Mercedes F1 protest in Abu Dhabi GP felt “desperate”

Max Verstappen clinched the F1 world championship title at the Yas Marina circuit after race director Michael Masi elected to restart the race with one lap to go following a brief safety car period triggered by a crash from Williams’ Nicholas Latifi.

The Red Bull driver had been switched on to soft tyres for the final shootout lap, while Hamilton was powerless to resist him as he was on well-used hard tyres.

Mercedes protested the FIA’s call to restart the race with one…