Mercedes did not mess up in the end. They made the correct strategy call based on the RULES, because if Masi had followed the rules, either the face finishes under the safety car or Max had loads of backmarkers to unlap again n one lap due to his stop.
Poll: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021, Yas Island - Race 22
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Mercedes did not mess up in the end. They made the correct strategy call based on the RULES, because if Masi had followed the rules, either the face finishes under the safety car or Max had loads of backmarkers to unlap again n one lap due to his stop.
That's a pointless argument re the teams. There is no way the teams ever agreed to just a select few cars getting unlapped, because that's an incredibly unfair way of doing it. Furthermore anybagreement by the teams on that will have been based on the actual rules (ie that all cars get unlapped or none do...not just those Masi chooses so as to manupulate a result).
I wonder how many would have agreed if it was asked in terms of doing so by ignoring the safety car regulations in deference to letting Masi make it up as he goes along 'because 15.3 says he can do whatever he wants'?
But it's already proven that there were no punctures or reliability issues in the last lap?
The correct thing to do would be to apply the rules and thus the classification would be what it was on lap 57 under the safety car because under the rules, the race would have ended under the safety car.
Remember Mercedes made the strategic decision in good faith based on the RULES. If those rules can be just changed in a whim, no team can make the correct call anymore. It is why there are rules.
So if you were in 4th place yesterday, and fighting for the 3rd place podium you'd have been screwed as they didn't let the lapped runners past, only the cars between 1st and 2nd.
Tell me how that is racing conditions, or fair and equal to the whole field of runners?
The select few car thing is what makes no sense
They normally say lapped cars unlap yourself, give it another lap so they are out the way then race
this time they said safety car in this lap, a few lapped cars go unlap yourself.
Could he have said safety car in this lap, lapped cars unlap? they still would have got past and been down the road enough?
They normally say lapped cars unlap yourself, give it another lap so they are out the way then race
this time they said safety car in this lap, a few lapped cars go unlap yourself.
Could he have said safety car in this lap, lapped cars unlap? they still would have got past and been down the road enough?
It's not fair and equal, but the rules in place at the time give the power to the RD to control the race events. I imagine these rules have been 'approved' and 'agreed' by the teams, else they wouldn't be racing to them.
The response from Mercedes and the media has been disappointing, the level of bias is just pure cringe.
Mercedes should just accept defeat gracefully and stop embarrassing themselves, they should also thank themselves lucky to have the WCC championship as without Bottas taking out two Redbulls they might not even have that.
Mercedes should just accept defeat gracefully and stop embarrassing themselves, they should also thank themselves lucky to have the WCC championship as without Bottas taking out two Redbulls they might not even have that.
Caporegime
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Lets look at the facts.
-When the safety car was put out a massive message was on the screen saying no overtaking.
-When it was realised the race would finish either behind the safety car or with one lap remaining. The cars were allowed to overtake the safety car to try and resume the race before the finish.
-When it was realised that letting all cars un lap themselves would result in finishing behind the safety car they changed the rules to only go back to Max Verstappen.
-The above was all done whilst knowing Max had brand new soft tyres compared to Hamilton's old hard compound. Total disregard to Carlos Sainz in third or racers battling it out for the top ten.
-As race director you are there to control the race and all it competitors not just a single entity or an entire championship.
The critical point in bold is where the race was fixed but the other points above it show indication of trying to fix the result when the outcome the race director wanted wasn't going to happen.
-When the safety car was put out a massive message was on the screen saying no overtaking.
-When it was realised the race would finish either behind the safety car or with one lap remaining. The cars were allowed to overtake the safety car to try and resume the race before the finish.
-When it was realised that letting all cars un lap themselves would result in finishing behind the safety car they changed the rules to only go back to Max Verstappen.
-The above was all done whilst knowing Max had brand new soft tyres compared to Hamilton's old hard compound. Total disregard to Carlos Sainz in third or racers battling it out for the top ten.
-As race director you are there to control the race and all it competitors not just a single entity or an entire championship.
