Lewis Hamilton claimed final race ‘manipulated’ in unheard team radio message

Lewis Hamilton was clearly fuming

Audio has emerged of Lewis Hamilton telling his Mercedes teammates that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix had been "manipulated". A video from Hamilton's Mercedes has circulated on Twitter and features a snippet of audio that clearly shows the seven-time champion's frustrations after he was overtaken on Sunday and denied a record-breaking eighth world title. https://twitter.com/SirLewisUpdates/status/1470056655735853060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1470056655735853060%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ladbible.com%2Fsport%2Flewis-hamilton-says-race-was-manipulated-20211213 Hamilton had led for most of the race before being overtaken by Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the final lap. The Dutchman breezed past after a safety car had earlier come onto the track following a crash involving Nicholas Latifi. That allowed 24-year-old Verstappen to change tyres, giving him a distinct advantage. Hamilton, 36, had been on the same tyres since lap 14. Mercedes launched appeals over two alleged breaches of the sporting regulations, but they were rejected by race stewards. The team now intends to go to the International Court of Appeal. Read more: Explained: The exact FIA rules F1 race director Michael Masi is accused of breaking Hamilton is to be knighted on Wednesday. Related links:

• Calls for F1 race director Michael Masi to be fired grow amid Verstappen Hamilton controversy
• Lewis Hamilton coy on F1 future after Max Verstappen wins title
• 'Unacceptable': George Russell slams Max Verstappen F1 championship win

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