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Formula 1: Red Bull defeats Mercedes – then you quoted Niki Lauda

AWhen they had clarity, they lay in each other’s arms. After about three hours of worrying, hoping and negotiating, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was able to deliver the good news to his world champion. “It’s through. You’re the champion, ”said Horner to Max Verstappen. Then there was the hug. Verstappen closed his eyes, a smile on his face.

At 7:37 p.m. local time, almost exactly three hours before the scene in front of the Red Bull garage, Mercedes officially protested against the race result at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Before that, Verstappen had taken the lead from Lewis Hamilton on the last lap and won the final race of the season, winning the world title.

Both drivers entered this race with the same number of points. So it was clear that it was going to be exciting. But so exciting?

A normal process, but …

The reason for the Mercedes protest lay in the way the season finale ended: on lap 54 there was an accident in the back of the ranks and the safety car had to be taken out. The discussions started almost immediately afterwards, because there was a great risk that the race could be ended behind the safety car and thus without actual racing. A back and forth followed.

In the last lap, Verstappen secured the title

Max Verstappen is Formula 1 world champion for the first time. The 24-year-old Dutchman secured the title by winning the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi. On the last lap he passed Lewis Hamilton.

At first it was said that lapped cars were not allowed to overtake, then they were allowed to. But not all, only those who were between the leading Hamilton and the runner-up Verstappen. It is normal for lapped cars to overtake behind the safety car and catch up at the end of the field.

But usually all the cars that have been lapped do this, and only when the route is safe to drive again after an accident. This time the route was opened again unusually quickly. “Everything was free, why should you then drive one more lap behind the safety car? The route had to be cleared, ”was understandably the view of Verstappen.

Meanness in the dirty world championship fight

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, also understandably, didn’t taste it at all. When Verstappen, who, unlike his competitor, was able to pits and was significantly faster with fresh tires, overtook Hamilton, Wolff tore his hair and grabbed the headphones that he had previously thrown away in anger. In the direction of race director Michael Masi he radioed: “Michael, this is so wrong.”

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The accusation: The race management brought in the safety car earlier than usual and forced it so that there could be one last lap of the race. Something that Red Bull, of course, welcomes as it ended up making them world champions. “We always talk about letting the drivers race. Niki Lauda was always the one who emphasized that races shouldn’t end behind the safety car, ”said Horner.

Race director Masi also emphasized that the teams would have liked this. Horner’s point, of all things, to argue with the words of the late and former Mercedes advisor – Niki Lauda – was another meanness in the dirty world championship fight.

Only Verstappen doesn’t allow himself to be confused

In the hours of the decision, those responsible for both teams had to go to the stewards again and again, Mercedes even took a lawyer with them to Abu Dhabi as a precaution. Not Red Bull. The racing team commented, quite offended, by an excited press spokesman who hurried outside during the negotiations: “We are a racing team. We don’t have a lawyer. We didn’t come here to protest. “

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F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi

Which is an interesting statement, because Red Bull had protested to the stewards more than once in the season and would have also protested this time under guarantee if the race would have ended behind the safety car and Hamilton would automatically have been the winner as the leader. Nevertheless, Head of Motorsport Helmut Marko rumbled to WELT: “It was unworthy of a World Championship final that it was delayed. If you lodge such objections, it speaks of the disposition of an unworthy loser. “

The new king of Formula 1: Max Verstappen proudly shows the trophy

The new king of Formula 1: Max Verstappen proudly shows the trophy

Quelle: Getty Images

Verstappen did not allow himself to be distracted by the hustle and bustle. While his world championship title was being discussed behind the scenes, he was sitting at the press conference and looked satisfied. Very satisfied. “As a child, my dream was always to become Formula 1 world champion. One hopes, one works towards it and one wishes that this anthem will be played for you, ”he said of his first success, which is also the first Formula 1 title for a Dutchman.

Hamilton showed himself to be a fair loser, congratulated him immediately after crossing the finish line and also paid his respects to the Red Bull driver when he was presented with the trophy on the podium. “I’m so proud of my team, we gave everything. I’ve felt very comfortable in the car over the past few months. We’ll see what happens next year, ”said Hamilton. They were his last words, he disappeared into the Mercedes premises and did not appear for TV interviews or at the press conference. Mercedes was also silent. On Sunday and the following day.

Image of fairness and respect: Lewis Hamilton congratulates Verstappen

Image of fairness and respect: Lewis Hamilton congratulates Verstappen

Source: Getty Images / Lars Baron

For Verstappen, the celebration began with clarity. His team carried it across the racetrack, the Queen’s classic “We Are The Champions” ran in an endless loop in the Red Bull garage, and countless cans of Red Bull and beer bottles were emptied. The new world champion left the track around midnight and headed for the team party in the luxury hotel. When asked how he was celebrating now, he replied: “A drink.” Followed by a powerful laugh. It turned into a long night of partying.

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