appealing the decisions of the race management.
The clock is ticking on one final appeal, and it seems more likely that Mercedes will actually allow Thursday’s deadline to move forward with the appeal process. The London Times reports that Wolff fears a backlash in public relations.
Atypically, Mercedes has spent two days without post on its social media channels since filing its original protest, which was ultimately rejected by Formula 1.
Toto Wolff was not in a congratulatory mood in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Lars BaronGetty Images
Red Bull clearly intends to oppose any official appeal. Red Bull boss Christian Horner is flying back to the UK to prepare for it instead of participating in lengthy Middle East celebrations.
Former F1 top manager Bernie Ecclestone certainly advises Mercedes to drop it. When he learned that Hamilton suspected the FIA ”manipulated” the race result, Ecclestone said, “I would like to know who has manipulated and is smart enough to do so.
“This was just a set of circumstances that came up and ended an incredible World Cup that everyone was surely more than delighted to watch. I think a calling would be the worst thing they can do. It looks like they are bad.” Loser.”
Ecclestone, 91, also told Münchner Merkur: “Mercedes probably builds the best cars in the world. But the star will be badly scratched if they pull off this protest.”
Red Bull official Helmut Marko goes one step further. An appeal against the first World Cup of the 24-year-old Verstappen would actually be “disgusting”.
“I think a calling would be the worst thing you could do. It would look like they are bad losers.”
After a night of partying in Abu Dhabi that even included crowd surfing, Wolff changed his mood on Monday by finally sending Verstappen a message.
“Toto sent me a text message,” said Verstappen. “Congratulations on the season and that I deserve to win it. So that was very nice of him.”
Verstappen said emotions had been “very high” all around after the sensational final round of the 2021 season, but he said he appreciated Hamilton’s instant congratulations.
“Lewis came to me right after the race, which shows he’s a great athlete and we respect each other,” said Verstappen. “Of course I feel sorry for him,” continued Verstappen. “He did everything right throughout the race.
“It could have gone differently – that I control the race and lose it on the last lap. It’s a shame, but that’s just a race.”
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