Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021Formula 1

[phillgt2002]

Way before Netflix. As if it needed confirming but F1 is the antithesis of sport. It's just a competition of money and politics to make those in charge feel relevant and powerful.

Well, of course F1 has always been filled with controversy, but this is like American Football levels of stupidity.

It's like the FIA made this season for Drive to Survive lol

 

[Jubby]

Looking at it from a neutral standpoint... you can't simply say this is all down to the FIA restart. Lewis could have pitted and ended it. We all know that was possible. For that reason, you can't say Max/RB didn't earn it. Yeah, the FIA massively screwed up, but let's stop crapping all over Max.

There have been plenty of FIA decisions this year that seemed to favor Max and Lewis. Anyone could make the argument that it negatively impacted both and fans will specifically stand behind their driver.

 

[Team THRT Drift]

Twitter doesn't matter*

FTFY.

 

[Fat Tyre]

What are the chances that Mercedes can appeal, if it turns out letting only 5 cars to pass is a breach of the rules?

Red Bull did nothing wrong so it would be very harsh to strip Max of his 1st World Championship if the Race Director has broken the rules just to make the last race more exciting.

It would be harsh perhaps but Max was nowhere near Hamilton throughout the whole race so him getting stripped of the title wouldn't bother me. But considering how the FIA is not willing to even review what Martin Brundle called a 'professional foul (Brazil's dive)' I can't see it happening. However, when someone wrongs you so badly I think one should take it to the ultimate stages. Mercedes just like every other major constructor invest hundreds of millions of dollars yearly into the sport. To do something so farcical is just shameful and should not be tolerated. If I were on Mercedes board I would vote to end the F1 programme. What guarantee do they have after all that investment and effort in the following years the championship won't be taking out at a whim in such an unfair manner again?

 

[Blitz24]

Well, of course F1 has always been filled with controversy, but this is like American Football levels of stupidity.

It's like the FIA made this season for Drive to Survive lol

I don't recall handegg going this stu.... oh wait, the tuck rule. Never mind.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Max Verstappen 2021 WDC*

Yep. I'm going there.

Aryton Senna 1990 WDC*
Michael Schumacher 1994 WDC*

Fun game, how many more can we do?

 

[Tyrone B]

I'm still interested in seeing what the 2022 cars do for the racing, but man has the FIA dampened my enthusiasm for this sport.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I have a feeling Lewis is not gonna forget this one during next season lol.

 

[evldave333]

Its been artificial with mercedes getting nerfed and too much stewarding involvement, but the end result was very entertaining, hope next year is as compelling.

 

[Veinz]

Why not let the cars through right away?

 

[Rossell2]

Aryton Senna 1990 WDC*
Michael Schumacher 1994 WDC*

Fun game, how many more can we do?

Oooh! Oooh! I got one! I got one!

Max Verstappen 2021 WDC*

 

[pumaATTACK]

Lewis was up 12 seconds with 6 laps to go. And then Max is allowed 1 lap at the end on fresh tires to pass him….

Yeah that’s a great feat for Max, magically erase 11 seconds.

 

[Northstar]

Well, of course F1 has always been filled with controversy, but this is like American Football levels of stupidity.

It's funny you mention that because F1 race control lately has reminded me of the never ending debate over what actually constitutes as a catch.

 

[OutlawQuadrnt]

Is there anything in the regulations that says “some” lapped cars can pass but only those between 1st and 2nd.

Well, here's the new rulebook to look at.

 

[Samus]

The primary issue is that they clearly did something different for the sake of the championship. If that were any old race they'd have just ended under SC or left the lapped cars there, but here they just wanted to clear the track to let the two contenders have a last lap race.

So, should we be doing things differently because of the championship? That is the question.

 

[Liquid]

Aryton Senna 1990 WDC*
Michael Schumacher 1994 WDC*

Fun game, how many more can we do?

Ayrton Senna 1988 WDC*

Prost scored more points than Senna. The horrible "dropped scores" rule gifted Senna the title. So if we go down that road, Senna is only a one-time world champion.

 

[Sum1s2pid]

That was... I don't even know, man. What a weird end to the 2021 season.

Anywho, congrats to Max, Red Bull, Honda, and Dutch fans.

