Mercedes on Friday dropped an appeal against the decisions of race director Michael Masi, in which Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched the Formula 1 world championship in the dying moments over Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton lost to Verstappen in the fight for the F1 drivers’ title in Abu Dhabi, after being overtaken on the last lap following a restart from the Safety Car.
The German team took action in this in part because the FIA announced that a committee will be set up to investigate the safety car situation that decided the season.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was still furious and disagree about the outcome of the race at Yas Marina Circuit, in Abu Dhabi on last Sunday.
“The decisions Masi made in the closing stages of the race deprived Lewis of a deserved title. He was robbed, that is unacceptable.” Wolff said.
“Formula 1 is one of the greatest sports in the world. Sport should come first, followed by entertainment. And not the other way around.” Wolff added.
On the other hand, the new FIA president Ben Sulayem has refused to comment on the incident at Yas Marina circuit.
“We have had a meeting with the drivers and I feel that the events have now been fully discussed.” Sulayem told Autosport.
“The FIA has made a decision, we have discussed it internally and a statement has been made. Now we have to get to the new season to start.” he added.
The Dutchman Verstappen is F1’s 34th champion and the first non-Mercedes driver to beat Mercedes’ Hamilton since 2013.
He was the youngest driver in the history of the sport on his debut aged 17 in 2015, and has the potential to go on and win many more.
“It’s been an amazing year, I’m proud of Max and the whole team. He’s the world champion and the deserving world champion.” Red Bull boss Christian Horner said.
