Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021Formula 1

[Jimlaad43]

How about this for a potential way out for the FIA:

They decide not to change the results, but rather throw them out entirely because the race was compromised by Masi not following the rulebook. Max still wins the title based on tiebreak.

Sainz, Tsunoda, Gasly podium? Yeah I'd be happy with that!

 

[OutlawQuadrnt]

A key question is why the lapped cars were not allowed to overtake the SC in the first place, as that would have left Max right up against Hamilton for the restart, should there have been one.

RB's decision to pit Verstappen under the Safety Car was a masterstroke - Merc/Hamilton unable to respond, and basically at the mercy of a strange decision (to not allow the lapped cars to unlap themselves) to keep some cars between Lewis and Max.

I wonder if Masi's decision to allow those cars (and only those cars) to unlap themselves was a corrective measure when he realised that their earlier decision (to not allow the lapped cars to pass) was basically going to hand Lewis the World Championship by virtue of an unconventional decision.

Ultimately, I feel that all decisions were made to reach a desired outcome. One head to head final racing lap between Max and Lewis to decide the World Championship.

Allowing all the lapped cars through would've meant race over under SC, especially given the time to clear Latifi's car. Not sure if Max would've been right behind Lewis without pitting but he certainly wasn't afterwards thanks to the lapped cars. With the lap counter ticking and under immense pressure, Masi decides to only allow certain cars through in order to reach that desired outcome, believing that this unconventional decision would be within bounds of the regulations.

Except as the rules are written, the race should've ended under SC.

The FIA has said that it does not want to influence races but even if this was an error - and using that word might be a colossal understatement - they just did in the worst possible way. Their reputation and credibility is fractured and without it, they have nothing to stand on. Quite frankly, I can only think of one way to even begin to resolve this.

1. The FIA must acknowledge that they made an error in allowing the race to resume instead of ending under a safety car.
2. The FIA should not reverse the results but make a public apology to Hamilton and Mercedes for their error.
3. Michael Masi must resign.
4. The FIA should commit to major reforms going forward.

 

[Dennisch]

3. Michael Masi must resign.

And he has to follow the stewards as an observer next year, every race weekend.

 

[Demon Drone]

How about this for a potential way out for the FIA:

They decide not to change the results, but rather throw them out entirely because the race was compromised by Masi not following the rulebook. Max still wins the title based on tiebreak.

The tiebreaker being the 'race' that was Belgium. Let's just face it. This season was a farce.

 

[Liquid]

When Verstappen drifted coming around the final corner, my heart was in my mouth. Go back and watch it again; imagine if he had dropped it right there...

 

[Bram Turismo]

So, with this season and the manufacturing of the results, I’m keeping distance from anything involved with Libery Media.

The FIA is hard to dodge in terms of racing, but it’s safe to say I won’t be watching live F1 much until things clearly change.

I also planned to go to the Japanese GP in 2022, but I’d rather take my time and enjoy other forms of racing.

Your money is best spent visiting my lovely country for the Spa 24 hour race, or Germany for the Nurburgring 24 hour race if you want to enjoy some 24 hour long bumper to bumper racing 👍

 

[pumaATTACK]

I think it's unsporting from Mercedes personally. Whilst the race restart should have been different (red flagged and then a decent number of laps like Baku) they got away with the unfair advantage at turn one. They can't have it both ways really. Had the turn one controversy not happened I'd feel differently.

So Lewis avoiding yet another Max lunge is the same as completely altering the rules for the benefit of just one driver?

 

[GroupB]

Sainz, Tsunoda, Gasly podium? Yeah I'd be happy with that!

Oops poorly worded. Not throw out HAM and VER, but throw out the entire race result, like it never happened.

 

[pumaATTACK]

But if they had stuck to convention and instructed lapped cars to pass in the first place, the result of the race would have been the same as what ended up happening. Though, it is not clear that the lapped cars could have all unlapped themselves in time to allow a racing lap to happen, given that the original decision (to not allow cars to pass) was presumably based on safety considerations.

It's tricky, because I think the race control were left with only unpalatable options and ultimately their decisions had to made very quickly and in light of what was happening with Latifi's car etc.

Mercedes are understandably furious with the decision to let only the cars between LH and MV to pass, effectively handing MV the Championship.

But Red Bull were equally furious at the earlier decision to not let any cars pass, which was an unconventional decision that left MV with a clear disadvantage that would have cost him the Championship.

