F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix LIVE REACTION: Mercedes protests REJECTED latest, Verstappen WINS controversial world title

OVERNIGHT ROUND-UP

Max Verstappen's F1 title joy is poised to be rubber-stamped as Mercedes are NOT expected to appeal against the Dutchman's Abu Dhabi GP win.

Lewis Hamilton's Merc team had initial protests over Verstappen's controversial last-lap triumph rejected.

They served notice of appealing further but that now seems unlikely.

But Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: “I don’t think it’s official until it’s official. But Max is world champ until someone says otherwise.”

Hamilton’s Mercedes team were shocked at the decision-making of FIA race director Michael Masi when he allowed some, but not all, of the lapped cars to overtake the safety car, helping Verstappen pip Hamilton.

And F1 chiefs admit Verstappen’s controversial victory is ‘tarnishing the image’ of the sport.

The FIA promised a “detailed analysis and clarification exercise” into decisions that cost Lewis Hamilton his world crown – “to draw any lessons from the situation”.

Meanwhile, Verstappen confessed he and Hamilton 'hated' each other at times during one of F1's greatest ever season-long duels.

They famously clashed at Silverstone, Monza and in Saudi Arabia before their explosive finale.

The Dutchman said: "You look each other in the eye. You don't say a lot but you do relate a lot throughout the whole season and you actually really appreciate the fight.

"Sometimes we did hate each other, but that's fine, that's the competitive spirit both of us have."

MERC WON'T APPEAL AGAINST MAX TITLE JOY

Max Verstappen is ready to be confirmed as Formula One world champion, writes BEN HUNT.

The F1 king-in-waiting admitted on Wednesday there were moments where he and title rival Lewis Hamilton HATED each other this season.

SunSport understands that Mercedes will not follow up their notice of intention to appeal against Verstappen’s hugely controversial title victory in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

But Red Bull boss Christian Horner is taking nothing for granted — and he cannot relax until the appeal is officially dropped.

Horner said: “I don’t think it’s official until it’s official. But Max is world champ until someone says otherwise.”

Hamilton’s Mercedes team were shocked at the decision-making of FIA race director Michael Masi in the final race of the season when he allowed some, but not all, of the lapped cars to overtake the safety car.

Leader Hamilton was comfortably clear of Dutch star Verstappen and cruising to the title — until the safety car had to come out.

Verstappen was even able to get fresh tyres and close the gap on Hamilton — before streaking past him when the race resumed for one last lap.

F1 CHIEFS ADMIT GP ‘TARNISHED IMAGE’

F1 chiefs admit Max Verstappen’s controversial title-clinching victory in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi GP is ‘tarnishing the image’ of the sport.

The FIA promised a “detailed analysis and clarification exercise” into the decisions that cost Lewis Hamilton his world crown – “to draw any lessons from the situation”.

Race director Michael Masi appeared not to follow rules and protocol when he restarted the race following a crash, setting up a last-lap shootout once the safety car went off.

Hamilton’s team Mercedes announced they intend to appeal against their protests being rejected.

MAX: LEW AND I HATED EACH OTHER AT TIMES

Max Verstappen claims there were moments where he and Lewis Hamilton HATED each other this season.

The two had a titanic and controversial tussle for the F1 title with the Dutchman coming out on top - albeit subjected to a Mercedes appeal.

They famously came to blows at Silverstone, Monza and in Saudi Arabia before their explosive finale in Abu Dhabi last Sunday.

Verstappen, 24, says his fight with Hamilton has been intense and said the Mercedes man was the toughest racer he'd faced.

He said: "The little moment we had after the race already, you look each other in the eye. You don't say a lot but you do relate a lot throughout the whole season and you actually really appreciate the fight.

"Sometimes we did hate each other, but that's fine, that's the competitive spirit both of us have.

"He is an incredible driver and this year in most of the races we have been pushing flat out.

"Also, for the team it was very stressful, every weekend they had to be perfect because we knew if they made a mistake, either would be ahead.

"That made it just very intense and in a few months time also for next year you can look back at it and really appreciate these moments.

"I appreciate Lewis's talent for sure, he is a very tough competitor, probably the toughest one I've had to fight for sure."

