LONDON (Reuters) – Lewis Hamilton was not robbed of a Formula One championship and Mercedes will look like bad losers if they appeal Max Verstappen’s success, the sport’s former supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Monday.
Mercedes, constructors’ champions for a record eighth year in a row, had two protests dismissed after Sunday’s deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and have given notice of their intention to appeal nL1N2SX0A2.
Red Bull’s Verstappen nL1N2SX080 beat Mercedes’ seven times champion Hamilton with an overtake on the last lap of the race after race director Michael Masi controversially changed the safety car procedure.
“It is a complete and utter nonsense,” Ecclestone told Sky Sports News of the suggestion Hamilton was cheated.
“I think it’d be the worst thing they could do,” the 91-year-old said of going forward with the appeal. “I mean, looks like they’re bad losers.”
The Briton also said Masi had done “the right thing” and should not be blamed.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken Ferris)
