MERCEDES are set to appeal against F1 bosses’ decision to REJECT their protests over the result of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Merc star Lewis Hamilton was pipped to the title by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen following a controversial safety car decision on the final lap of the season. Hamilton had been leading for most of the race before Nicholas Latifi’s smash five laps from the end saw the safety car deployed. Race director Michael Masi initially said ‘any lapped cars will not be allowed to overtake’ while the safety car was out. But on the penultimate lap, Masi CHANGED his mind and allowed just those five cars to unlap themselves to put Verstappen right behind Hamilton.

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