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    Red Bull boss Christian Horner takes swipe at Mercedes F1 rival Toto Wolff for ‘living as a tax exile in Monaco’

    RED BULL team principal Christian Horner insists he and Mercedes rival Toto Wolff are “very different”.The two teams were embroiled in a heated rivalry last season, which saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen beating Lewis Hamilton in a controversial title-deciding race in Abu Dhabi.
    Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insists he and Toto Wolff are ‘very different’Credit: Rex
    Mercedes chief Toto Wolff was likened to a ‘tax exile in Monaco’ by Christian HornerCredit: Rex
    Wolff, Hamilton and the rest of the British star’s team were furious and the Mercedes team principal is still livid at the outcome, which led to the dismissal of race director Michael Masi.
    Horner, who insists 2021 is “done and dusted” as far as he’s concerned, admitted that he likes to wind up Wolff – whom he likened to a “tax exile in Monaco” running his team remotely.
    The Red Bull chief told the Daily Mail: “We are very different. If I’m not at the racetrack, I’m in the factory.
    “I’m not living as a tax exile in Monaco, running a team remotely. I am hands-on.
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    “My diary is full from the moment I arrive to the moment I leave, dealing with issues within the team. I have very much an open-door policy.
    “I grew up in the sport. I was a race driver that turned my hand to running a team. I’m a racer at heart.
    “Toto has come from a very different background. He has a financial background and is very driven by what the balance sheet says.
    “Results dictate that performance. Does he share the same passion as a racer? I have no idea. Will he be here in 10 years’ time or will he have cashed in and be on his super yacht? I have no idea.
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    “My relationship with Toto is… you know, it’s professional. He’s not the kind of guy I’m going to go and have dinner with or spend private time with, but I have a respect for what he’s done and what he’s achieved.
    “Of course, as far as I’m concerned, 2021 is done and dusted. It’s now all about 2022. Will he be the main opponent this year? I have no idea.
    “Do I like him? I have no personal issue with Toto. He’s the kind of guy that bites quite easy, so it’s always fun to wind him up a bit. But he’s not a bad guy, that’s for sure.” More

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    Lewis Hamilton told to ‘shut the f*** up’ by Red Bull rival boss Christian Horner in astonishing Netflix doc footage

    FOOTAGE of Red Bull chief Christian Horner telling Sir Lewis Hamilton to ‘shut the f**k up’ has emerged ahead of the new Formula One season.Horner’s rant was captured by cameras filming the latest series of hit Netflix show Drive to Survive – which has just been released.
    Sir Lewis Hamilton claimed a record-equalling seventh F1 title at the 2020 Abu Dhabi GPCredit: Splash
    But Red Bull chief principal Christian Horner couldn’t stand Hamilton’s victory speechCredit: NETFLIX
    Horner wanted the Brit to ‘shut the f**k up’Credit: NETFLIX
    After hearing Stevenage speedster Hamilton, 37, say he feels like he’s ‘just getting started’ after claiming his seventh F1 title in 2020, Horner said: “I wish he’d shut the f*** up.
    “How many times do we have to sit and watch this s***?”
    Footage of Horner’s rant went viral and prompted a slew of F1 fans to take to Twitter to voice their opinions.
    One asked: “What the F*** does this guy have against Lewis?? Just WHY?”
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NEWS.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}RED BULLY .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Hamilton makes Max Verstappen ‘bully’ claim in never-before-seen Netflix footage
    Another said: “His life 24/7 is being tormented by him.”
    And another said: “This is beyond hating.”
    One remarked: “If that was a fellow driver I’d say fair enough, ego’s flying about s**t gets said.
    “But for a team principal to be that abusive towards a driver is embarrassing and says all it needs to about Christian Horner.”
    Max Verstappen controversially pipped Lewis Hamilton to the F1 title last yearCredit: AFP
    One remarked: “It sickens me. Nowhere to hide, Horner.”
    The tables would be turned in Horner’s favour 12 months later as Max Verstappen pipped Hamilton to a record-breaking eighth Driver’s Championship – albeit in controversial fashion.
    Verstappen, 24, denied Hamilton a historic title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after race director Michael Masi failed to follow strict safety car protocol.
    The Dutchman was given a clear run at race leader Hamilton when Masi allowed the five lapped cars between the two drivers to overtake.
    And he took full advantage by overtaking the Brit to win his maiden championship.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BAD NEIGHBOURS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}We’ve been fined £25,000 after neighbours whinged about our luxury B&B
    Masi’s controversial decision making that day cost him his job as race director – a role which will now be shared by Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich.
    The new F1 season will begin on a week on Sunday with the Bahrain Grand Prix.
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    Mercedes leave F1 rivals stunned with new design but Toto Wolff insists Lewis Hamilton’s car is legal

