MERCEDES have called in their LEGAL team as they protest the result of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Merc man Lewis Hamilton was pipped to the championship by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on the final lap of the season.
And he was beaten in controversial circumstances as F1 stewards issued a contentious safety car call.
Mercedes are arguing against the race result after claiming officials broke Article 48.12 of the Sporting Regulations.
Stewards allowed a handful of lapped cars to overtake the safety car instead of all of them – as the rule seems to call for.
Verstappen had five lapped cars between him and Hamilton but they were allowed to pass the safety car before it was withdrawn – giving the Dutchman a clear shot at the leader.
He had earlier pitted for fresher tyres than his Brit rival and capitalised on the fresh rubber to fly into the lead.
The relevant part of Article 48.12 states: “If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message “LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE” has been sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system, any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.
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“This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car was deployed.
“Unless the clerk of the course considers the presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.”
Mercedes are also protesting against Article 48.8, which prevents drivers from passing any other car when under safety car conditions.
An eager Verstappen could be seen narrowly running alongside Hamilton before the final lap got underway.
