Mercedes withdraws its appeal into chaotic F1 finale and congratulates Max Verstappen on first world title

By Ben Church and Amanda Davies, CNN

Updated 1103 GMT (1903 HKT) December 17, 2021

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(CNN)Max Verstappen's first Formula One world title panned out «way more intense» than he could have imagined but the Red Bull driver can finally enjoy his victory after Mercedes officially withdrew its appeal into how the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finished.

Speaking to CNN Sport's Amanda Davies on Wednesday, Verstappen said he was looking forward to the moment his title victory begins to sink in.«I think especially once you sign off a bit from the season you have a little time to relax so it will be even better,» he said.«It's been way more intense than I could ever imagined, with the pressure on the whole year but also the way the last race panned out.»I think if you would have told me the night