Based on my past posts in this thread, you should see that I'm very much a Max and Red Bull fan, so keep that in mind.

There needs to be a full review of all communications (radio, text, computer, and any other) at the end of the race. It seemed like no one knew what was going on, including Masi, and the plan was constantly changing. Lewis got hosed, partly because of strategy decisions by his team, but mostly because of wishy-washy decisions from race control.

Perez retiring at the end makes literally no sense. It's the last lap ever for this equipment, he's in podium position, he might get second if he can also pass Lewis*. For God's sake, even if he has to limp around because of some supposed equipment failure, he'll finish in the points. The radio replay of them telling Perez he needed to retire had the sound of a very panicky person. Why the panic?

*That's why I think there's shenanigans afoot. Bottas was lumbering around the tail end of the points positions all day. Imagine a scenario where, on the last lap, Lewis's tires are so worn that he gets passed by Max, Sergio, Sainz... Suddenly Red Bull can win the driver's championship AND the constructor's championship.

All the money is in the constructor's championship. And money talks. To me, there's a non-zero chance that Perez was forced to retire to "let" Mercedes win the constructors championship in exchange for the last-minute decision to let the lapped cars between Max and Lewis pass the safety car and give them a 1-on-1 lap for the championship.

I couldn't be happier for Max, but if there is ever anything even hinted at publicly that gives credence to my theory above, that will taint F1 for me forever.