My gut feeling is that both decisions were 'wrong', but that the second decision (that Mercedes are furious about) was ultimately taken in order to correct for the first, and the net result was that the Championship was decided on the track under green flag conditions.

But that’s not correct. They had to wait for the incident to be cleared first. They waited and then decided to screw the rules and benefit only Max. No other unlapped cars.

 

[McLaren]

How about this for a potential way out for the FIA:

They decide not to change the results, but rather throw them out entirely because the race was compromised by Masi not following the rulebook. Max still wins the title based on tiebreak.

Make it a foot race.

Abu Dhabi Night: The End of Max & Lou.

 

[HenrySwanson]

As a Lewis fan from 06 I think I know what it feels like to have been a Massa fan in 08

 

[PaMu1337]

Oops poorly worded. Not throw out HAM and VER, but throw out the entire race result, like it never happened.

While that would not affect the results for the leaders, it would for the people behind, so also not a great option.

I feel like they should just leave the results as is, make a formal apology, and get rid of Masi

 

[Jubby]

As a Lewis fan from 06 I think I know what it feels like to have been a Massa fan in 08

Yeah, but at least the FIA didn't interfere in that one ('08) like this one.

 

[andrea]

I have no idea what they're saying, but every time I hear French commentary it's always utterly exciting. And shouty.

Also, aren't you only supposed to move once while defending or am I remembering that rule wrong?

French commentary is so fire in everything, football as well.

 

[Chrisuu]

As a Lewis fan from 06 I think I know what it feels like to have been a Massa fan in 08

I cant help but feel this was just like a 4D chess move by the Schumacher family to not have him overthrow the record.

 

[Famine]

Christian Horner thanks Nicholas Latifi for the win, and (according to the Mirror; I know, but what can you do?) promises him a lifetime supply of Red Bull.

Which is about three cans if Toto Wolff gets his hands on him.

 

[MagpieRacer]

The tiebreaker being the 'race' that was Belgium. Let's just face it. This season was a farce.

He would also win it on count back of 2nd places as well.

 

[ZoomingZoomer]

Having previously said that lapped cars would not be allowed to overtake would/could have influenced Mercedes' decision to not pit lewis. Then allowing them to go past and putting Max on brand new softs, right behind lewis on very old hards, does not a fair race make. It's effectively leading the lamb to the slaughter.

But that’s Mercedes’ own fault. They shot themselves in the foot by not immediately pitting Lewis when the SC came out; he was after all still in Sector 3. They could’ve stopped him, and might have come out ahead of Verstappen, even if Red Bull hadn’t stopped him.

And had Max stayed out and been ahead of Lewis, then he would’ve been SWALLOWED, DESTROYED. There was no way Verstappen would’ve won the championship, even if he decided to crash into Hamilton. That would’ve rendered him with a disqualification from the championship, and rightfully so.

But none of that happened, because Mercedes were caught sleeping when it mattered the most. It’s a shame that Masi messed the SC period up, the confusion and odd decisions are his fault, and it’s because of him that many people feel Verstappen is an illegitimate champion. None of that should’ve happened, and it could have been prevented easily.

So I agree: Masi should resign.

 

[Fat Tyre]

Maybe what the sport needs is to get rid of the "Formula 1". In 2009 if I remember correctly Ferrari and some other teams were threatening to leave the FIA and have a breakaway series. Journalist Joe Saward wrote some really interesting articles at the time of how that could actually go ahead. The key players for legitimacy are Ferrari and keeping Monaco. If one can start a series with those two 'brands' then the rest would follow.

Even if McLaren or Ferrari weren't directly affected by this clear case of race fixing. What sort of guarantee do they have that it won't happen to them the following year? Perhaps even the threat of leaving as it did that time could foster change. Massi, at the very least has to go.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

What happened with Perez in the end?, the timing of that retirement seemed weird.

 

[Sum1s2pid]

Make it a foot race.

Abu Dhabi Night: The End of Max & Lou.

 

[PaMu1337]

What happened with Perez in the end?, the timing of that retirement seemed weird.

Maybe a small issue, and they didn't want to risk Perez coming to a stop and extending the SC past the finish?

 

[Jezza819]

That sounds more fair in terms of letting them race. The other possibility is just keeping the lapped cars as is, but I think that's against the rules, but those weren't followed anyway.

A red flag would have put both cars on equal footing then you couldn't argue one would have benefited more than the other. Hamilton had already proven he was better than Max when they were both on the same compound. To me it would have been the better choice to make.

