This was reported on the FIA website.
“Despite the fact that Verstappen’s car was in front of Hamilton’s car for a very short period of time, when both cars accelerated and braked, it came back and was not in front at the end of the safety car period,” the stewards said in the decision.
Now the judges have to consider the second protest of Mercedes related to the procedure of restarting the race.
Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, thanks to which he scored 395.5 points in the individual competition and became the world champion for the first time in his career.
Seven-time title holder British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton scored 387.5 points and was second.
Before the final race in Abu Dhabi, the pilots had the same number of points.
Thus, the fight for the first place was decided only at the final stage of the season.
Earlier, the Dutch driver of Red Bull Max Verstappen reacted to the protests of Mercedes at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.