The fall-out from Sunday's thrilling yet dramatic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale will rumble on for days, maybe weeks to come, after Max Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the title in controversial circumstances.
Hamilton, needing to better Verstappen's result in the final race of the season, got off to the perfect start after overtaking his arch rival right from the off. The Brit went onto dominate the race and was cruising to an unprecedented eighth F1 world title.
That was until Nicholas Latifi of Williams crashed with five laps to go - leading to the safety car being called on, which completely changed the landscape of the race.
Verstappen opted to pit and change tyres, and after a change in heart, FIA race director Michael Masi controversially allowed the five cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to pass and unlap themselves with the safety car out there.
This meant that Verstappen started right behind Hamilton again despite the Brit having enjoyed an 11-second lead over his rival - and it was the Dutchman who then saw off the Mercedes man in a final lap shootout.
Toto Wolff was livid with the contentious and dramatic result, and Mercedes - who still won the constructors' championship - launched two protests both of which were rejected by race stewards.
But despite the rage shown by Wolff, it appears he has since calmed down with Verstappen revealing that he had in fact sent him a message following his title triumph.
Verstappen, speaking during a video call on Monday after celebrating into the early hours of Monday morning, said: "Toto sent me a text — congratulations on on the season and that I deserve to win it.
"So that was very nice of him, of course. Emotions run very high to that last lap from both teams. It is what it is. We will see."
Wolff has calmed down but it remains to be seen whether Mercedes will launch their notice to appeal after their two initial protests were ignored.
The 'Silver Arrows' have until Thursday to make their final decision.
Wolff decided to get over his heartbreak in style though after failing to get the result overturned in Abu Dhabi.
Footage and photos emerged of Wolff partying through the night to mark Mercedes' constructors' championship success - with pictures even showing him crowd surfing.
