• Race winner and 2021 F1 world champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull Racing team celebrate on the podium after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021. Victor Besa / The National
    Race winner and 2021 F1 world champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull Racing team celebrate on the podium after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen fought off Lewis Hamilton in a nail-biting finish. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen fought off Lewis Hamilton in a nail-biting finish. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen runs to celebrate with his team. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen runs to celebrate with his team. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Dutch driver clinched the race and the championship on the final lap. Victor Besa / The National
    The Dutch driver clinched the race and the championship on the final lap. Victor Besa / The National
  • Race fans cheer as Verstappen wins. Victor Besa / The National
    Race fans cheer as Verstappen wins. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen enjoys that winning feeling. Reuters
    Verstappen enjoys that winning feeling. Reuters
  • Verstappen drinks in the moment as Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton looks dejected after finishing second. Reuters
    Verstappen drinks in the moment as Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton looks dejected after finishing second. Reuters
  • Verstappen and Hamilton go head to head on the track. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen and Hamilton go head to head on the track. Victor Besa / The National
  • An Etihad Airways flyover before the race. The airline sponsored the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National
    An Etihad Airways flyover before the race. The airline sponsored the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen in action. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen in action. Victor Besa / The National
  • Hamilton took an early lead. Victor Besa / The National
    Hamilton took an early lead. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen and Hamilton led the championship going into the final race. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen and Hamilton led the championship going into the final race. Victor Besa / The National
  • The start of the race. Reuters
    The start of the race. Reuters
  • Drivers pose for their end-of-season picture before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. AP
    Drivers pose for their end-of-season picture before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. AP
  • Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel before the race. Reuters
    Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel before the race. Reuters
  • Fans of Verstappen and Hamilton before the race. Reuters
    Fans of Verstappen and Hamilton before the race. Reuters
  • Hamilton looks relaxed before the race. Reuters
    Hamilton looks relaxed before the race. Reuters
  • Verstappen looks like he means business. Reuters
    Verstappen looks like he means business. Reuters
  • Hamilton soaks up the early atmosphere. Victor Besa / The National
    Hamilton soaks up the early atmosphere. Victor Besa / The National
  • Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas with his girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell. Victor Besa / The National
    Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas with his girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen arrives at the circuit with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. Reuters
    Verstappen arrives at the circuit with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. Reuters
  • Hamilton on the Yas Marina Circuit. AFP
    Hamilton on the Yas Marina Circuit. AFP

Sport

F1

Mercedes withdraw Abu Dhabi Grand Prix result appeal

Lewis Hamilton's team concede F1 season victory to Max Verstappen and Red Bull

The National

December 16, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Mercedes have withdrawn their appeal against the outcome of Sunday’s title-deciding Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The team said they had made the decision following “constructive dialogue” with governing body FIA with regard to establishing clarity for future scenarios.

Mercedes said in a statement: “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.”

Sunday’s season-ending race in Abu Dhabi saw Red Bull’s Verstappen claim victory and the title after the deployment of a late safety car led to the Dutchman being placed right behind Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton, who he then overtook on the final lap.

Mercedes had an immediate double appeal dismissed by the stewards, then lodged an intention to appeal against that decision, which they were required to trigger by Thursday evening.

Mercedes added in the statement: “We appealed in the interest of sporting fairness, and we have since been in a constructive dialogue with the FIA and Formula One 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 the rules, governance and decision-making in Formula One.

“We also welcome that they have invited the teams and drivers to take part.

"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.

"Together with Lewis, we have deliberated carefully over how to respond to the events... 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."

"To Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing: we would like to express our sincere respect for your achievements this season," the team added.

"You made this Formula One championship title fight truly epic. Max, we congratulate you and your entire team. We look forward to taking the fight to you on the track next season."

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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Updated: December 16, 2021, 10:57 AM
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025MercedesRed BullMax Verstappen