F1 pair ramp up rivalry as Verstappen cleared

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says he was unsurprised to see a right for review against Max Verstappen denied as the most thrilling Formula One title fight in years spilled over into a war of words with Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

Lewis Hamilton took the chequered flag in the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend to close the gap on drivers’ championship leader Verstappen to 14 points – with three races remaining.

But Red Bull driver Verstappen escaped punishment for running Hamilton off the road as they duelled for first position on lap 48.

Mercedes launched an appeal against the decision not to investigate the incident now that onboard camera footage has been released – but that has now been rejected by the FIA.

Wolff, who spoke alongside his Red Bull counterpart Horner during a press conference yesterday before tomorrow’s inaugural Qatar Grand Prix, was not surprised to hear the news.

“It is completely expected,” he said.

“We wanted to trigger a discussion around it because it will probably be a theme in the next few races. We didn’t really think it would go any further.”

Horner believes the right to review had to be rejected to prevent complaints emerging from other teams over the lack of action taken by race officials.

Verstappen topped the timing sheets at the close of first practice at the Losail International Circuit.

A time of one minute 23.723 seconds was enough to set the pace, with Hamilton down in fourth position.

Hamilton then spent time on the track in the evening practice session.

Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas was fastest in the session with a lap of one minute 23.148, as Verstappen came home third and Hamilton fourth.