Motor Sport News : 'Deeply wronged' Mercedes withdraw appeal to confirm Verstappen title

Mercedes withdrew its appeal on Thursday of the Formula 1 series finale in which Lewis Hamilton lost the 2021 championship to Max Verstappen.

Mercedes had filed two protests following Sunday's race, but both were dismissed. Mercedes then asked for reconsideration at the International Court of Appeal.

Mercedes was protesting the use of the safety car following a crash with five laps remaining in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton had a nearly 12-second lead with Verstappen in second when the crash brought out the yellow flag.

Verstappen pitted for fresh tyres while Hamilton stayed on track. The race resumed with one lap remaining. Verstappen then passed Hamilton to win his first world championship, denying Hamilton a record eighth title.

Mercedes said on Thursday, ahead of the season-ending gala in Paris later in the evening, that it decided with Hamilton not to move forward with the appeal.

"We left Abu Dhabi in disbelief of what we had just witnessed. Of course, it’s part of the game to lose a race, but it’s something different when you lose faith in racing," Mercedes said in a statement, adding it protested because rules "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 championship)."

The appeal was made "in the interest of sporting fairness," Mercedes said.

Discussions with both the FIA and Formula One asking for clarity on the rules "so that all competitors know the rules under which they are racing, and how they will be enforced" satisfied Mercedes, the team said.

The FIA late on Wednesday said it will conduct an analysis of the ending and acknowledged the controversy is "tarnishing the image of the championship." The FIA delivered a report on the incident to the World Motor Sport Council in Paris and said a further review will help understand why the race ended as it did.

Mercedes also congratulated Verstappen and Red Bull, and called the 24-year-old Dutchman a "flawless sportsman on and off the track" who "delivered a faultless performance."