Congrats on a historic 8th consecutive WCC for Mercedes. I thought Lewis the WDC had it in the bag.

I was rooting for McLaren and AlphaTauri to nail 3rd and 5th in the WCC, but it didn't pan out. No worries. Big congrats to Ferrari and Alpine. They were so much more consistent in scoring both cars, and deserved those positions.

Oh! Sainz on the podium? Well done!

Bye, Kimi. Thanks for the bwoah.

Longest. Season. Ever.

K, so when are the 2022 reveals? 😅

 

[Rangeraus]

Isn't it that when you let cars unlap themselves it takes forever? Then have to allow them to go back to the end of the pack. Did that happen this time around?

The unlapped cars did not catch up to the end of the pack after unlapping themselves.

Also, only half the lapped cars were allowed to try and unlap themselves - the ones between Max and Lewis.

This is from the FIA's own sporting regulations, which they did not enforce. The 'last' lapped car, along with several others, never passed the leader.

Ergo, it was a farce.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Mercedes didn't lose everything there. They won the Constructor's title. Wooo!

 

[ShiftingGears]

I felt a bit dirty watching that restart. The manner it was done looked so contrived and id be amazed to see what peculiar interpretations of rules were made if not which ones were outright broken

I just hope officiating gets a real proper clean up in the off season

 

[GroupB]

The unlapped cars did not catch up to the end of the pack after unlapping themselves.

Also, only half the lapped cars were allowed to try and unlap themselves - the ones between Max and Lewis.

View attachment 1099086

This is from the FIA's own sporting regulations, which they did not enforce.

Ergo, it was a farce.

Judging by that, Mercedes has a legitimate case, but how the hell would it get all sorted out? Reset the results to the previous completed lap?

 

[Samus]

The unlapped cars did not catch up to the end of the pack after unlapping themselves.

Also, only half the lapped cars were allowed to try and unlap themselves - the ones between Max and Lewis.

View attachment 1099086

This is from the FIA's own sporting regulations, which they did not enforce. The 'last' lapped car, along with several others, never passed the leader.

Ergo, it was a farce.

Yeah with that clear wording, Mercedes absolutely have a case. That didnt happen.

 

[Demon Drone]

Aryton Senna 1990 WDC*
Michael Schumacher 1994 WDC*

Fun game, how many more can we do?

Senna got screwed the previous year by FIA rigging so that was just. And yeah I'll go there with Michael too. Today only solidified the stance of many that the FIA is a wholly corrupt organization that decides who wins when it's close.

 

[Fat Tyre]

Rosberg saying Masi can do whatever he wants... Surely he can't? There are rules, if you're clearly being robbed and that's worth millions of dollars and in the case of the driver's championship the exposure and eyeballs, ads, etc. One should have a right to appeal and there is a higher FIA court of sorts isn't it? This is such a shameful and orchestrated act. Liberty wanted drama and a new champion and they got their wish.

 

[Northstar]

Judging by that, Mercedes has a legitimate case, but how the hell would it get all sorted out? Reset the results to the previous completed lap?

There's only one way to solve it...

 

[AshenGraey]

I was so excited for this race and to see it end that way....it's super annoying and very frustrating how the FIA just seems to make a mess of things. You make your own rules, you stick by then. You don't change them in the middle of a race when it's convenient for you.

 

[Greycap]

Ultimately the Williams in the barrier is what cost them, and that's just how luck can go sometimes, but the FIA really needs serious organizational changes. You can't mess around like that.

Karma paying them back what happened in Imola in the spring? Back then it was also a Williams in the barrier (helped by Bottas, no less) that saved Hamilton's day, now it went the other way.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Why not let the cars through right away?

Marshals on track. See Imola 2020 to see why they have to wait for ages.

 

[McLaren]

The primary issue is that they clearly did something different for the sake of the championship. If that were any old race they'd have just ended under SC or left the lapped cars there, but here they just wanted to clear the track to let the two contenders have a last lap race.

So, should we be doing things differently because of the championship? That is the question.

If the cars were a bit on equal footing, introducing such a rule out of the blue would’ve been interesting; could possibly make up for all past shenanigans.

But that was like feeding the goat to the T-Rex.

 

[andrea]