NICHOLAS LATIFI has apologised for his part in the controversial finale to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Williams driver crashed into a wall with six laps remaining at the season-ending showdown.
Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton had built a comfortable lead at the front of the pack but saw that cut after the safety car was deployed.
And a call from the stewards to let a handful of lapped cars past before removing the safety car allowed Hamilton’s title rival Max Verstappen to pip him on the final lap.
A regretful Latifi said: “We were just really struggling for grip through the next sequence of corners, and especially where I ended up going off.
“It’s been a tricky corner all weekend for me, so dirty tyres, dirty air and I made a mistake.
“I wasn’t aware of the situation of the race up until then. Obviously it was never my intention to inadvertently influence that, but I made a mistake and ruined my own race.”
“It was never my intention and I can only apologise for influencing and creating an opportunity.
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“But again, I made a mistake.”
Furious Merc chiefs launched a protest after the race and immediately signalled their intention to appeal after seeing their initial pleas rejected.
Workers at the team’s HQ stood to win at least £10k EACH in bonuses if Hamilton had won a record eighth world title.
But they were left to fume after Verstappen capitalised on the safety car call and fresher tyres to pip their man on the last lap of the season.
