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Formula One side Mercedes have withdrawn their appeal against the result of last weekend’s Formula One grand finale in Abu Dhabi.
Sunday’s race saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claim a last lap title deciding victory after a late deployment of a safety car led to him being placed right behind Lewis Hamilton with fresher, newer tyres, who he then overtook.
Mercedes launched an immediate double appeal after the race which was dismissed by the stewards before lodging an appeal against the decision on Thursday.
The team however have withdrawn their appeal against the outcome after reaching “constructive dialogue with the FIA and Formula 1” to create clarity for the future.
Mercedes said in a statement “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 at the Formula 1 season finale. 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.
“The reason we protested the race result on Sunday was because the Safety Car regulations 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 World Championship.
“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."