LEWIS FACES FINE FOR GALA SNUB

Lewis Hamilton could be slapped with a fine for snubbing the FIA's gala in Paris tonight, writes BEN HUNT.

Hamilton's Mercedes team have until 7pm to decide if they will continue to pursue legal action after he was denied victory in the Abu Dhabi GP.

Merc failed with two protests after Max Verstappen won at the Yas Marina, which handed the Dutchman the title but announced their intention to appeal.

That right expires this evening with the team staying silent on the matter as they assess their options.

However, F1's sporting regulations state the drivers who finish in the top three of the championship must attend the prize giving ceremony.

Article 6.6 says: "The drivers finishing first, second and third in the Championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony."

Last night Merc were unable to confirm or deny Hamilton's attendance at the end of season showpiece.

If he or indeed teammate Valtteri Bottas, who was third, misses it, it could trigger a fine or other sanction with the FIA themselves unsure what punishment would apply given the unique  situation.

BLAME BOTTAS FOR LEWIS LOSING TITLE

Former Formula One driver Jolyon Palmer has claimed that Valtteri Bottas cost Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton a record eighth World Championship.

British icon Hamilton was pipped by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen at Abu Dhabi GP on Sunday as the Dutchman won his first world title.

Seven-time champ Hamilton, who received his knighthood at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, looked on course for victory as he led Verstappen by over ten seconds.

But Williams' Nicholas Latifi crashed into the barriers which resulted in a safety car being deployed on lap 54, letting Verstappen hone in on his rival.

And with fresher tyres having pitted, Verstappen passed his rival on the final lap after stewards decided to allow lapped cars to overtake.

FIA director Michael Masi had initially indicated lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen would stay in their formation, only to change his mind, resulting in the former to claim that the race 'has been manipulated'.

JT WANTS BECKS KNIGHTED LIKE LEWIS

Chelsea legend John Terry has called for David Beckham to be knighted after Sir Lewis Hamilton received the honour.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion knelt before Prince Charles and was handed his knighthood on Wednesday for services to motorsport.

He is widely regarded as the greatest driver of all time despite narrowly missing out on his eighth world championship in dramatic fashion last weekend.

Hamilton's knighthood has got people talking about what other sportspeople deserve the accolade.

And Terry believes his ex-England teammate Beckham - who is already an OBE - should be the next star to receive the honour.

He posted a photo of Beckham on  and added the caption: "Time for this man to get his KNIGHTHOOD."

Beckham was capped 115 times for England, scoring 17 goals in what was a sensational career playing for his country.

He went to three World Cups - scoring in each of the 1998, 2002 and 2006 tournaments.

LEW'S UNFAIR PENALTY

Football legend Gary Lineker has summed up Max Verstappen’s controversial victory over Lewis Hamilton with a perfect football analogy.

Lineker tweeted: “Imagine Man City and Liverpool going toe to toe for the title.

“On the last day of the season they meet & City are 3 up with just minutes to go.

“The referee decides it would be more exciting to have a penalty shootout. What’s more the City players have to be barefooted. That’s @F1”

MERC PHOTOSHOOT 'SNUB'

Mercedes declined to take part in an official FIA photoshoot to celebrate their F1 Constructors' Championship, it's claimed.

Race Fans suggest Lewis Hamilton's team missed the occasion after Red Bull ace Max Verstappen clinched the driver's title with Sunday's controversial last-lap Abu Dhabi GP win.

Merc reportedly decided to duck the photoshoot AND would not allow their two cars to be in it.

JESS WISHES

Jesse Lingard’s Manchester United future is in doubt.

But the Red Devils posted 29th birthday wishes to their England midfielder.

The latest speculation is that United hope to get a transfer fee for the West Ham target, rather than lose him for free in the summer.

But the Old Trafford academy product reportedly hopes to see out the last half-year of his contract.

SIR LEW'S A LEADER ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Lewis Hamilton's charity to help disadvantaged kids has hailed the dethroned F1 king's knighthood.

Mission 44 said the honour for its founder and patron Hamilton 'thoroughly deserved for his leadership both on and off the track'.

LEWIS HAMILTON was denied a record-breaking eighth world championship after the hugely controversial finish to the season-ending Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.

But the blow of missing out has been slightly tempered by being awarded a knighthood - and he was joined by mum Carmen Larbalestier as he received the gong at Windsor Castle. 

