The Formula 1 racing team Mercedes gives up the protest: The Silver Arrows will no longer fight for the eighth world title for superstar Hamilton before the next instance. The triumph of Max Verstappen is therefore certain.
Max Verstappen is and remains the new world champion of a memorable season. After three days, Mercedes has announced that it will forego another protest against the Red Bull driver’s World Cup win. Formula 1 is thus spared a tricky aftermath before the appeal court of the world motor sport association Fia. Verstappen had become world champion after a safety car had shrunk Lewis Hamilton’s lead shortly before the end of the race and the race management re-opened the race two laps before the end. Verstappen took the chance to overtake and became world champion. Mercedes now announced: “We are hereby withdrawing our appeal,” it said on Thursday in a message to teams.
Immediately after Verstappen’s triumph in front of the defeated and dethroned Hamilton on the Yas Marina Circuit, Mercedes filed two protests. One because of Verstappens’ driving style during the safety car phase, a second – and that was the far more important one – against the race management around Michael Masi because of the process towards the end of the safety car phase in the last laps. Both protests were crushed by the race stewards.
Thereupon those responsible for the Silver Arrows had submitted a declaration of intent for an appeal within 60 minutes, in accordance with the formal requirements. That, in turn, gave them an additional 96 hours to test with lawyers the chances of success. After detailed deliberations, they decided against going to the International Court of Appeal of the world automobile association Fia.
Mercedes: constructive dialogue with Fia
“We appealed in terms of sporting fairness, and since then we have had a constructive dialogue with Fia and Formula 1 in order to ensure clarity in the future,” said the Mercedes statement. In this context, the designer world champion welcomed the decision of the Fia to set up a commission to analyze the events in Abu Dhabi thoroughly. The world association announced this on Wednesday.
“We are also pleased that the Fia has invited the teams and drivers to take part,” it said. Decision-making in Formula 1 should be improved in the future. Mercedes now wants to “work actively with the Commission to create a better Formula 1 – for all teams and all fans”.
Verstappen had overtaken Hamilton on the last lap after the safety car phase was over and secured the title for the first time with his tenth win of the season. The Mercedes bosses had denounced that, in their opinion, according to the rules, the safety car should not have driven into the pits until one lap later. The race would have ended behind it and Hamilton would have been the title holder again this year and with eight triumphs, the sole record world champion ahead of Michael Schumacher.
Safety Car cost Hamilton the title
In addition, it was about the so-called rounding back only a certain number of cars, but not all cars. In their verdict on Sunday, the race stewards referred, among other things, to the fact that the race director could decide whether to use the safety car.
During the phase, the general necessity of which was absolutely undisputed after Nicholas Latifi and his Williams hit the track barrier, Verstappen even had another chance to get to Hamilton. After an overtaking maneuver past pole man Verstappen, the 36-year-old Brit checked the race immediately after the start and successfully countered all attempts by the Red Bull team.
As a result of the incidents during the safety car phase, Verstappen had reached Hamilton from around eleven to one second. He had also had faster tires fitted, as he had nothing left to lose. The plan worked, and Verstappen had won the race and the title. This Thursday, the 24-year-old Dutchman can now, without any further doubts, receive the World Cup trophy at the official ceremony in Paris after four hours of fear on the evening of the race.
“We would like to express our sincere respect for your successes this year. You have made this season an absolutely epic Formula 1 title fight. Max, we congratulate you and your entire team warmly,” wrote Mercedes to Red Bull and Verstappen, however, did not spare his praise for Hamilton either: “Lewis, you are the greatest racing driver in the history of Formula 1, and you drove your heart out every single lap of this incredible season. You are an impeccable sportsman and a role model for millions of people around the world. “
Source From: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
