Red Bull boss Christian Horner has vowed to defend Max Verstappen's dramatic Formula One world championship victory all the way to the highest court.
Horner insisted they were prepared to contest Mercedes’ appeal through the sport’s various levels of appeal and then into the law courts if required.
And the signs are that Mercedes’ anger is so intense at the manner of Sunday’s defeat that is exactly where this is headed.
Red Bull’s 24-year-old racing superstar became the first Dutch F1 world champion with a thrilling last-lap move on rival Lewis Hamilton.
But he only did it after a controversial decision by race director Michael Masi and the stewards to move five cars between leader Hamilton and Verstappen out of the way as they circled under a safety car caused by a Nicholas Latifi crash.
The idea appeared to be to allow the two title contenders to finally resolve their nine-month, 21-race, four-continent, rivalry in sporting fashion on the track rather than see it run down lamely behind the safety car.
And what a finale it was: a dramatic one lap shoot out worthy of Hollywood.
But for every delighted fan left breathless by the spectacle there will be one that will be unhappy over a gerrymandered finish.
With Verstappen having been able to pit for fresh tyres it was hardly an equal fight.
But then earlier in the race when the two rivals clashed a decision had been made that did not appear fair for Verstappen when Hamilton cut a chicane and kept his lead
“We think (Masi) followed the right rules and procedures that are available to him,” said Horner, his voice hoarse from shouting through the rollercoaster of emotions he has just lived.
“It’s tough for (the stewards) in difficult circumstances. We’ve always discussed with them ‘let them race’ about letting the races go and he’s done that today."
But after lodging notification of their intention to appeal with the International Court of Appeal, this battle is clearly far from over even though few would argue Verstappen is a great driver, worthy champion and Red Bull not at fault.
Mercedes are fuming that Masi didn’t let the race finish under the safety car and believe stewards broke the rules by choosing to restart the race.
Team boss Toto Wolff was so angry he locked himself in the team motorhome after the race and refused to take callers, including Horner, who called to commiserate.
He was reputedly in talks with QC Paul Harris, a sports law expert, allegedly at the circuit only as a guest. Only last month Harris was voted Britain’s Barrister of the Year.
“If they appeal, they appeal,” said Horner. “We’ll fight it in the appeal courts and in the legal court after that if they are to go that route.”
Asked if it was time Red Bull had a permanent barrister on the pay role at every race, Horner responded: “Maybe I need one on the pit wall with me. It’s a shame. We are a race team, we are a team of racers, we don’t take barristers racing with us. We focus on what’s going on the track.
“We push and race hard. The team have been phenomenal we’ve had fastest pit stops, We’ve had bold strategies and we’ve had Max Verstappen who has been phenomenal this year.”
Before it reaches the law courts, probably in France or UK, the case would have to go through two levels of sporting appeal.
The first is at F1’s own International Court of Appeal and after that there is an independent court within F1’s own structure.
But Mercedes have only lodged the notice of appeal to protect their rights and keep their options open so they have time to investigate their options fully.
They have 96 hours from the end of the race to make the official decision.
One fly in the ointment, though, is the sport's own World Champion’s Prize Giving Ceremony which is due to take place on Thursday.
There will also be much discussion on how determined Mercedes are to pursue a case which will drag the sport’s own reputation further through the mire.
The incident and the stewards handling of it has split opinion across the globe
Some believe the sport has been irreparably damaged and Hamilton cruelly robbed of a historic championship he thoroughly deserved.
Others were pleased to see the endless Mercedes domination come to an end. This is the first of the last 14 team and driver trophies they have failed to win in seven years.
Hamilton was courteous in defeat, delivering a congratulatory message to his rival on the podium after the race.
Both Horner and Verstappen were equally complimentary in return to restore some sense of decorum to a wounding, if dramatic, day.
“Of course it’s tough for him,” said Horner. “I spoke to him and his dad. It’s been a tough competition, he’s been very gracious, as was his father. And he’ll come back fighting hard next year.”
Pushed on whether the sport’s beleaguered stewards had made the right decision after much criticism had circulated throughout the season, Horner said: “There’s always lessons you can learn as a team and in life generally.
“The decision at the beginning of the race went against us and we felt the one at the end was right and it was a season like that. There’s been marginal calls, some we’ve benefited from and a majority we have lost out from.
“Max was due a bit of luck and Latifi gave us the opportunity. After Silverstone, Budapest, Azerbaijan he felt the luck wasn’t with him and for the first time, today, he had some and it came at the right time but he had to make it happen.
“We needed a miracle from the racing gods and they answered. So thank you to them.”
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
THE BIO
Age: 30
Favourite book: The Power of Habit
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
More on animal trafficking
The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
