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Lewis Hamilton calls Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 title win ‘manipulated’, while Daniel Ricciardo brands Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ‘f***** up’ as team radio audio reveals drivers’ true feelings
Post-race radio messages have revealed Lewis Hamilton calling Formula 1 rival Max Verstappen’s title win ‘manipulated’ while Daniel Ricciardo labelled it ‘pretty f***** up’.
Verstappen took his maiden F1 championship from Hamilton in the most jaw-dropping and controversial of circumstances with a last lap overtake at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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The pair of championship rivals entered the finale astonishingly level on points, but after some opening lap drama, Hamilton led the winner-takes-all decider with ease.
That was until Nicholas Latifi crashed out on lap 52 of 58, triggering a safety car which allowed Verstappen the opportunity to pit for fresh soft tyres, and close the gap on Hamilton.
Verstappen still had the odds stacked against him with five lapped cars between him and the leader, and race director Michael Masi informed teams they couldn’t unlap themselves and reset the order.
However, that rule soon changed as Latifi’s accident cleared, with the cars between Verstappen and Hamilton allowed to pass, leaving the latter as a sitting duck as his Dutch rival flew past on the closing lap.
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The FIA rule book states that any lapped cars must pass, with Mercedes protesting what played out, but to no avail.
A magnanimous Hamilton remained calm in his post-race interviews, but audio has now revealed the Brit's feelings whilst inside his cockpit.
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Speaking to his race engineer as he crossed the finish line, an exasperated Hamilton said on team radio: “This has been manipulated man!â€
His engineer Peter Bonnington admitted he was speechless, and the Mercedes duo weren’t the only ones in shock.
Verstappen’s friend and former Red Bull teammate Ricciardo was one of the cars that wasn’t given the opportunity to pass, and was baffled at the decision.
“OK yeah, I’ve got no idea what they did with letting cars through,†the McLaren driver said on team radio.Â
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“Obviously I wasn’t really in that anyways, but it seemed strange.
“I’m glad I’m not a part of that, whatever just happened, seemed pretty f***** up.â€
Four time world champion Sebastian Vettel was, however, one of the group of five cars allowed to pass, but was just as confused as Ricciardo.
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“Why did they not let us go straight away? This is what I still don’t understand,†he said.
And his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll was similarly perplexed as one of the cars left behind.
“Yeah man what the f***?†he asked when his engineer offered to explain the situation later on.
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After having their two protests dismissed by the stewards, Mercedes have lodged an intention to appeal with the FIA’s International Court of Appeal.
But elsewhere in the team, things are already moving on, with their new driver for 2022, George Russell, taking his new car out for post-season testing at the Yas Marina circuit.
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