April 12, (THEWILL) – A petition calling for a change in decision in one of the most controversial finishes in the history of Formula One has been gaining traction on social media.
It has been 16 months since the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where Max Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to win the race and the world title. The decision came after a chaotic sequence of events, which saw the race director Michael Masi change his mind on whether or not to allow one final lap of racing.
Despite a subsequent protest from Hamilton’s team, the result stood and Masi eventually lost his job. The petition, which was started over a year ago by Patel Gordon-Bennett, aims to overturn the result of the race, and currently has nearly 80,000 signatures.
Despite the ongoing discontent over the decision, it is highly unlikely that the FIA will react to the petition. Mercedes has also moved on from the saga, with their current focus on improving their 2023 campaign.
The ill-feeling was only heightened by the recent Australian Grand Prix, where Verstappen won ahead of Hamilton, and Masi returned to his position as race director.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
