Max Verstappen should not be regarded as an undeserving world champion because of the controversial circumstances of his win, according to his former team mate Daniel Ricciardo.
The FIA Formula 1 Commission will today learn the outcome of an official inquiry into the handling of the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton to win the race and clinch the championship following a final lap restart arranged by race director Michael Masi, which appeared to contravene the rules.
Three days after the race, Hamilton’s Mercedes team decided not to appeal against the result, believing that even had they been successful they would not be able to regain Hamilton’s lost title.
Hamilton was pursuing a record-breaking eighth championship success. Asked whether he sympathised with Hamilton’s situation, Ricciardo said: “In a way, no, because he’s got seven world titles.”
However Ricciardo sympathised with Hamilton’s reaction to the events of Abu Dhabi,…