A charitable foundation launched by Sir to support, champion & empower young people from underrepresented groups in the UK to succeed.

STILL FULL ON FOR MAX

Max Verstappen doesn’t believe his Formula One world title will be tainted due to the controversial end to the season.

When quizzed if he was disappointed to end the season with so much controversy, Verstappen said: “No, I’m not, no.

“I’m not disappointed at all. I think it sums up the whole season in general. It’s been pretty crazy for both teams. We gave it our all to the end.

“It [controversy] has been a big part of the whole season. It’s just been like that already a few times with protests or whatever.

“It is what it is. That’s racing sometimes as well. For me nothing really changed and we did win it on track.

“I did not do anything wrong. I just raced when it was a green light so that also made it enjoyable.

“There are always things to look at and that’s always after things like this. You can look into it and say what should have been done?

“It is the same in football. The referee should have given a penalty or it shouldn’t have been a penalty?

“What can we improve? Should we have had a different camera angle? All these things you’re going to bring up”

FEEL THE BERN

Former Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone believes it is 'complete and utter nonsense' that Sir Lewis Hamilton was 'robbed'.

Ecclestone told , he said: "About being robbed - it's complete and utter nonsense.

"If you want to think about it carefully, on the first lap of that race he [Hamilton] went off the circuit and came back on again and Verstappen stayed on the circuit and did absolutely nothing wrong.

"Lewis wasn't punished at all for this so he shouldn't be complaining too much.

"These things happen all the time in sports. We shouldn't blame the race director, he did exactly what was the right thing to do"

LAP IN THE FACE

Under-fire director Michael Masi appeared to break precedent with himself in his controversial safety car call at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Rolling the clock back to the Eifel Grand Prix in October 2020 throws up some uncomfortable reading for Masi.

The chief steward back then was confronted with a similar safety-car conundrum - and this time he allowed ALL lapped cars to go past.

McLaren starlet Lando Norris broke down in a dangerous spot and on came the safety car.

When Masi was criticised for not allowing racing to resume quickly, he defended himself and said: “There's a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave all the lapped cars past”

ARISE SIR LEWIS

It's SIR Lewis Hamilton now!

Hamilton has received his knighthood from Prince Charles at Windsor Castle.

The Formula One legend received the honour for his services to Motorsport, where he has won a joint-record seven world titles.

And he was joined at the investiture by his mother Carmen Larbalestier, who posed proudly for a photograph alongside her son after the ceremony

RUSSELL REACTION

George Russell didn't hold back when reacting to Max Verstappen's F1 triumph.

Russell replaces Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate at Mercedes next season.

He said: "THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!

"Max is an absolutely fantastic driver who has had an incredible season and I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely unacceptable.

"I cannot believe what we’ve just seen"

LIN-SANITY

Football legend Gary Lineker has summed up Max Verstappen's controversial victory over Lewis Hamilton with a perfect football analogy.

Lineker tweeted: "Imagine Man City and Liverpool going toe to toe for the title.

"On the last day of the season they meet & City are 3 up with just minutes to go.

"The referee decides it would be more exciting to have a penalty shootout. What’s more the City players have to be barefooted. That’s @F1"

MAX EARNINGS

Red Bull star Max Verstappen reportedly pocketed £12million in bonuses for his Formula One world championship triumph.

Verstappen controversially beat Lewis Hamilton after a questionable late decision by under-fire FIA chief Michael Masi.

As well as sealing him his first title, Masi's decision also earned 24-year-old a pretty penny.

Verstappen earns a base salary of around £18.2m with Red Bull.

According to , this figure went up by a whopping £12m for his success

PARTY TIME

Red Bull star Max Verstappen opened up about the way he celebrated his first ever Formula One world title.

Verstappen said: "It was a long night! I ended up at [DJ] Martin Garrix's place so yeah, it was fun.

"I was spending a lot of time with all the team members celebrating all together. All the emotions came out.

"It was a lot of fun but when I woke up, that was not so fun. I maybe regretted that final drink!

"It was really nice to have friends and family there and a lot of people have a headache at the moment"

CONGRATS

Max Verstappen revealed he received a message from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff saying "congratulations".

Verstappen said: "I haven't heard anything [about the protest].

