“Disgusting, unworthy” – Red Bull’s sharp attack on Mercedes
In the last lap, Verstappen secured the title
Max Verstappen is Formula 1 world champion for the first time. The 24-year-old Dutchman secured the title by winning the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi. On the last lap he passed Lewis Hamilton.
A memorable Formula 1 season ends in scandal: Mercedes protests against the World Cup victory of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and fails in the first instance. The opponent chooses extremely sharp words during the night.
Red Bulls Motorsport Director Helmut Marko sharply criticized rival Mercedes after its protests at the memorable Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
“It is unworthy of a World Cup final that the decision is delayed like that. But that speaks for the attitude of, I would say, an unworthy loser if you lodge such objections and protests, ”said the Austrian on Sunday evening after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the World Cup triumph of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. It was “disgusting” to lodge a protest where it was clear that it would not work, Marko said.
Helmut Marko with his world champion Max Verstappen
Source: Getty Images / Mark Thompson
He himself threatened protests from Red Bull on a few occasions this season and often tried to stir up further unrest in the already charged title fight between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton as well as Red Bull and Mercedes. Now after a controversial decision by the race management at the finals in the United Arab Emirates, he settled again with the rival, who had won all titles since and including 2014.
Mercedes is considering an appeal and is silent
It can be speculated how Marko and Red Bull would have reacted if Verstappen had been the victim and not the beneficiary of the decision of the race management, through the Verstappen on the last lap after a safety car phase, the opportunity for the title-deciding attack against Hamilton got.
Aside from the protest and the announcement after its refusal to have deposited a note for an appeal, there have been no further reactions from Mercedes.
Verstappen, however, who also had to struggle with a calf cramp during the race, emphasized after his premiere title in the motorsport premier class that he had now achieved everything in Formula 1 for the time being. “Everything that comes next is just a bonus,” he said. Verstappen will start his eighth Formula 1 season in 2022.
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