Radio messages released from the controversial final laps of the recent Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have revealed that Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was unhappy with the last lap restart that allowed five cars to unlap themselves under safety car conditions. The call made by race director Michael Masi would allow Red Bull's Max Verstappen to snatch the championship from Lewis Hamilton's hands.
"I think it would be unfair to restart this race. We should stay behind the safety car...It gives a massive advantage to some people," the Spanish driver cn be heard saying over the radio after a safety car was brought out following Williams' driver Nicholas Latif's crash on Lap 54 of the race.
"At the beginning, I was told they would not be allowed to un-lap themselves, the group in front of me, then it was decided to un-lap themselves and some people un-lapped themselves but there was still, I think, an Aston Martin and a McLaren, Ricciardo, between the two leaders and myself," Sainz clarified to the media after the race, where he managed to claw his way to third place.
"I've never had it before, having to restart the race with these two guys in front of me while fighting for a P3. I believe it was a strange one and something to look at because it was just very strange to see and it nearly cost me a podium, to be honest," he said.
Mercedes filed and lost two petitions against the decision made by the race director to allow cars to unlap themselves under safety car conditions which most experts and fans alike agreed was a clear breach of regulations. An appeal was announced but it is unclear whether Mercede will pursue it as World Champion Max Verstappen revealed that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had congratulated him for the win.
The chances of an appeal overturning results are slim as F1 regulations permit only its own Court of Appeals to handle disputes.