'Mistakes were made': F1's huge 'admission' in title controversy

The FIA has announced a formal investigation into the decisions taken by race officials during the climactic F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

Max Verstappen was able to win the championship for Red Bull ahead of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, after a last lap dash to the finish which was triggered by the safety car coming out with five laps remaining.

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A 'detailed analysis and clarification exercise' has been announced by the FIA after controversy sparked by the final few laps and race director Michael Masi's instructions under the safety car.

Verstappen had been able to pit for fresh tyres under the safety car after Williams driver Nicholas Latifi crashed, while Hamilton stayed out to maintain his lead on track.

The Red Bull driver forfeited track position only to five lapped cars between himself and Hamilton, with Masi instructing those five cars to unlap themselves and for the safety car to return to the pits on the penultimate lap.

This set in motion the last lap showdown, with Verstappen capitalising on his significant tyre advantage to overtake Hamilton and go on to win his first F1 world championship.

Mercedes lodged two protests immediately after the race which were dismissed by the stewards, before lodging an intention to appeal with the FIA in the hours after the race.

Both Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner had been radioing Masi during critical moments of the safety car period.

In a statement, the FIA announced a review into the race to see if any improvements could be made to race procedures following the hotly debated result.

“The circumstances surrounding the use of the Safety Car following the incident of driver Nicholas Latifi, and the related communications between the FIA Race Direction team and the Formula 1 teams, have notably generated significant misunderstanding and reactions from Formula 1 teams, drivers and fans,” the statement read.

“(It is) an argument that is currently tarnishing the image of the Championship and the due celebration of the first Drivers’ World Championship title won by Max Verstappen and the eighth consecutive Constructors’ World Championship title won by Mercedes.

“This matter will be discussed and addressed with all the teams and drivers to draw any lessons from this situation and clarity to be provided to the participants, media, and fans about the current regulations to preserve the competitive nature of our sport while ensuring the safety of the drivers and officials.

“It is not only Formula 1 that may benefit from this analysis, but also more generally all the other FIA circuit championships.”

FIA launch investigation into controversial F1 season finale

Masi found himself facing fury from Mercedes over his handling of the ending of the terribly-timed safety car period caused by Latifi's late crash.

When the all-clear was given to resume racing, Wolff told the Australian over the radio: "Michael, this isn't right!"

Yet even after Wolff complained again, Masi stood his ground, defending his decision with the sharp response: "It's called a motor race. We went car racing."

Red Bull chief Christian Horner, naturally, praised Masi's decision to let racing recommence, saying: "The race director in difficult circumstances made absolutely the right call."

However the result, and the explanations given by F1 thus far, have still left fans with questions to have answered.

For some, the announced investigation in essentially an 'admission' that the race procedures weren't up to scratch.

Motorsport journalist Jon Noble said it was not right for the sport's governing body to put the confusion at the end of the race down to a misunderstanding of the rules in play.

"The FIA blaming the Abu Dhabi GP fallout on fans, teams and media ‘misunderstanding’ the situation is a little baffling," he posted on Twitter.

"If anything it shows a clear misunderstanding of why it is such a big issue for F1’s integrity."

Many others also took to Twitter, suggesting the FIA needed to improve in many areas after a highly contentious season on the whole.

A trio of former world champions Nico Rosberg, Damon Hill and Jenson Button had sympathy for Masi's plight.

Rosberg, the 2016 champion, called for more support in decision-making for the Australian.

"You've got to feel some compassion for him (Masi). He's got the whole world watching and he has to decide in the next 15 seconds what he's doing," Rosberg said.

"It's the last lap of the last race of the world championship, that is the ultimate, most high-pressure situation in the world, and he took his decision which gave us beautiful awesome racing and an incredible finale.

"We need to be careful. Michael's job this year has been so unbelievably difficult to manage this intense battle.

"Michael needs support this winter, there needs to be progress over frameworks and guidelines and we should be in a better position for next year."

With AAP

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