    TOTO WOLFF says he has no concerns about the legality of this year’s Mercedes.Wolff’s team stunned the F1 paddock in Bahrain by unveiling a slimmed down version of their car they tested in Barcelona last month.
    The new design is causing huge debateCredit: Getty
    Toto Wolff is relaxedCredit: Reuters
    The new design has raised eyebrows and could be subjected to a protest from rival teams, such as Red Bull, who will question whether it is within the new rules.
    But Wolff says his team have done nothing wrong and the small sidepod design has been given the all-clear by the FIA.
    He said: “The process is very clear, when you go in a specific development direction with your team, having the FIA as part of scrutinising it, you’re exchanging CAD data and making them part of the process.”
    Asked whether he feared rivals could protest the design and seek a change to the rules, he added: “It is clear that sometimes when you come with an innovation, it creates the kind of debate that we’re having here.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}MERCING AN IMPRESSION .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Hamilton’s new Mercedes sparks huge row in F1 days before new season
    “That’s why that was expected. We have the new governance with the super majority that’s needed.
    “My opinion is that I would have preferred to stay with the old system, and if a team comes up with an innovation, possibly you can’t take it off the car if it’s compliant with the regulations.
    “I think the FIA and Formula One will for sure handle that with diligence, in the spirit of the sport.
    “We were keen in not running alone with that, but being in touch with the FIA, that’s why I think it will be okay.”
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    F1 teams are in Bahrain for the next few days for final testing.
    The season then kicks off in the same country on March 20.
    The new design is being questionedCredit: Alamy More

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    ‘He has not had to build anything’ – Christian Horner aims dig at Toto Wolff over Lewis Hamilton Mercedes success

    RED BULL boss Christian Horner has said that Toto Wolff should not take too much credit for Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One success.It’s common knowledge that Horner and Wolff enjoy making small digs at each other at any given opportunity.
    Red Bull boss Christian Horner claimed that Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has ‘not had to build anything’Credit: Getty
    Wolff and Lewis Hamilton both joined Mercedes in 2013 and have won six titles togetherCredit: Getty
    Tensions continue to bubble between the two chiefs as the 2022 season approaches.
    They have had a lot to say about each other in the new series of the Netflix hit ‘Drive to Survive’.
    Horner was first to take aim as he suggested that the Mercedes boss ‘inherited’ his successful team when he was appointed in 2013.
    He said: “What you have to remember about Toto is he has inherited something that is already well-oiled.
    “He has not had to build anything. He operates the team in a much different way to me.
    “He is much more motivated by the financials of F1 than perhaps the competition.”
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    In a separate interview, Horner’s comments were put to Wolff, and the 50-year-old German responded by saying: “I don’t care what others are doing.
    “It’s about optimising my contribution in the team without looking elsewhere.”
    Series four of ‘Drive to Survive’ follows the action-packed 2021 season.
    Fans will have the chance to relive the fierce rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen that concluded with a controversial finale in Abu Dhabi.
    Verstappen secured his first Drivers Championship title after pipping Hamilton to the finish line on the final lap of the race.
    The outcome caused mass outrage across the world, with Hamilton himself claiming that the race had been ‘manipulated’.
    However, the Mercedes man is eager to reclaim the title this year and has already declared: “If you think what you saw at the end of last year was my best, wait until you see this year.” More

