Every Mercedes worker to receive whopping £10k bonus DESPITE Max Verstappen’s controversial F1 win over Lewis Hamilton

MERCEDES staff are on track to pocket an enormous Christmas bonus despite seeing Lewis Hamilton pipped to the F1 world title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Each worker at the team’s HQ and factory will receive AT LEAST £10k following the controversial season finale.

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Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen embraced after the race[/caption]

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dramatically overtook Mercedes star Hamilton on the final lap of the season to claim his first drivers’ championship.

But Merc did enough as a team to snatch the constructors’ title from Red Bull’s grasp, meaning a bumper payday for Silver Arrows staff.

Hamilton himself had been in line for a mammoth £4million payout if he had lifted an unprecedented eighth drivers’ crown.

The 36-year-old currently sits level with the great Michael Schumacher on seven drivers’ titles.

He is by far the highest-paid man on the grid, taking home around £40m a year – including bonuses and add-ons.

Hamilton was leading at Yas Marina Circuit when a late Nicholas Latifi crash resulted in the safety car being deployed.

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Stewards said lapped cars would not be allowed to pass under safety car conditions, before reversing that call to allow a handful of backmarkers through.

That cleared the way for Verstappen in second to attack Hamilton on a fresher set of tyres, with the 24-year-old taking victory and his first world title.

While his Merc team bosses ranted at race director Michael Masi, Hamilton calmly praised the new champ in his post-race interview.

And the veteran driver even hinted he may consider his future in the sport as he weighs up whether to return next season.