The problem with Merc is not that they’re sabotaging anyone, but that they truly, honestly think if they didn’t mean it, then it’s not their fault.
One car set up wrong? Well we can still celebrate, it happens. Car explodes while fighting for a lead? Well we didn’t MEAN to do that, so everyone get the champagne out. Car fucked entirely off the podium and out of points because of YOUR own mistake? Well, we didn’t MEAN to do it! Get Toto up on the podium!
That’s why your optics are shit, because you’re allergic to accountability. It doesn’t MATTER if you meant it, no one means it, but it happened, your fans are irate, and you’ve just continued to fan the fire higher.