Marko appreciative of 'grand gesture' by Mercedes

Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko says Mercedes' wise decision not to appeal the outcome of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a "grand gesture".

Following Max Verstappen's dramatic last lap win at Yas Marina that secured the world title for the Dutchman, Mercedes lodged two protests that were both rejected by the FIA stewards in Abu Dhabi.

However, the Brackley squad immediately signaled its intention to appeal the protest by which it contested how the event's safety car period and the race's restart had been handled by FIA race director Michael Masi.

But just hours ahead of the governing body's prize-giving gala in Paris, Mercedes renounced its right to appeal and officially conceded the race to Red Bull and Verstappen, a decision Marko saluted.

"I can only say that this was a grand gesture by Mercedes," the Austrian told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Hamilton has definitely been unlucky, but so were we at Silverstone, in Budapest and in Baku. This is how races can go, but I understand the disappointment."

Marko also elaborated on the changes the FIA must implement ahead of next season to help F1's race director deal with his responsibilities on race day and to ensure a less contentious remationship between competitors and the officials.

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"The new FIA president will have to come up with a new system that will help Masi, because he can't do it alone," Marko said.

"At the moment there is too much pressure on his shoulders. I think, for example, that team managers and team bosses should no longer be able to speak to Masi through a direct line during a race.

"In addition, the rules need to be simplified. Too many decisions have been made that have displeased either us or Mercedes. There needs to be more uniformity in the judgements."

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