It was messy in Abu Dhabi with an army of orange-clad Dutch fans celebrating the Verstappen.
Ericsson helps sort out the threads from something that will be discussed for a long time.
One thing is for sure: not everyone will agree.
The question is whether one can even acknowledge the rash.
Nicholas Latifi crashed with five laps (5.2 km long) left and the safety car was called out on the track, which slowed down and squeezed the field.
Hamilton was then in the lead by around ten seconds and looked to parade towards victory.
The safety car's entrance on the track changed everything.
The race and the season boiled down to one lap, the 58th, when the safety car left after a decision by the race management.
What happened there?
- It is a difficult situation for the competition management, which has to make quick decisions.
They took out the safety car, which you have to do when a car crashes on the track.
The only thing you could have done differently is that you would have red-flagged the competition and that everyone had to go into the depot and change tires and thus get a little more fair conditions for a possible restart.
But according to the regulations, you must take out a safety car as long as nothing is broken on the track or that there is a greater danger for someone involved, says Ericsson.
"Became a little unfair conditions"
- As I see it, it is the right decision but there were some unfair conditions when Verstappen went into the depot and put on new tires while Hamilton had to drive on old tires, but that is sometimes the case and it is not always fair.
Now it was Verstappen who took advantage.
Between Hamilton and Verstappen were four drivers, who Verstappen had to pass and go out directly behind Hamilton.
Why did you do that?
- When it becomes a safety car according to the regulations, those who are turned must have the chance to be released by the safety car and get their turn back.
Because it was so time consuming, it was the cars that lay between Hamilton and Verstappen who got the chance to do it, but no more cars than that.
It has been criticized in retrospect that either everyone should be allowed to do so or no one.
That is what Mercedes argues against, but at the same time I understand the competition management's decision.
They want to get a restart started and of course want to get rid of the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen so that it will be a race of it all, but I understand both sides of the discussion, says Ericsson that the drivers had to rotate themselves so as not to lie between Hamilton and Verstappen.
"Hope you do not change afterwards"
Do you think Mercedes will have any success in its appeals?
- I do not think so and hope that it will not be the case that you change afterwards.
It's a sport and sometimes the conditions are a little different.
This belongs in some way.
I do not think it could have been done so much differently.
It was a pole out for Mercedes and Hamilton yesterday and Red Bull and Verstappen took advantage of that situation.
Where do you place this season and the end of F1 history?
- It must be one of the most dramatic seasons and endings that has ever been.
It will be difficult to top this in the future, especially when you enter the last competition with the main competitors on exactly the same points.
And everything has to be decided and it happens on the last lap.
Such a decision will be difficult to beat in the future and really fun for the sport.
What were your feelings when you followed the race the last laps?
- I had maximum heart rate and almost stood and bounced because it was so exciting.
It was really a cool competition and finish.
This is something I will soon forget.
How eager are you to come back to F1 after this?
I did five years in Formula 1, which is the biggest motorsport which it is impossible to get away from but I do not work actively to get back to Formula 1 but we will see in the future.
I'm working with Indycar and I'm very happy with it and got a bit of my breakthrough this year when I took my first two victories, says Ericsson.
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Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen Photo: Bildbyrån