Chandhok understands Mercedes protest, but: 'Don't see a change of results'

Everyone on the internet has an opinion on the actions of the FIA during the closing stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. F1 expert Karun Chandhok thinks the stewards could have made the race fairer for both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. He gives two alternatives.

In his tweet, the former F1 driver congratulated Verstappen on his victory. Neither driver deserved to lose the title. However, according to the Sky Sports analyst, there were two clear ways for the FIA to keep the end of the race fair, but still exciting.

Firstly, the stewards could have given a red flag when Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams. "Then you have a four lap sprint to the flag with everyone on fresh tyres", Chandhok writes on his social media.

A second scenario has to do with the lapped cars, by leaving them between Verstappen and Hamilton. "I think Max would have passed the lapped cars in the first half of the lap and then been attacking Lewis in the second half of that last lap."

It is not yet entirely clear how Mercedes' protest will proceed, but Chandhok sees little room for a change in the results. "I understand why Mercedes are pursuing the case but I just can't see how the result can be overturned despite the questions around the procedure at the end."