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    Max Verstappen and Christian Horner slam Mercedes for trying to ‘take shine off’ F1 title win after Lewis Hamilton drama

    MAX VERSTAPPEN and Christian Horner slammed Mercedes for trying to ‘take the shine off’ the Dutchman’s maiden Formula One title win.The 24-year-old won the world championship in dramatic fashion on the final lap of the 2021 season when he overtook Lewis Hamilton following a safety car fiasco.
    Max Verstappen won the 2021 F1 title in controversial fashionCredit: Reuters
    Red Bull boss Christian Horner is confident in his driver’s ability and mental strengthCredit: BBC
    Hamilton and Mercedes were left furious as the strict rules were thrown out of the window to allow a blockbuster finale in front of the Netflix cameras.
    A protest was turned down before Mercedes withdrew an appeal and Verstappen kept the victory – although an FIA investigation did result in race director Michael Masi’s sacking.
    But with less than two weeks to go until the beginning of his defence, Verstappen hit out at his rivals – but insisted he ‘doesn’t care’ about the Mercedes reaction.
    He told De Telegraaf: “If they [people] know me well, they know I don’t care.
    “At the end of the day, it was a crazy and epic Formula 1 season.
    “The losing team will try to take the shine off it a bit. But on the winning side, it still feels good, I can assure you.

    .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Motorsport.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
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    “A championship is won over a whole season, not by one decision in the last race. I also think I deserved the title, absolutely.
    “There might be people who only watched the last Grand Prix. They might think I was lucky.
    “But normally the championship would have been decided in my favour.”
    Verstappen’s boss Horner reiterated the champ’s comments and insisted his driver has not been affected by all the talk surrounding the controversy.
    Instead, he predicted his man to challenge for the title once again.
    Appearing on BBC Breakfast, the Red Bull team principal said: “I think it’s gone completely over his head. He doesn’t watch the BBC.
    “He was delighted to get that first world championship, against such a strong opponent. I think that’s what made it so intense.
    ‘RIVALRY SO INTENSE’
    “I think the rivalry between those two [Max and Lewis] has been so intense. I think you might see a couple of other drivers come into that fray as well.
    “It was epic last year and if that continues I think there’s going to be some fantastic races next season.
    “The sport has never had so much coverage and so much support – it’s great to see.”
    Verstappen signed a fresh contract last week worth a whopping £37million per year.
    And he begins his attempt to secure back-to-back F1 crowns when the season gets underway at the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20. More

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    Mercedes boss Toto Wolff takes another swipe at Masi saying axed F1 race director was ‘turned’ by Red Bull ‘bromance’

    TOTO WOLFF claims controversial F1 race director Michael Masi was ‘turned’ by Red Bull at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.Masi has since been axed from the role following an internal investigation by the FIA into his handling of the race.
    Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has once again hit out at former F1 race director Michael MasiCredit: Alamy
    Masi was axed following an investigation into his handling of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in DecemberCredit: Getty
    The Aussie failed to follow safety car rules which set up a one-lap showdown back in December.
    Race leader Lewis Hamilton was a sitting duck on old tyres and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen blasted his way past to take the win and the title.
    Wolff, Hamilton and the Mercedes team were furious and the Austrian is still livid at the outcome of the championship.
    Speaking on a Sky F1 documentary to air their Sunday, Wolff also says that a “bromance” helped Verstappen win.
    Masi made a ‘deal’ with Red Bull’s sporting director Jonathan Wheatley over restart grid positions in Saudi Arabia.
    He also changed his mind over Safety Car rules amid Red Bull protests in Abu Dhabi.
    Red Bull driver Max Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the F1 world title in controversial fashionCredit: Getty
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    Wolff describes Masi and Wheatley’s relationship as a “bromance” and says: “Jonathan Wheatley has done his job.
    “He’s turned Michael Masi the race director, not only in Abu Dhabi but before, and probably Max owes him a lot.”
    Masi is understood to be upset at the FIA’s handling of the situation while Wolff says it is not time to move on.
    He added: “I haven’t spoken to him and I don’t want to speak to him ever again. His decisions were wrong and I’m sure that he regrets them.
    “The FIA should have seen much earlier that there was a problem.
    “There was a problem with the structure. There was a problem of personalities.”

