MAX VERSTAPPEN has blasted the stewards’ decision not to penalise Lewis Hamilton after their collision on Lap one.
Hamilton got off to a flying start to leapfrog pole-sitter Verstappen into the first corner at the Yas Marina Circuit.
But the title-chasing Dutchman launched an offensive and forced Hamilton wide heading into a corner whilst keeping himself on the track.
Hamilton was forced to take a detour and continued in a straight line, skipping a corner.
A decision was made not to investigate the incident, or force Hamilton to eliminate some of the advantage gained for the cut corner, infuriating Red Bull.
The FIA ruled: “All the advantage was already given back prior to the end of the first lap ending.”
Red Bull director Jonathan Wheatley pressed: “We still don’t understand it.
“That was a hard, aggressive pass by Max but he stayed on the track and was ahead at the apex.”
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Verstappen blasted: “That is incredible. What are they doing here?”
After a shaky start and a pit-stop, Verstappen managed to catch up with Hamilton thanks to some good hold-up work by his team-mate Sergio Perez.
The two title challengers are locked in a straight shootout for the F1 title.
Follow all the latest from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen go head-to-head for the title
