I fail to see how anyone can come to the conclusion that Mercedes fucked up on strategy. The decision Mercedes made not to pit was the right call at the time. If they pitted Max stayed out and they ceded track position, if they stayed out, they kept track position and Max pitted but the likelihood at the time was that the race would finish under the safety car. This was a sound assumption given the information they had available to them at the itme. They couldn't account for a race director that deviated from the rules. This was Masi's fault. And it is a shame because both Max and Lewis were amazing this year and they both deserved for the season to end fairly. Now you have a guy that is champion that shouldn't be and another, rightly, that feels hard done by because the race director decided to change the rules in the second last lap of the season. Masi isn't a scapegoat, this was a situation 100% of his own doing.
There's a good article here which explains why Hamilton and Mercedes had a case should they have wished to pursue it:
Analysing the FIA Rulebook after the Abu Dhabi Grand PrixâââA Lawyers Perspective
So itâs finally over. Or is it? Whilst we are in limbo over whether Mercedes will actually appeal the decision of the stewards, it isâ¦
medium.com
I personally didn't care who won, both drivers deserved to be chamption, my beef is that the regulations were not followed and as a result it changed the championship outcome.
I agree though, people protesting for any sporting result is pathetic and Mercedes and Hamilton should have attended the Gala, especially since they were dropping the protest anyway.
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