- The Mercedes F1 team has withdrawn its appeal over the controversial ending to the season.
- Max Verstappen became champion in one of the most contentious, dramatic final laps in F1 history.
- Despite the withdrawal, Mercedes said the event had made the team "lose faith in racing."
Max Verstappen's status as the 2021 Formula One world champion has been confirmed after Mercedes announced it was withdrawing its decision to appeal the result of the title-deciding final race.
A controversial ending to the season's climax in Abu Dhabi set-up a final-lap shootout between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who was leading the race and on his way to an eighth world title.
The decision was hugely contentious, with confusion aplenty, and a furious reaction from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
Wolff was seen and heard shouting into his headset at race director Michael Masi as the final lap unfolded, yelling that Masi's call wasn't "right."
Following the conclusion of the race, the team quickly announced it was protesting the decision and, after seeing these protests rejected, it said it was going to appeal, possibly taking the result all the way to the courts.
However, on Thursday, the team announced it would be withdrawing its appeal.
"We left Abu Dhabi in disbelief of what we had just witnessed," the statement read. "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.
—Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 16, 2021
Concluding, the statement added: "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."
Mercedes didn't provide a specific reason for withdrawing its appeal. It was reported by the Daily Mail late on Wednesday, however, that the team had done so after lobbying from Hamilton, who the outlet said didn't want to seal a record-breaking eighth title in the courts.
If Mercedes has turned to the courts and ended up getting Sunday's result overturned, Hamilton's eighth title — which would take him past Michael Schumacher's seven titles and cement him as statistically the greatest driver in F1 history — would always have an asterisk next to it.
Hamilton also believes that it isn't in the best interests of the sport of Formula One to drag the season's results through the courts, the Mail added.
In its statement Thursday, Mercedes also went on to congratulate Verstappen and his team, Red Bull, describing the battle between Hamilton and his Dutch opponent as "truly epic."
"To Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing: we would like to express our sincere respect for your achievements this season. You made this Formula 1 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."