The Mercedes-AMG Formula One team has released a statement announcing that they are withdrawing the appeal against the result of the 2021 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
A controversial safety car decision by the race authorities tilted the race in favour of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who went on to overtake Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton in the final lap, winning the race and the world championship.
“We left Abu Dhabi in disbelief of what we had just witnessed. Of course, it's part of the game to lose a race, but it's something different when you lose faith in racing,” read the statement.
“Together with Lewis, we have deliberated carefully over how to respond to the events at the Formula 1 season finale.
“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.”
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The team added that they continued a dialogue with the FIA after the race, and welcomed the decision to install a commission to analyse the events of the race and to “improve the robustness of rules, governance and decision making in Formula 1”.
Team Statement - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix pic.twitter.com/tgrBjrNkcz
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 16, 2021
“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.”
This has left Mercedes and Hamilton fans disappointed as they expected the team to challenge the result in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Silver Arrows went on to congratulate Verstappen and his team for the “truly epic” championship fight. “We look forward to taking the fight to you on the track next season.”
Despite losing the driver's championship, Mercedes won a fifth consecutive constructor's championship, and thanked the departing Valtteri Bottas for his contribution, too.