    🏁 F1 2022 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info More

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    Lewis Hamilton, 37, can’t drive ‘at this level for much longer’ and Verstappen ‘will get stronger’ claims Red Bull chief

    RED BELL chief Helmut Marko has claimed Max Verstappen ‘will get stronger’, while Lewis Hamilton’s days at the top are numbered. Seven-time World Champion Hamilton, 37, made his F1 debut when Verstappen was just TEN.
    Red Bull advisor Marko has warned that Hamilton could be nearing the end of his careerCredit: PA
    Marko has claimed Verstappen ‘will get stronger’Credit: Getty
    After months of speculation regarding his future, Hamilton confirmed he would be returning to the grid for the 2022 F1 calendar.
    The 24-year-old Verstappen is the reigning world champion though.
    And Marko reckons Hamilton might not have what it takes to maintain his sky-high standards for much longer.
    He told Austrian outlet OE24: “Hamilton delivered an incredible second half of the season.
    “I can hardly imagine he can drive at this level for much longer. He’s at his zenith now, age is slowly coming into play.”
    Then when talking about Verstappen, Marko said: “He’s World Champion now and he will get stronger.”
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    But it was Hamilton who set the fastest lap-time during pre-season testing in Barcelona.
    The Spanish city offered a first chance for the ten F1 teams to try out their cars for the upcoming season.
    Officially billed as a ‘shakedown’, the three days in Barcelona were not labelled as testing.
    Instead that is scheduled for Bahrain next month, before the campaign kicks off on March 20 in the same location.
    Hamilton will be desperate to wrestle the title back off Verstappen after the flying Dutchman snatched it from him in controversial circumstances last year. More

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    Max Verstappen ‘to sign new Red Bull contract worth £22m a year’ with F1 champ still earning HALF Lewis Hamilton’s pay

    MAX VERSTAPPEN is set to sign a new deal with Red Bull but will still be making less than Lewis Hamilton, reports suggest.Verstappen ended Hamilton’s four-year reign as Formula One champion with a controversial season-deciding victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.
    Max Verstappen is set for a new deal with Red Bull that includes a higher salaryCredit: Getty
    Max Verstappen will still be making half of what Mercedes legend Lewis Hamilton earnsCredit: Splash
    According to the Daily Mail, Red Bull have thus decided to tie the Dutch star down to a new long-term contract worth £22million per year.
    Confirmation of the agreement is expected to take place in the next few weeks.
    However, that means he will still be making almost half of the £40m Hamilton earns.
    Verstappen’s new salary will see him earn £4m more than his current deal, which is set to expire in 2023.
    The 24-year-old has been readying his title defence at F1’s pre-season testing in Barcelona.
    Verstappen was given a day off on Thursday but was back to work at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
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    The Dutchman recently addressed last season’s controversial ending by stating it was “very unfair” to sack Michael Masi as race director.
    Masi infuriated Hamilton and Mercedes for taking back his decision that lapped cars would not be able to unlap themselves following Nicholas Latifi’s crash in Abu Dhabi.
    That led to the Red Bull star successfully passing the 37-year-old Englishman on the final lap on fresh tyres to win the race and the championship.
    Verstappen told Autosport: “For me, it’s very unfair what happened to Michael – he was really being thrown under the bus.
    ‘Now, [that they] did sack him like that in the first place for me is unacceptable.
    “And now basically [that they] sacked him is really incredible. I feel really sorry for Michael.” More