The critical point in bold is where the race was fixed but the other points above it show indication of trying to fix the result when the outcome the race director wanted wasn't going to happen.
The RD clearly cannot just make up the rules as he goes a long. That's absurd.
Not to mention that the rule he made up was obviously and objectively biased and was solely made to gift Max the title.
A whole load of evidence, you mean from all the times the RD has thrown the rule book out the window and shouted watch this...oh wait that's not happened before. But lets investigate what has happened before...oh wait the RD has always followed the prescribed rules before.
I actually think it's a shame that other teams haven't joined in on this protest as the teams should hold the FIA to their own rules. As it is, it made no difference to the constructors championship but I bet if it had there would be more teams protesting.
The only series I watch where the rules are applied hard, fair and consistently irrespective of the "entertainment" aspect.
Exactly.
I find it odd that it's even up for debate. The rule change/new rule made up by Masi on the spot was so ridiculously and obviously biased /beneficial to Max, there isn't really a debate to be had.
Why? They would have to pay out regardless who won. I bet most UK bookies are probably happy as more people here would bet on Lewis rather than Max
I'm not going to read the last 20 man sized pages. Sorry. Went to see the family last night and purposely didn't go anywhere near social media, forums etc.
Regardless of the result, pending court cases and whatever else I may have missed I'll take two things away from this :
1) Hamilton's sportsmanship. He was gracious in the immediate aftermath.
2) The lobbying or whatever else you want to call it between the race director and the teams has to stop. Added an interesting dimension to the broadcasts we hadn't seen before, but it fundamentally feels ... bent. The rules should be applied as written. The race directors word should be final. No arguments, no complaining. No emails to help make the correct decision.
Regardless of the result, pending court cases and whatever else I may have missed I'll take two things away from this :
1) Hamilton's sportsmanship. He was gracious in the immediate aftermath.
2) The lobbying or whatever else you want to call it between the race director and the teams has to stop. Added an interesting dimension to the broadcasts we hadn't seen before, but it fundamentally feels ... bent. The rules should be applied as written. The race directors word should be final. No arguments, no complaining. No emails to help make the correct decision.
As per my previous posts - It's not just the RD. He represents the Stewards, all of the data analysts and other team members providing him the information. He himself is not making the judgements. Much like Borris and any other President of Country, isn't solely calling the shots.
They always have a trail of supporting evidence to backup the decision/s being made. [Not saying the decision is right or wrong]
So had some time to sleep on it/think it over and I'm still annoyed, if the FIAs argument is "15.3 means the RD can do whatever he likes", and the RD then uses that to massively favour one driver over all others then it's no longer a sport. It's worse than NASCAR.
I don't really care if the WDC is changed but if the FIA don't make an apology and fire Masi my time as an F1 fan is at an end after ~20 years, and that's kinda sad.
I don't really care if the WDC is changed but if the FIA don't make an apology and fire Masi my time as an F1 fan is at an end after ~20 years, and that's kinda sad.
Yep - I agree.
Those rules need to changed and be tested properly so they stand up to scrutiny.
e.g. the 48.12 sentence which states 'any lapped cars pass the SC' - this should be 'all lapped cars pass the SC'
That's a serious error!
That's exactly what 15.3 states - it's give the RD power over the race, as a result of the (a) to (e) items.
Whether this is right or wrong is up for debate, but right now - those are the rules.
Rule 15.3
Way I read e is that it could be brought out at any time even if not safety related, and he can say go through the pitlane even if debris not on the circuit, but not the procedures that control the release of lapped cars etc which is the direction I suspect Merc will go down. Either way I think it won't matter as the result will stand unless it's settled that the race will be shortened. I think it will be agreed in the end that the RD messed up, and Merc will claim some sort of compo from the FIA but the results will stand. Be interesting to see the statement by the Clerk of the course for the removal of the SC with one lap to go.
What about all the other drivers who punted people off and made them retire and only got a 10s penalty?
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