No Mercedes vocation: Verstappen secure world championship title

Created: 12/16/2021 Updated: 12/16/2021, 11:47 AM

The fact remains: The Dutchman Max Verstappen is world champion of Formula 1. © Kamran Jebreili / AP / dpa

Mercedes gives up.

The Silver Arrows are no longer fighting for the eighth world title for superstar Hamilton before the next instance.

The Verstappen triumph is therefore certain.

Brackley - Formula 1 is spared a tricky aftermath before the appeals court, Max Verstappen is and will be the new world champion of a memorable season.

After the culmination of the Zoff duel with the final in Abu Dhabi and the triumph of Red Bull driver Verstappen through an overtaking maneuver in the last lap, Mercedes waived the possible appeal.

"We are hereby withdrawing our appointment," said a message from the factory team.

No going to the International Court of Appeal

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 letter of intent for an appeal within 60 minutes, in accordance with the formalities.

That, in turn, gave them an additional 96 hours to work with lawyers to test the chances of success.

After detailed deliberations, they decided against going to the International Court of Appeal of the world automobile association Fia.

"We appealed in the spirit of sporting fairness, and since then we have had a constructive dialogue with the Fia and Formula 1 in order to ensure clarity in the future," said the Mercedes statement.

In this context, the constructors' world champion welcomed the decision of the Fia to set up a commission to analyze the events in Abu Dhabi thoroughly, as the world association had announced.

"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".

Chance of victory only through the safety car phase

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.

In addition, it was about the so-called rounding back only a certain number of cars, but not all cars.

In their reasoning for the verdict, 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.

more on the subject

Hamilton strikes back against Verstappen in São Paulo

Mexico GP: Verstappen and Hamilton chase the sombrero

Wing disaster for Hamilton: Verstappen extends World Cup leadership

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.

Now the 24-year-old Dutchman can, 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.

Congratulations to the winner

“We would like to express our sincere respect for your achievements this year.

You made this season an absolutely epic Formula 1 title fight.

Max, we congratulate you and your entire team warmly, "Mercedes now wrote to Red Bull and Verstappen, but also did not skimp on praise for Hamilton:" Lewis, you are the greatest racing driver in the history of Formula 1, and you are in every single lap of this unbelievable season got the soul out of the body.

You are an impeccable sportsman and a role model for millions of people all over the world. ”Dpa