Last Updated: 16/12/21 10:13am
Mercedes have decided to withdraw their appeal against the controversial finish to the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The end of their challenge means that Max Verstappen is now definitively 2021’s world champion. The Red Bull driver will officially be crowned for the first time in Thursday night’s FIA prize giving gala in Paris.
In their first comment about the events of last Sunday, Mercedes said they left Abu Dhabi in “disbelief of what we had just witnessed” and lodged an appeal after the race “in the interest of sporting fairness”.
After the FIA said on Wednesday night that they would work with drivers and teams to review what happened to learn lessons from 2022, Mercedes say they will “will actively work with this commission to build a better Formula 1” – while also making clear “we will hold the FIA accountable for this process”.
In a statement, Mercedes said: “Together with Lewis, we have deliberated carefully over how to respond to the events at the Formula 1 season finale. We have always been guided by our love of this sport and we believe that every competition should be won on merit. In the race on Sunday many felt, us included, that the way things unfolded was not right.
“The reason we protested the race result on Sunday was because the Safety Car regulations were applied in a new way that affected the race result, after Lewis had been in a commanding lead and on course to win the World Championship.
“We appealed in the interest of sporting fairness, and we have since been in a constructive dialogue with the FIA and Formula 1 to create clarity for the future, so that all competitors know the rules under which they are racing, and how they will be enforced. Thus, we welcome the decision by the FIA to install a commission to thoroughly analyse what happened in Abu Dhabi and to improve the robustness of rules, governance and decision making in Formula 1. We also welcome that they have invited the teams and drivers to take part.
“The Mercedes-AMG Petronas team will actively work with this commission to build a better Formula 1 – for every team and every fan who loves this sport as much as we do. We will hold the FIA accountable for this process and we hereby withdraw our appeal.
“To Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing: we would like to express our sincere respect for your achievements this season. You made this Formula 1 Championship title fight truly epic. Max, we congratulate you and your entire team. We look forward to taking the fight to you on the track next season.
“And lastly, even though this Drivers’ Championship did not end the way we hoped, we could not be prouder of our team.”
More to follow…