However Karun said on Sky that he and Martin Brundle had asked previously Massi if something happened late in the race would he red flag it and he said no.

 

[EngieDiesel]

Maybe what the sport needs is to get rid of the "Formula 1". In 2009 if I remember correctly Ferrari and some other teams were threatening to leave the FIA and have a breakaway series. Journalist Joe Saward wrote some really interesting articles at the time of how that could actually go ahead. The key players for legitimacy are Ferrari and keeping Monaco. If one can start a series with those two 'brands' then the rest would follow.

Ask CART/USAC how well that "we'll just make our own series then" mentality worked out for them in the '90s.

(spoiler alert: it didn't. at all.)

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

A red flag would have put both cars on equal footing then you couldn't argue one would have benefited more than the other. Hamilton had already proven he was better than Max when they were both on the same compound. To me it would have been the better choice to make.

However Karun said on Sky that he and Martin Brundle had asked previously Massi if something happened late in the race would he red flag it and he said no.

Third option: VSC and tell the drivers absolutely no shenanigans around the crash site?

 

[Fat Tyre]

Ask CART/USAC how well that "we'll just make our own series then" mentality worked out for them in the '90s.

(spoiler alert: it didn't. at all.)

But did they have Ferrari and Monaco? 😉.

 

[PorscheFan91]

So Lewis avoiding yet another Max lunge is the same as completely altering the rules for the benefit of just one driver?

Was it though? The precedent is that cars can unlap themselves under a SC car - had things gone ahead normally per the precedent the outcome wouldn't have been different - Mercedes gambled incorrectly with the tyres. Plus, a few times on the final lap it seemed Lewis had Max but Max outmanoeuvred him. I agree it should have been handled differently but if it were a normal SC restart then the same would have happened.

I think the bottom line is that nobody wanted the race to end this way and Masi has to go. I also feel that it was all just done for drama and various decisions this year were done to artificially create this winner takes all finale. Still, at least the WRC is just only a month away!

 

[PaMu1337]

Third option: VSC and tell the drivers absolutely no shenanigans around the crash site?

Marshalls needed the space to properly remove the car and clean the track. To do that they needed some car-free time. VSC would have been a terrible idea

 

[Dave A]

But if they had stuck to convention and instructed lapped cars to pass in the first place, the result of the race would have been the same as what ended up happening. Though, it is not clear that the lapped cars could have all unlapped themselves in time to allow a racing lap to happen, given that the original decision (to not allow cars to pass) was presumably based on safety considerations.

It's tricky, because I think the race control were left with only unpalatable options and ultimately their decisions had to made very quickly and in light of what was happening with Latifi's car etc.

Mercedes are understandably furious with the decision to let only the cars between LH and MV to pass, effectively handing MV the Championship.

But Red Bull were equally furious at the earlier decision to not let any cars pass, which was an unconventional decision that left MV with a clear disadvantage that would have cost him the Championship.

My gut feeling is that both decisions were 'wrong', but that the second decision (that Mercedes are furious about) was ultimately taken in order to correct for the first, and the net result was that the Championship was decided on the track under green flag conditions.

The rules state that the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap after all lapped cars have passed. Whichever way it happened, Hamilton likely wins if the rules were followed.

The safety car did not pit on the following lap, it pitted on that lap, so even if all laped cars had passed, the safety car should have remained on track for 1 more lap.

Unfortunately they've ended the season in a facial manner that was totally avoidable.

 

[Samus]

But that’s Mercedes’ own fault. They shot themselves in the foot by not immediately pitting Lewis when the SC came out; he was after all still in Sector 3. They could’ve stopped him, and might have come out ahead of Verstappen, even if Red Bull hadn’t stopped him.

And had Max stayed out and been ahead of Lewis, then he would’ve been SWALLOWED, DESTROYED. There was no way Verstappen would’ve won the championship, even if he decided to crash into Hamilton. That would’ve rendered him with a disqualification from the championship, and rightfully so.

But none of that happened, because Mercedes were caught sleeping when it mattered the most. It’s a shame that Masi messed the SC period up, the confusion and odd decisions are his fault, and it’s because of him that many people feel Verstappen is an illegitimate champion. None of that should’ve happened, and it could have been prevented easily.

So I agree: Masi should resign.

They couldn't risk pitting. It was so close to the end of the race it could have ended behind SC and they would have no chance to retake the lead. VER was only 10 seconds behind and would have stayed out.

Red bull on the other hand had nothing to lose pitting once they knew HAM wasn't.