Poll: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021, Yas Island - Race 22

[sparkymark75]

Will Mercedes boycott the Thursday night "event"? Surely if they don't agree with it then don't go.

 

[Mesai]

There is nothing to agree or disagree with. It was objectively not within the rules and was just made up by Masi. Teams cannot make correct strategy calls if the race director is just going to make up rules on a whim that specifically penalise some drivers over others.

You seem to be mistaken in thinking this is even up for debate or to do with subjectivity/discretion. It isn't.

They really should have red flagged the race. Anyone who’s watched F1 will know that it takes ages to remove a car and let back markers through.

 

[sparkymark75]

The whole system is pretty flawed. I don’t want people penalised for every little infringement, and the FIA do try and “let them race”, but this leaves too much freedom for random decision making.

Christian Horner himself has complained about lack of consistency. The stewards and Michael Masi can't pick and choose when to "let them race".

 

[Mesai]

But in this instance they only let a chosen amount of cars race. Those arbitrarily chosen by Masi, which is intensely problematic.

I fully believe it was panic because either they didn’t want to end under SC or because someone higher told them not to let it end under SC. They’ll obviously double down on the decision though.

 

[Jono8]

Christian Horner himself has complained about lack of consistency. The stewards and Michael Masi can't pick and choose when to "let them race".

or even which particular cars they let "race"!

 

[Mesai]

Christian Horner himself has complained about lack of consistency. The stewards and Michael Masi can't pick and choose when to "let them race".

I wanted Max and RB to win; it’s been such a great season after so many dull ones, but this really ruined it; I feel for Lewis.

I wouldn’t even call the FIA bias, they’ve consistently made bad calls on both sides.

 

[msmalls74]

I wonder what the reason MM decided to use his powers to alter the safety car rules in this race and not in all the other racers he has been race director? I understand why the rule for him to call or withdraw a safety car is there for legitimate safety reasons, but I'm not seeing why he has overruled standard procedures in this case. Several races over the past few years has ended behind the SC, does this set a precedent where as RD he can use the "over rule" button to alter the course of a race or championship without question or reason?

 

[Jono8]

does this set a precedent where as RD he can use the "over rule" button to alter the course of a race or championship without question or reason?

If nothing is done about it, then yes it does, because that is exactly what he did.

 

[koolpc]

There is nothing to agree or disagree with. It was objectively not within the rules and was just made up by Masi. Teams cannot make correct strategy calls if the race director is just going to make up rules on a whim that specifically penalise some drivers over others.

You seem to be mistaken in thinking this is even up for debate or to do with subjectivity/discretion. It isn't.

Well, decision has been made. Max is the champion.

See what the appeal comes up with.

Red Bull should appeal the stewards not telling Ham to give max the lead when Ham cut the corner MASSIVELY.

 

[.Lethal]

I wonder what the reason MM decided to use his powers to alter the safety car rules in this race and not in all the other racers he has been race director? I understand why the rule for him to call or withdraw a safety car is there for legitimate safety reasons, but I'm not seeing why he has overruled standard procedures in this case. Several races over the past few years has ended behind the SC, does this set a precedent where as RD he can use the "over rule" button to alter the course of a race or championship without question or reason?

As said via the dismissal:

"The Race Director also stated that it had long been agreed by all the Teams that where possible it was highly desirable for the race to end in a “green” condition (i.e. not under a Safety Car)."

 

[pioneer2000]

Well, decision has been made. Max is the champion.

See what the appeal comes up with.

Red Bull should appeal the stewards not telling Ham to give max the lead when Ham cut the corner MASSIVELY.

Are you being obtuse on purpose or are you blind?! Max barely made the corner himself after his lunge… where did you expect Hamilton to go, apart from off the track?

 

[Greboth]

Decision was made. Max won. Simple really. Obviously any non biased F1 supporter is going to disagree with it. Unless it was on the other foot.

What needs to happen now, is to make sure the rules are clear and concise next year.

FTFY.

The problem is this decision has massive repercussions on the whole sport. If the race director can, apparently at his whim and with seemingly no need to justify it, decide to do something different and not follow the rules as written then you no longer have a sport.

Can we dig up Jean Marie Balestre and re-instate him? As at this point I think he’d be better than Masi.

 

[chrcoluk]

The new F1 logo.

 

[ZeeWrath]

As said via the dismissal:

"The Race Director also stated that it had long been agreed by all the Teams that where possible it was highly desirable for the race to end in a “green” condition (i.e. not under a Safety Car)."

Don't need cars to unlap for "green" condition. The bit that makes no sense is why only cars infront of max were told to unlap themselves

 

[Gog]

I want to be happy for Max but wow the FIA are a complete shambles, and its completely overshadowing it for me. I'm not one for cancel culture but I really don't see how MM's position can continue to be tenable. Would be interesting to hear what the other teams think on the matter but I suspect they're just going to keep quiet publicly.

 

[Abraxaz1]

I could see mercedes throwing a hissy fit and pulling out of F1 completely, engines and all.

It's not like F1 is actually innovating anything for the future. Hell all new cars from 2030 need to be electric, why waste limited r&d money on developing ICE systems and aero that would never work on the road

Could see mercedes move to endurance or do a VAG and pull out of Motorsport entirely

 

[.Lethal]

Red Bull should appeal the stewards not telling Ham to give max the lead when Ham cut the corner MASSIVELY.

No they shouldn't. The reason we've all heard was more than reasonable. The only difference is that Lewis could have slowed down a bit more than he did but either way Max was never going to get past Hamilton without forcing him off the track.

Are you being obtuse on purpose or are you blind?! Max barely made the corner himself after his lunge… where did you expect Hamilton to go, apart from off the track?

Max made the corner fine, it was forcing Ham off the track by diving into the corner that was the problem.

Don't need cars to unlap for "green" condition. The bit that makes no sense is why only cars infront of max were told to unlap themselves

Up until today we all assumed that but the regulations state 48.12 "any lapped cars" technically doesn't mean "all cars" and that article 48.13 which notifies teams of the safety car coming in doesn't mean once all lapped cars have overtaken or has to be on the following lap as article 15.3 gives the race director Michael Masi control over the safety car.

You can see why it's a ***** show.

 

[jaybee]

Well, decision has been made. Max is the champion.

See what the appeal comes up with.

Red Bull should appeal the stewards not telling Ham to give max the lead when Ham cut the corner MASSIVELY.

If they do appeal it, we can use Brazil as the exact same example. During the race it was deemed no investigation necessary. They need new evidence to appeal that. They won't find any to warrant reopening this. Plus the deadline for appeal has passed anyway to raise it after the race? More to the point, Max forced him off track... Again.

 

[Emlyn_Dewar]

He left the door the wide open, and Max took the line.

 

[bayo000]

where did you expect Hamilton to go, apart from off the track?

Not to drive into the distance and gain advantage would be a start. Going into that corner he was 2-3 car lengths ahead, when he re-joined the track he was ahead by about 10. He should have at least slow down.