In a brief statement released Thursday, the team said it welcomed a move by the FIA to investigate last weekend’s events and therefore felt it no longer necessary to continue its action.
Mercedes was furious at the way F1 Race Director Michael Masi had selectively picked some backmarkers to out-lap himself and speeded up the safety car restart.
The team claimed that if Masi had explicitly followed the rules, the race under the safety car would have ended and Lewis Hamilton would have become champion.
Mercedes duly protested the result, but the case was dismissed by FIA commissioners, who assumed there had been no rule violation. They claimed separate regulations gave Masi full authority to do what he wanted with the safety car.
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After submitting the intention to appeal, Mercedes had until Thursday evening to decide whether the proceedings should be continued or not.
But since the FIA announced on Wednesday evening that it was opening an investigation into what happened at the Yas Marina circuit, Mercedes wants to focus on improving the rules rather than changing the outcome.
In a statement presented as a letter to the fans, Mercedes made it clear that the circumstances of the last stage of the race on Sunday were difficult to understand.
“We left Abu Dhabi in disbelief of what we had just experienced. Of course it’s part of the game to lose a race, but it’s different when you lose confidence in racing, ”they said.
“Together with Lewis, we carefully considered how we would react to the events at the Formula 1 season finale. We have always been guided by our love for the sport and believe that every competition should be won by performance. In the race on Sunday, many, including us, had the feeling that things weren’t going right. “
The Safety Car and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Mercedes went on to state that it will hold the FIA accountable for its investigation, which will investigate the events and improve its rules and procedures for the future.
“The Mercedes-AMG Petronas team will work actively with this commission to build a better Formula 1 – for every team and every fan who loves this sport as much as we do.”
It added, “We will hold the FIA accountable for this process and hereby withdraw our appeal.”
The full letter from Mercedes
Dear Formula 1 community and fans,
We left Abu Dhabi in disbelief at what we had just witnessed. Of course, losing a race is part of the game, but it’s different when you lose faith in racing.
Together with Lewis, we thought carefully about how we would react to the events at the Formula 1 season finale. We have always been guided by our love for the sport and believe that every competition should be won by performance. In the race on Sunday, many, including us, had the feeling that things were not going right.
The reason we protested the race result on Sunday was because of the new application of the safety car rules that affected the race result after Lewis was clearly in the lead and on track to win the World Championship.
We appealed in the interest of sporting fairness and since then we have been conducting a constructive dialogue with the FIA and Formula 1 in order to create clarity for the future so that all participants know which rules they are driving by and how they are enforced. We therefore applaud the FIA’s decision to set up a commission to thoroughly analyze the events in Abu Dhabi and improve the robustness of rules, governance and decision-making in Formula 1. We also appreciate that she invited the teams and drivers to be part of it.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas team will work actively 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 responsible for this process and 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 title fight really epic. Max, we congratulate you and your entire team. We look forward to bringing the fight to you on the track next season.
And last but not least: Even if this drivers’ championship didn’t end as we had hoped it would, we couldn’t be more proud of our team.
Lewis, you are the greatest racing driver in Formula 1 history and you have challenged your heart every lap of this incredible season. You are an impeccable athlete on and off the track and have delivered an impeccable performance. We greet you as a pure competitor and as a role model for millions around the world.
Valtteri, you were such an important part of this team and you have delivered five Constructors’ championships in five seasons. Thank you for your remarkable contribution to our motorsport history. Kiitos, Valtteri.
Last but not least, to all the experienced and passionate women and men of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team in Brackley and High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth: By winning the eighth Constructors’ Championship, you wrote a historic chapter in the history of the Silver Arrow – in a row. This is an unprecedented achievement. In simple terms, it’s great. You are great.
