'Utter nonsense': Billionaire supremo rips into Mercedes over F1 drama

Former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has lashed out at Mercedes after the drama surrounding Max Verstappen's maiden championship.

Verstappen overtook reigning champion Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season-ending Abu Dhabi race to clinch the title.

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The lead-up to that move was one of two things Mercedes were scathing about, with the team filing for reconsideration to the International Court of Appeal.

Verstappen overtook Hamilton on Lap 58 in thrilling style after a crash involving Nicholas Latifi brought out the safety car with just a few laps left and confusion surrounded the restart.

F1 race director Michael Masi came under fire after confusion around the safety car procedure.

This afforded Verstappen a clean run at Hamilton on the final lap and he was able to overtake the reigning champ.

Mercedes' intention to appeal prompted a strong response from the former F1 chief executive.

"It is a complete and utter nonsense," 91-year-old 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."

Lewis Hamilton's chat with team revealed

The F1 world remains divided over the controversy.

The former reigning champion was all class following the race, however, Hamilton's radio to his team has been released and the British star was less than impressed at the time.

"This is getting manipulated, man," Hamilton said.

The final lap caused huge division within the F1 world.

with Reuters

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