FIA Executive Launches a Myth Buster: Max Verstappen, Not Lewis Hamilton Would Still Be F1 Champion

Peter Bayer, the FIA executive director of single-seaters, recently answered an all-important question about the Abu Dhabi scandal. Bayer is a part of the review that the FIA is conducting into the last lap controversies in the season finale. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have been critical about the decisions of the racing committee which helped Max Verstappen win his maiden world title.

One man who has been in the firing line is race director Michael Masi. Additionally, the delay in the findings of the FIA review has again upset many fans, who believe Hamilton would base his decision to return on the findings of this review.

Recently, Bayer hinted at a possibility of Masi’s replacement as race director. While he believes the Aussie did a great job, the FIA is open to the possibility of having a new race director in place.

Lewis Hamilton would not have been the winner even after appeal: Bayer

The FIA executive recently answered a burning question. Stewards rejected Mercedes’ request to investigate the matter after the Abu Dhabi GP. In the aftermath, the team opted not to formally appeal against the dismissal. However, Bayer explained that if Mercedes won the appeal, Verstappen would still have been the champion.

In a recent interview, Bayer shed light on this matter. He explained the fact that the judges would have nullified the result, instead of awarding Hamilton the win. And because Verstappen went into the final race with one extra win over Hamilton, he would still remain the drivers’ champion.

“Had the Mercedes protest gone to the Court of Appeal, after being rejected by the stewards, what would have happened? I think the judges would have said ‘It’s different in the regulations. He [Masi] decided that way, so we could just void the result’,” said Bayer about the issue.

“But even then, if it were made void, Max would have been world champion,” he added.

The FIA committee headed by Sulayem is investigating the controversy, and as it stands, there might be some changes in the racing committee. Meanwhile, F1 fans are waiting for a concrete update on Hamilton’s return ahead of the pre-season testing in February. Tell us your thoughts on the same.

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