Mercedes has launched two appeals following a dramatic last-lap overtake by Red Bull's Max Verstappen which saw him beat Lewis Hamilton, of Mercedes, and claim his maiden Formula 1 title on Sunday.

The appeals are for Verstappen undertaking under the safety car and the safety car procedure itself and, fundamentally, why only a certain number of lapped cars were allowed to pass by before the restart.

Hamilton, who had led for most of the race, appeared to be heading for a record eighth world title but then a crash by Nicholas Latifi prompted the safety car to come on the track with just five laps left.

That delay enabled Verstappen to change his tires, while Hamilton remained out in the lead to keep track position on his older tires.

At the time, there were five lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen in the queue behind the safety car. Officials at race control directed that pack to join the back of the queue on the penultimate lap and that reproduced the Hamilton-Verstappen one-two for a final-lap race.

Verstappen eventually overtook Hamilton and held him off to the chequered flag earning the 24-year-old the driver's title while Mercedes secured an eighth successive constructors' title.

(With input from agencies)