A season filled with controversy, unfortunately, ended the same way. As Red Bull celebrated their champion, Mercedes contested against it. In what has been a rollercoaster of a season, the drama hasn’t ended yet. With Mercedes fighting against the steward’s final decision, what could be the outcome of the hullabaloo?

Max Verstappen passed his rival to snatch the championship trophy from him on the last lap of the race. However, on the preceding lap, the two drivers were behind the safety car deployed because of Nicholas Latifi’s crash four laps earlier.

Initially, the order from race control was that the backmarkers wouldn’t be allowed to overtake; soon, this was overturned. Five of the backmarkers between Hamilton and Verstappen could then overtake the safety car. Simultaneously, the safety car period had come to an end – an enormous boost to Verstappen.

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As Toto Wolff shared his disapproval on the radio waves, Verstappen overtook Hamilton and went on to claim his first title.

First round of debate in the steward’s room

Mercedes brought in a lawyer and flipped through the rulebook to defend their driver. Having found Article 48.8, and more importantly, Article 48.12 of the regulations breached, Mercedes headed to the steward’s room.

While Red Bull came in where their counter-arguments, they pointed out the other nuances of the code that nullified the rules Mercedes brought up. While the stewards immediately dismissed Article 48.8 (overtaking under Safety Car), Art 48.12 remained a thinking point.

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Eventually, the statement released by the FIA read that “Article 15.3 allows the Race Director to control the use of the safety car, which in our determination includes its deployment and withdrawal.” This dismissed Mercedes’ claim of Article 48.12 being breached.

Explaining that the safety car was withdrawn at the appropriate time, the FIA dismissed Mercedes’ appeal. Thus, Max Verstappen left the circuit as the 2021 champion.

What will Mercedes do now?

It doesn’t stop there. Mercedes has now decided to protest against the final decision. A statement on the team’s social media read: “We have lodged notice of intention to appeal the decision of the Stewards under Article 15 of the Sporting Code and Article 10 of the Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.”

As Mercedes announced, they would put their case to the FIA court of appeal; following which the team could take its arguments to the Court of Arbitration in Sports. As the higher authority, Verstappen’s crown is still under Mercedes’ threat. As the Silver Arrows mount yet another legal protest, will the title be retracted?

Although highly unlikely, it wouldn’t reflect well on the sport if it happens. Red Bull and Verstappen gained massively from the messy decisions, but it wasn’t them who pulled the plug. If anything, the FIA  should take the 2021 season as a reference point for better and clearer rules in Formula 1.

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