Russell labels ending to Abu Dhabi F1 title decider “unacceptable”

Hamilton led the majority of the race after taking the lead from Verstappen at the start.

With a few laps remaining, Nicholas Latifi crashed at the final corner, resulting in a Safety Car period.

It seemed that the race would finish behind the Safety Car with Hamilton winning and thus taking the title, but it was resumed with one lap remaining.

In the final sector of the lap, the FIA suddenly decided to let half of the field to unlap themselves despite saying the opposite earlier.

This allowed Verstappen to close up right behind Hamilton and overtake him into the Turn 5 hairpin, making the most of the soft tyres he fitted when the Safety Car deployed.

Russell had retired from the race due to a technical issue and he aired his views over social media as he reacted to the end of the grand prix.

“This is unacceptable! Max is an absolutely fantastic driver who has had an incredible season and I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely unacceptable,” he wrote on social media.

“I cannot believe what we’ve just seen.”

Mercedes has protested the final result.