'Leaves me sick': Toto Wolff's wife lashes out over F1 'robbery'

The wife of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has released an extraordinary statement condemning the controversial way in which Max Verstappen won the Formula One world title.

On Thursday, Mercedes officially dropped their appeal against Verstappen's victory in the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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However Wolff said Lewis Hamilton may never get over the pain of being "robbed" of a record eighth world title, casting doubt over the driver's future in the sport.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since Sunday's race in Abu Dhabi, Wolff said he and Hamilton would not be attending the FIA's gala awards in Paris.

Attendance is mandatory for the top three drivers, with Mercedes also winning the constructors' title for an eighth year in a row.

Hamilton finished runner-up to Red Bull's Verstappen after the Dutch driver overtook him on the last lap at Yas Marina, benefiting from a sudden change to the safety car procedure.

"It's going to take a long time for us to digest what has happened on Sunday. I don't think we will ever come over it, that's not possible," said Wolff.

"And certainly not him (Hamilton) as a driver. I would very much hope the two of us and the rest of the team can work through the events.

"But he will never overcome the pain and the distress that was caused on Sunday."

Asked whether Hamilton, who turns 37 in January, would be back next year, Wolff indicated that was not a certainty.

"I would very much hope Lewis continues racing because he is the greatest driver of all-time," he said.

"As a racer, his heart will say, 'I need to continue' because he's at the peak of his game.

"But we have to overcome the pain that was caused upon him on Sunday. He is a man with clear values."

Wolff's wife Susie also expressed her displeasure on social media, releasing a statement that said: “What has happened is still hard to comprehend and leaves me with a sick feeling.

“Not the losing - and not Max or Red Bull - they are deserving winners and we always knew it was a strong possibility we may not win.

"But the way in which Lewis was robbed has left me in utter disbelief.

“The decision of one person within the governing body who applied a rule in a way which has never been done before in F1 single-handedly decided the F1 Driver World Championship.

“Rules are rules, they can’t be changed on a whim by one individual at the end of a race.”

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Mercedes said they had withdrawn their appeal following "constructive dialogue" with FIA with regard to establishing clarity for future scenarios.

Hamilton had appeared to be charging to glory at Yas Marina, easily holding Verstappen at bay in the closing laps.

However a crash for the Williams of Nicholas Latifi changed the course of events completely.

Confusion reigned as under-fire Australian race director Michael Masi changed his mind to allow lapped cars to pass the safety car - meaning Verstappen had a clear run at Hamilton in the final lap and on much faster tyres.

Wolff stepped up his criticism on Thursday, insisting: "It wasn't just a bad call, it was a freestyle reading of the rules and it left Lewis like a sitting duck.

"The decisions that have been taken in the last four minutes of this race have robbed Lewis Hamilton of a deserved world championship.

"His driving in the last four races was faultless. He had a commanding lead on Sunday in Abu Dhabi from the get-go.

"He won the start and never gave the lead away again, and robbing him in the last lap of the race is unacceptable.

"We believe we had a very strong case and if you looked at it from the legal side how it would have been judged in a regular court it is almost guaranteed that we would have won.

"But the problem with the FIA is the way it's structured. The FIA can't really mark their own homework, and there is a difference between being right and obtaining justice."

with AAP

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