Lewis Hamilton claims F1 finale was rigged in previously unheard radio message

Lewis Hamilton claimed the finish to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix WAS rigged in favour of new world champion Max Verstappen.

Hamilton was gracious in defeat on Sunday and has kept a dignified silence since.

But an in-race radio message has emerged that confirms Hamilton suspects dirty tricks were at play, giving Verstappen the chance to pull off his dramatic last-lap, title-clinching victory.

Four corners before the chequered flag, having been passed by the Dutchman, Hamilton shouted into his radio: “This has been manipulated, man.”

Hamilton’s message was not broadcast on television’s world feed but was aired on the in-house F1 TV channel.

Lewis Hamilton was magnanimous after the race but raging in the car (Getty Images)

While Mercedes have yet to confirm whether or not they will lodge another appeal against the result, Hamilton - who congratulated Verstappen after the race - clearly had his suspicions.

And they were shared, at least privately, by other drivers.

Hamilton’s fellow Brit, Lando Norris, considered the finale to have been contrived, at the least.

The McLaren racer said: “It was obviously made to be a fight - it was for the TV, of course, it was for the result. Whether or not it was fair is not up to me to decide.”