The race was handed to Max by manipulating rules in a way never ever done in any race before that even then were not applied consistently to all competitors in this race.
Selective application of non existent "rules" by officials is either a) gross incompetence b) cheating to achieve a desired outcome or c) the result of corruption, bribery or coercion...
The FIA idea that we misunderstood what was happening is condescending and quite frankly shows how blond their hierarchy is to the damage such behaviour dies to the reputation of the sport. Sponsors do not like the idea that their investment of millions can be for naught at the whim of a race director making up rules to deliberately favour another competitor.