Mercedes has announced it will not be proceeding with its appeal over the outcome of last weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Brackley-based outfit was left angry at how FIA Formula 1 race director Michael Masi handled the end of the season finale, in which he only let a handful of cars unlap themselves before calling the safety car in for a one-lap shootout.
This resulted in Mercedes protesting the result, believing the FIA had breached its own regulations – but its case was dismissed by the stewards.
Following the rejection of its protest, Mercedes notified its intention to appeal, leaving it with a 96-hour window to decide whether to press on with the case.
But ahead of Thursday’s FIA prize giving gala, Mercedes revealed it had withdrawn the appeal, welcoming the FIA’s investigation of the events in Abu Dhabi to improve its procedures for future races.
“We left Abu Dhabi in disbelief of what we had just witnessed,” Mercedes’ statement reads. “Of course, it’s part of the game to lose a race, but it’s something different when you lose faith in racing.
“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.”
Mercedes was clear it would hold the FIA accountable over its pledge to analyse the handling of the final few laps in Abu Dhabi, with the aim to avoid similar incidents going forward.
“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.”
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