Many changes were also outlined as a result of the inquiry, such as stopping team bosses being able to radio into the race director and a Virtual Race Control Room to assist in officiating, similar to VAR in football. Masi was ousted as race director, a scenario that always seemed likely given the title-defining mistakes. Masi loses job, FIA admit errorsįollowing public outcry, an inquiry, and months of speculation, in February the first of the FIA's rulings came in. Neither Hamilton nor Wolff attended the FIA's Awards Gala, where Verstappen was officially made champion. Mercedes, surely knowing that the FIA were never really going to rule against themselves in an appeal, said that having been in "constructive dialogue" with the FIA and F1, they welcomed the governing body's steps and now would work with stakeholders to "build a better Formula 1 - for every team and every fan who loves this sport as much as we do". The team then threatened further appeal to the FIA's International Court of Appeal - only to then pull out after the FIA said they would conduct an "analysis and clarification exercise" on what unfolded. Their protests were soon thrown out by the stewards. Last lap drama from Christian Horner's Cam. Red Bull protested to Masi, but race stewards deemed no investigation was necessary. It was Hamilton, though, who led into the first corner, while he also then survived the first flashpoint of the day after Verstappen flung his Red Bull up the inside of Turn 6, only for Hamilton to take to the run-off area and retain his lead. Verstappen secured pole position ahead of Hamilton for the race, while he also held a tyre advantage over the Englishman for Sunday's eagerly anticipated start on the soft tyre compared to the mediums. Setting the scene to the title-deciding drama Hamilton and Verstappen were locked on 369.5 points apiece ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP, an epic winner-takes-all title decider. It meant they arrived in Abu Dhabi the following week with not only their emotions on a knife-edge but also the world championship. Then in Saudi Arabia multiple punishments came the Dutchman's way for separate incidents against his rival.
That intensity, and an extremely close on-track duel, played out into the final races of the season, when yet more controversy arrived in Brazil, with Verstappen handed a penalty for a late move on Hamilton. With the new season fast approaching, relive some of the most intense tussles on track between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen last year.
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