Breaking News :Abu Dhabi GP results stands- No further action on Mercedes protest

Mercedes has launched two protest against out come of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. But unfortunately stewards dismissed both of them, so Max Verstappen is 2021 Formula 1 World Champion.

Article 48.12 of the sporting regulations covers the procedure under the safety car and it demands that “unless the clerk of the course considers the presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap”.

As the five lapped cars were given the order to pass the safety car on lap 57, the safety car should therefore have returned to the pits at the end of the following lap – lap 58 – rather than at the end of lap 57 to permit the one-lap dash to the flag.

However, the stewards have argued that another part of the sporting regulations – Article 15.3 – that gives the race director “overriding authority” in several areas including the use of the safety car.

It is to be determined whether Mercedes will appeal this stewards’ verdict to the FIA’s international court.

On the first protest, the stewards’ report acknowledged that Verstappen had edged ahead slightly as he and Hamilton prepared for the restart and the one-lap dash to the finish.

But the stewards said the fact he had immediately dropped back meant no punishment was necessary.