The two champion candidates of the Formula 1 2021 season started the last race with equal points. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, who had the excitement we missed and found more throughout the season, reached the last round of the championship fight. Max Verstappen, who passed Lewis Hamilton after the safety car on the last lap in this final race, which you would call an exaggeration if you filmed it, became the winner of the world championship.
The actual decision of the title fight was actually made by F1 Racing Director Michael Masi. Normally, until today, we saw that the vehicles that had laps during the safety car passed the safety car and the leaders continued the race in the main ranking. However, with the decision of the FIA, it was decided to the contrary by the decision of Masi, that the cars that were lap first would not pass the safety car, and then just before entering the last lap. As a result, the championship went to Max Verstappen.
Mercedes withdraws appeal
This difficult decision, which caused great controversy in the Formula 1 world, resulted in the protest of the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team. The FIA turned down Mercedes’ protest. Mercedes then announced that it would appeal the decision. But around this time, a rumor emerged: Lewis Hamilton was asking his team to drop the appeal.
These rumors turned out to be true, and Hamilton persuaded his team to prevent the appeal decision from being withdrawn and the decision being taken to court. Mercedes shared an official statement and made the following statements:
“We called in the name of sporting justice and since then we have been in a constructive dialogue with the FIA and Formula 1 to bring clarity to the future so that all competitors know the rules in which they are racing and how those rules are to be applied. This is why the FIA has had a comprehensive overview of what is happening in Abu Dhabi. We welcome the decision to analyze it and establish a commission to improve the soundness of rules, management and decision-making in Formula 1. We are also pleased that they have invited teams and drivers to join it.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas team will actively work with this commission to create a better Formula 1 for every team and every fan who loves this sport as much as we do. As a result, we will hold the FIA responsible for this process and withdraw our appeal.
To Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing: We would like to express our warmest regards for their success this season. You really made the championship fight an epic. Max, congratulations to you and the entire team. We look forward to competing with you on the track next season. “
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