Two years ago, Verstappen became champion in the turmoil in Abu Dhabi

Ron Meadows runs across the paddock. Thirty minutes have almost passed since the victory of Max Verstappen, synonymous with a world title for the Dutchman, and the sporting director of Mercedes only has a few minutes left to file a complaint. In these moments, the paddock is rocking. To the agitation of the men of Toto wolff the frenzy of those of Christian Horner is superimposed. Yas Marina becomes a drifting island, where everyone tries to find their way in a highly turbulent sea of ​​emotions.

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Up to five laps from the goal, the victory was that of a Lewis Hamilton finally dominating after having survived the attack of his opponent at turn 5 during the first lap, then the obstruction maneuvers skillfully orchestrated by Sergio Pérez to allow his leader to get back to the box of the Mercedes after having put on a set of Hard tires at 13^e round. Max began to close the gap, but the Briton had the race well in hand after managing to stabilize the gap separating him from the Dutchman to around 10 seconds. On the wall of the German stable, everyone held their breath. Lewis was urged to preserve his tires, to pay attention to the kerbs, without suspecting that the threat was going to come from elsewhere.

De Nicholas latifi who was not going to take long to put up his Williams into the wall, causing the safety car to enter the track. Unlike Hamilton who was unable to take the risk of stopping, Verstappen immediately rushed into the pit lane to put on a set of Soft tires. He returned to the track in the same second place, except that his Red Bull was now separated from its rival's Mercedes by the single-seaters lined with Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc et Sebastian Vettel. As the stewards began evacuating the Williams, race director Michael Masi announced that the cars would not be allowed to split.

In these conditions, even if the race was restarted, Hamilton had every guarantee of retaining command. Warned by radio, Verstappen stammered a “typical decision” insinuating that once again, sporting power was against him. The Dutchman barely had time to brood over his disappointment before the Australian official changed his mind, authorizing the cars to split on the penultimate lap in order to restart the race for a final loop. Except that in doing so, he didn't give the Briton any chance! Once the five cars had passed the leader again, Verstappen found himself just behind – or rather next to – the Mercedes during the re-start for this last, foregone conclusion lap. Hamilton tried to resist until braking at turn 5, where he was crucified by the Dutchman. Mass was said!

Max crossed the line as the winner to Christian Horner's howls of joy, and Toto Wolff's screams of rage. “ And I hope we can do this for 10/15 years together, the Dutchman almost sobbed while addressing his team from the cockpit. There is no reason to change, ever. I want to stay with you for the rest of my life. I am so happy ! Thanks to all of you, to Christian (Horner. Editor’s note), in Helmut (Marko. Editor’s note) for trusting me in 2016. Our goal was of course to win this championship and now we have done it. It's incredible. Throughout the race I continued to fight. And then, that opportunity came in the final lap. It's incredible ! »

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Incredible, it was just as incredible for Hamilton who remained prostrate in his car for many minutes. Speechless. Annihilated. He still ended up getting out, immediately going to greet the new world champion. Although KO standing, he had taken it upon himself, drawn on his last mental resources to reach this podium where he was expected, then disappear never to reappear. Within the Mercedes team, we had to act quickly, urgently write the necessary complaints before letting the tears flow.

Ron Meadows comes out of race direction. Now he doesn't run anymore. He has the whole weight of the sad reality on his shoulders. He fulfilled his mission, clocked in on time, the complaints are now in the hands of the commissioners. The plural is required, because there are two of them. The first concerns article 48.8 of the sporting regulations which stipulates that “ no driver may overtake another car on the track before crossing the line (see article 5.3) for the first time after the Safety Car returned to the pit lane. » According to Mercedes, Verstappen appeared to move next to Lewis Hamilton approaching turn 12 at 57^e lap, before the restart at 58^e round. The second claim is based on Article 48.12 which states that “ any car which has been overtaken by the leader will be required to overtake the leading car and the Safety Car."

If race direction ordered the five lapped cars – Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel – separating Hamilton from Verstappen to pass the Safety Car before the restart, Daniel Ricciardo, Lance stroll et Mick Schumacher did not receive the same call. Whether intentional or not, this is a failure to comply with the regulations. At a press conference, informed of Mercedes' approach, Max asserted that " not say much about it » and that « sums up the season a little."

Outside the building, there is excitement in front of the Red Bull and Mercedes hospitality. That of the German team takes on the appearance of an entrenched camp, while it is a party for the Anglo-Austrians. This championship is theirs and they do not need to wait for the race management's verdict to celebrate it. Then begins a long wait, the outcome of which is in little doubt. How can we imagine that the commissioners could reverse their judgment when Verstappen's triumph is displayed on television? It's too late, the damage is done.

Mercedes on appeal

It was first the complaint based on article 48.8 which was dismissed at 22:15 p.m., the college considering that Max never overtook Lewis under the Safety Car regime. Then it was the second – article 48.12 – which was rejected at 23:03 p.m., the same college estimating that even if only five of the eight cars concerned had split, this in no way changed the conclusion of the race. Certainly, but isn't a rule a rule? Clearly, during the last Grands Prix, the panel of stewards as a whole, and Michael Masi in particular, will not have covered themselves with glory.

Among the media community, we seek to understand, we ask questions. Why, for example, didn't he wave the red flag that would have allowed everyone to restart with a new set of tires? Lewis and Max would then have found themselves tied for tires for the final four high-flying laps. The show would have been even more intense, more equitable and less controversial. Masi decided otherwise to the great misfortune of sporting ethics, and without having the courage to come and defend his decision as he traditionally does every Sunday. Was it that indefensible?

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Toto Wolff had already left the circuit for a long time when the rejections were announced, as did Lewis Hamilton who preferred not to participate in the post-race press conference. To say what, anyway? That the race and the championship were stolen from him? It's hard to hear, but it's partly true even if, overall in the championship, Max fully deserves his title. There had to be only one Sunday evening left, but not like this!

Verstappen is a fine world champion, but his title will forever bear the stigma of inconsistencies for some or gross errors for others from the race direction. It is well known that hell is paved with good intentions, and in its desire to offer a true end of the race to this championship of all superlatives rather than a procession behind Safety Car, perhaps has- he confused speed with precipitation. This is a possible explanation, not an excuse. It's terrible to have to express all these reservations about this truncated final when the new world champion is a GREAT world champion. Even a huge champion, winner of one of the most beautiful duels ever produced by this sport!

At 24, Max entered the legend of F1. He didn't give up, even when everything seemed lost. He beat, if not defeated, Lewis Hamilton. He is the only one to have achieved it with Nico Rosberg, but that is where the comparison ends. The German, with equal equipment, was content to write a page of history, when the Dutchman entered history. Whatever happens from now on, he already has his place in the F1 Hall of Fame, in the Pantheon of Champions. So let's not shy away from our pleasure too much and look forward to all these covered tours this season. They will have contributed to making 2021 one of the very best vintages. A nectar whose spicy taste will not fade soon. Very fruity for Max and Red Bull, very bitter for Lewis and Mercedes. A vintage of angels harvested during a hellish season that the star firm decided to prolong before the international court of the FIA. For one last round of no return.

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