Hill claims Max Verstappen will be ‘unsatisfied’ with the manner of his Formula One title triumph

Damon Hill believes that Max Verstappen will feel the manner of his Formula One world championship victory was ‘unsatisfactory’ as the motorsport legend labelled the Red Bull star’s title triumph as ‘unfair’. 

Verstappen, 24, pipped Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton, 37, to victory on the final lap of the final race in Abu Dhabi last month, but controversy ensued after FIA race director Michael Masi allowed the cars separating the pair to unlap themselves.

That decision allowed Verstappen – who was on fresher tyres – a direct shot at Hamilton on the last lap and he passed easily to take home the championship. 

Unsurprisingly, the events that unfolded in Abu Dhabi have been heavily scrutinised by fans and pundits, while Mercedes are pushing for Masi to step down amid uncertainty as to whether seven-time world champion Hamilton will return.

And 1996 world champion Hill believes that, deep down, Verstappen will be unsatisfied by the manner of his victory last month. 

‘I think ultimately the Lewis Hamilton fans feel very aggrieved because, and Lewis Hamilton may well do and Mercedes do, the way the decision went disadvantaged them and they feel robbed,’ Hill told Sky Sports.

‘So there is a lot of ill feeling obviously.

Verstappen, 24, passed Lewis Hamilton, 37, on the final lap of the final race in Abu Dhabi

Hill says that those in the Red Bull star’s camp will feel the victory was an ‘unsatisfactory’ ending

‘But in the Dutch camp, was it a satisfactory way of deciding a championship? You have to say it was unsatisfactory.

‘I think it might have even been unfair because if you look at it from the point of view of how the decision was made, it allowed some cars to unlap themselves and not others. That in itself is unfair.

‘What it resulted in was a focus on the two title protagonists and I don’t think you can run a motor race or a championship like that – you have to apply the rules equally to all competitors.’

On-board footage has since revealed Hamilton suggesting that the result had been ‘manipulated’ in Verstappen’s favour, but Hill stopped short of agreeing with his countryman’s sentiments. 

‘Manipulated is a very strong word,’ Hill added. 

‘I think in some sense it was manipulated because I think that Michael Masi was under pressure to allow this exciting thrilling race to happen between the two drivers.

‘He caved into pressure from both sides but possibly more from the attempt to let Max come through the field. And that’s why he let only the cars between Max and Lewis to unlap themselves.’

He also suggested that FIA race director Michael Masi’s intervention was an ‘unfair’ outcome

Hill’s comments come after F1 chiefs held an hour-long meeting in London on Tuesday to discuss the Abu Dhabi finale.

New FIA president Muhammed Ben Sulayem and Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali were present at the meeting.

Neither side was forthcoming about the wide-ranging talks held at Formula One’s HQ in London but they are understood to have been friendly and productive.

Hamilton has maintained radio silence since the contentious events in the Middle East last month, and on Tuesday Mercedes were unable to confirm whether their star driver would be attending the team’s car launch on February 18.