Motor Sport News : Hamilton cheered at Mercedes HQ, Bottas gets open-top car farewell

Lewis Hamilton was cheered by many during the Mercedes homecoming parade on Friday, with the memories still fresh after the Brit agonisingly missed out on an eighth Formula 1 world drivers' title in 2021.

Max Verstappen's Red Bull overtook Hamilton's Mercedes on the last lap of the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi to clinch the drivers' title, despite controversy over how the rules were applied by race director Michael Masi during a safety-car period towards the end of the race.

Masi made the decisive - and controversial - call to let only some lapped cars through past the leaders, which allowed Verstappen, on fresh tyres, a clear opportunity to overtake Hamilton, who was struggling with his worn tyres.

Outgoing Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas received a special open-top car farewell.