Mercedes protest against Verstappen overtake dismissed

Change your timezone:
Mercedes protest against Verstappen overtake dismissed
Mercedes alleged Verstappen had overtaken Hamilton under safety car conditions
The first of two protests made by Mercedes at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been dismissed after Max Verstappen was cleared of wrongdoing during the controversial safety car period at the end of the race.
Mercedes had alleged a breach of Article 48.8 of the F1 sporting regulations suggesting Verstappen had overtaken Lewis Hamilton under safety car conditions.
A stewards' report after the hearing noted Red Bull's defence, which stated: Red Bull argued that Car 44 [Hamilton] was not “overtaken” by Car 33 [Verstappen], that both cars were “on and off the throttle” and that there were “a million precedents” under Safety Car where cars had pulled alongside then moved back behind the car that was in front."
The stewards' decision read: "Having considered the various statements made by the parties.
"The Stewards determine that although Car 33 did at one stage, for a very short period of time, move slightly in front of Car 44, at a time when both cars were accelerating and braking, it moved back behind Car 44 and it was not in front when the Safety Car period ended (i.e. at the line)."
A second decision is pending, regarding Article 49.12 of the sporting regulations, where Mercedes believe the safety car period should have been extended a further lap in line with the regulations stated.
Related
More F1 news
Latest F1 news
Recommended by the editors
Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen ally claims bad Red Bull start has triggered F1 champion's fury
F1 News & Gossip
Max Verstappen F1 ally 'approached by Aston Martin' in shocking twist over Adrian Newey replacement
Aston Martin
F1 champion admits getting caught with ‘sneak peek’ at Adrian Newey’s sacred notebook
Max Verstappen
Well done F1, Max Verstappen retirement is now entirely logical

Change your timezone:
Latest News
Max Verstappen ally claims bad Red Bull start has triggered F1 champion's fury
- Yesterday 22:55
Lewis Hamilton out, Oscar Piastri's big mistake and a sliding doors F1 moment
- Yesterday 21:55
Christian Horner in ‘Aston Martin meeting’ as Newey replacement speculation rages
- Yesterday 21:10
Max Verstappen F1 ally 'approached by Aston Martin' in shocking twist over Adrian Newey replacement
- Yesterday 20:27
F1 champion admits getting caught with ‘sneak peek’ at Adrian Newey’s sacred notebook
- Yesterday 19:43
Kimi Antonelli's father had 'clear the air talks' with Mercedes after F1 absence
- Yesterday 18:55
Most read
Lewis Hamilton Chinese GP disqualification a watershed moment for Ferrari
- 14 march
FIA announce late Mercedes penalty verdict after front row lockout at Australian Grand Prix
- 7 march
F1 News Today: Adrian Newey in firing line as Aston Martin may deliberately DNF
- 3 march
F1 Qualifying Results: Australian Grand Prix times and positions - Verstappen crashes out, Russell dominates
- 7 march
FIA president receives official letter from 20 drivers demanding change including former F1 stars
- 18 march
FIA announce Mercedes penalty verdict after Chinese Grand Prix incident
- 13 march
Related news
Rock legends to perform at 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Pop icon to perform at 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Norris reveals MAJOR change in unseen Abu Dhabi footage
Verstappen delivers SHOCK Abu Dhabi 2021 admission after Hamilton controversy
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Lewis Hamilton
- Charles Leclerc
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Franco Colapinto
- Pierre Gasly
- Isack Hadjar
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Carlos Sainz
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- George Russell
- Oliver Bearman
- Esteban Ocon
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Liam Lawson
- Arvid Lindblad
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Valtteri Bottas
- Sergio Pérez
Races
-
Grand Prix of Australia 2026
-
Grand Prix of China 2026
-
Grand Prix of Japan 2026
-
Grand Prix of Bahrain 2026
-
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2026
-
Miami Grand Prix 2026
-
Grand Prix du Canada 2026
-
Grand Prix De Monaco 2026
-
Gran Premio de Barcelona-Catalunya 2026
-
Grand Prix of Austria 2026
-
Grand Prix of Great Britain 2026
-
Grand Prix of Belgium 2026
-
Grand Prix of Hungary 2026
-
Dutch Grand Prix 2026
-
Grand Prix of Italy 2026
-
Gran Premio de España 2026
-
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2026
-
Grand Prix of Singapore 2026
-
Grand Prix of the United States 2026
-
Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2026
-
Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2026
-
Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026
-
Qatar Grand Prix 2026
-
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2026
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Editorial & corporate information
Avenue HQ
10–12 East Parade
Leeds
LS1 2BH
United Kingdom Regional correspondence
View contact page
Realtimes Network
- Authors
- Privacy and Terms
- RSS
- Contact
- Advertise
- Android
- iOS
- Publishing principles
- Corrections policy
- Ownership & funding
- F1 Tickets
- Privacy
Copyright (©) 2017 - 2026 GPFans.com
Realtimes Network












