Max Verstappen says controversial F1 win over Lewis Hamilton won’t taint historic F1 title after dramatic season
MAX VERSTAPPEN doesn’t believe his Formula One world title will be tainted due to the controversial end to the season. The Red Bull man won his first world crown on the final lap of the season in Abu Dhabi – but is still the subject of a possible legal challenge from Mercedes.
Verstappen won a maiden F1 title in Abu DhabiCredit: Getty
Hamilton was denied a record eighth world-title in heartbreaking circumstancesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Lewis Hamilton’s team were furious that FIA race director Michael Masi fudged the rules to create a single lap showdown in the winner-takes-all-contest.
Hamilton was a sitting duck on old tyres as Verstappen screamed past following a safety car period where Masi allowed five cars to get out of the way.
Both Hamilton and Merc felt the result was manipulated resulting in Verstappen winning the title in front of a huge TV audience.
But the Dutchman insists he did nothing wrong and won the title fair and square on track.
When quizzed if he was disappointed to end the season with so much controversy, he 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.
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“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.”
Bleary-eyed Verstappen also revealed he received a message from Merc boss Toto Wolff that will raise a few eyebrows.
Despite Merc deciding whether to appeal their failed protests, Verstappen claims he got a text from Wolff saying congratulations.
It gives a big hint that perhaps Merc will drop their charged against the FIA and Michael Masi.
Verstappen faced a nervous four-hour wait to discover the outcome of Mercedes’ two protestsCredit: Getty
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.”
Verstappen had a four hour delay before he could start to celebrate his maiden title, not just in F1 but in single-seaters.
His last title came in 2013 in go-karting.
And his celebrations lasted long into the night, with a video of him jumping into a swimming pool at 6:42 on Monday morning.
He said: “It was a long night! I ended up at [Dutch 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.” More
