Mercedes has decided not to appeal the FIA’s decisions
Silent since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Mercedes team has decided to withdraw its appeal regarding the complaints filed with the FIA after the final race of the season.
Brackley and Stuttgart have made their decision. After complete silence from both the team management and the brand’s board since Sunday, the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team has decided not to appeal the result of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Max Verstappen is now officially the 34th Formula 1 World Champion in history.
As a reminder, just after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Mercedes filed two complaints with the FIA. The first one concerned a possible overtaking maneuver by Verstappen on Hamilton just before the restart. The second one highlighted the fact that the race director had released both the lapped cars and the safety car on the same lap. According to the regulations, the race should have been restarted one lap later. These two complaints were rejected by the stewards. However, it was on the second one that Mercedes threatened to appeal.
It is through a press release published this morning that the Anglo-German team announced its decision. In it, they express their love for the sport and believe that every competition should be won on merit. They also mention that the way things unfolded during Sunday’s race was not correct.
The reason we protested against the result of Sunday’s race was because the rules regarding the safety car were applied in a new way that affected the outcome of the race, while Lewis was leading and on track to win the world championship.
« We launched a call in the interest of sporting fairness, and since then we have been engaged in a constructive dialogue with the FIA and Formula 1 to create clarity in the future, so that all competitors are aware of the rules they are racing under. Therefore, we welcome the FIA’s decision to establish a commission to analyze what happened in Abu Dhabi and to enhance the robustness of the rules, governance, and decisions made in Formula 1. We also commend the involvement of the teams and drivers.
»
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 hold the FIA accountable for this process and hereby withdraw our appeal.
In this statement, Toto Wolff’s team doesn’t forget to congratulate the new world champion: To Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, we want to express our sincere respect for your accomplishments this season. You have made this championship battle truly epic. Max, we congratulate you and your entire team. We hope to deliver another battle on the track next season.
To conclude, the team, eight-time world champion, turns to their own.
Lewis, you are the greatest Formula 1 driver in history and you have driven with all your heart in every lap of this incredible season. You are a perfect athlete on and off the track and you have delivered a flawless performance. As a pure competitor and role model for millions of people around the world, we salute you.
Valterri, you have been an important part of the team, contributing to five constructors’ titles in five seasons. Thank you for your remarkable contribution to our history in motorsport. Kiitos, Valterri.
Finally, to all the competent and passionate individuals of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team in Brackley and Brixworth, you have written a historic chapter in the history of the Silver Arrows by winning the eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship title. It is an unprecedented accomplishment. In a few words: it’s incredible. You are incredible.