"Toto sent me a text saying congratulations on the season and that I deserved to win it, and that was very nice of him.

"I mean, emotions ran very high on that last lap from both sides, from both teams. So yeah, it is what it is. I mean, we'll see what the outcome is"

'IS WHAT IT IS'

Max Verstappen doesn't believe his Formula One world title will be tainted due to the controversial end to the season.

When quizzed if he was disappointed to end the season with so much controversy, Verstappen said: "No, I'm not, no.

"I'm not disappointed at all. I think it sums up the whole season in general. It's been pretty crazy for both teams. We gave it our all to the end.

"It [controversy] has been a big part of the whole season. It's just been like that already a few times with protests or whatever.

"It is what it is. That's racing sometimes as well. For me nothing really changed and we did win it on track.

"I did not do anything wrong. I just raced when it was a green light so that also made it enjoyable.

"There are always things to look at and that's always after things like this. You can look into it and say what should have been done?

"It is the same in football. The referee should have given a penalty or it shouldn't have been a penalty?

"What can we improve? Should we have had a different camera angle? All these things you're going to bring up"

TAKE IT TO THE MAX

Red Bull star Max Verstappen left nobody in any doubt who was Formula One's new golden boy as he showed off his new racing boots.

Verstappen was back behind the wheel in Abu Dhabi for a tyre test and wore his special shoes… and a baseball hat saying 'Champion'.

The Dutchman is ready to be the grid's new No1 after pipping Lewis Hamilton to win his maiden world championship on Sunday.

The 24-year-old has the choice to stick with his racing No 33 on his car for next season, or take the No 1, which is reserved for the champion

MERCEDES APPEAL DEADLINE APPROACHES

AS Mercedes ponder whether to appeal against Max Verstappen's title-clinching win in Abu Dhabi.the Dutchman is told he will become an even better F1 driver.

Lewis Hamilton's Merc team have until Thursday night to confirm they will protest over their two lost race appeals.

But most pundits believe FIA chiefs will back the race director's controversial restart decision that made Verstappen's last-lap comeback victory likely.

Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko said: "He is a driver who I'm sure is not at the end of his abilities.

"We saw his qualifying performance at the last two races, in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi. He did qualifying laps that were so much more than the car could deliver.

"And that's why we believe we haven't seen the climax of Max Verstappen. The more he wins, the more relaxed he gets."

 But former world F1 champs Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel claim Verstappen and Hamilton BOTH deserve the title.

Alonso said: "it was a matter of time that he (Verstappen) would win the trophy.

"I think he was lucky. Without the safety car Lewis was world champion, and with the safety car Max is world champion.

"I think more than any other year if you could split the trophy in two, this was the year to do it. Because both of them were outstanding."

And Vettel said: "I'm happy for Max, but I'm mostly sorry for Lewis. I think he had an incredible end to the season."In my point of view, I don't care who wins, but I think they both deserve it. In the end only one can take it."

Finally, 23-year-old Brit George Russell has started his new job as Hamilton's team-mate, replacing Valtteri Bottas.

RULE'S GOLD FOR MAX

Max Verstappen returned to the track where he won his first Formula One title wearing GOLD trainers.

The Dutchman won Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in controversial fashion, winning the title on the final lap - crushing rival Lewis Hamilton's chances of a record-breaking eighth.

FIA race director Michael Masi has come under fire for seemingly ignoring the rules to create a single lap showdown in the winner-takes-all-contest.

Hamilton was on old tyres as Verstappen screamed past following a safety car period where Masi allowed five cars to get out of the way.

Verstappen and Red Bull partied into the early hours of the next morning, but on Tuesday it was back to work.

The 24-year-old was back out on the track for post-season testing.

And he strutted down corridors at the Yas Marina circuit in golden Puma shoes to commemorate his win.

On Instagram, Verstappen wrote: "Back to work."

VETTEL SORRY FOR LEW

Ex-F1 champ Sebastian Vettel says his joy for new world champ Max Verstappen is outweighed by his sympathy for dethroned king Lewis Hamilton.

Vettel said: "I'm happy for Max, but I'm mostly sorry for Lewis. I think he had an incredible end to the season.

"In my point of view, I don't care who wins, but I think they both deserve it. In the end only one can take it."