KEY POINTS

  • Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday
  • With the win, the dutch claimed his maiden F1 world title
  • Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the very last lap to the race

Former F1 racer Ralf Schumacher has questioned Mercedes’ integrity by pointing out their course of action was “bitter” in a bid to help Lewis Hamilton win the world championship in Abu Dhabi.

After overtaking pole-sitter Max Verstappen at the start, Hamilton led the race for the majority of the time until a late Safety Car was introduced. However, soon after the race resumed at Yas Marina, Verstappen snatched the world championship by overtaking Hamilton in the last lap.

While Schumacher questioned Mercedes’ acts, he also slammed The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), calling them the "loser of the year" after the title-decider race in Abu Dhabi on Sunday turned controversial.

"The FIA is pretty much the loser of the year when you look at the decisions made this season. The mess started in Brazil. And then this in the last race,” Schumacher told Motor Sport.

Schumacher, who raced for a few F1 teams during his professional career, including the Williams, suggested that Red Bull driver Verstappen won the race fairly.

Max Verstappen became Formula One world champion for the first time after a nailbiting last lap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Max Verstappen became Formula One world champion for the first time after a nailbiting last lap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix POOL via AFP / KAMRAN JEBREILI

"Toto said over the radio, 'Michael [Masi] this is not right'. The race must be stopped one lap earlier. He really wanted to make sure the last lap wouldn't count. Of course, you have to pull out all the stops, but Max and his team did a really good job in an insanely exciting race. He won fairly at the restart. I'm sorry, but I think it leaves a bitter aftertaste when you try to win the World Championship like that," added Ralf Schumacher, who is the younger brother of legendary F1 racer Michael Schumacher.

Soon after the race at the Yas Marina Circuit ended, Mercedes had lodged two protests against the way race director Michael Masi conducted the final laps. However, both their protests were rejected by the race stewards.

While Hamilton was aiming to surpass Michael Schumacher's seven world titles, Verstappen became the first Dutch to win the drivers' title in F1.

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