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

[Jono8]

Good interview with Toto here -

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2021/12/16/wolff-angry-in-disbelief-pain-as-he-expands-on-f1-finale/

“Yes indeed, we believe we had a very strong case,” he said. “If you look at it from a legal side if it would have been judged in a regular court it is almost guaranteed we would have won. But the problem with the ICA is the way it is structured. The FIA can’t really mark their own homework. And there is a difference between being right and obtaining justice.”


He understood why some observers may be questioning why Mercedes has backed out of an appeal.


“I can understand the frustrations of many and to be honest, I am also in two minds between my perspective and my judgement on the legal position, and my realism of the outcome of such proceedings,” he said.


“As I said before, there’s a difference between being right and obtaining justice. And I don’t think that at the moment we are set up, in terms of our governance, to end up in a situation that would have given us remedy, that would have reinstalled a result that was taken away from Lewis before the last lap of the race. And that’s why, heavy-hearted, we have decided not to appeal because we wouldn’t have got the result. Now I think we have the right tools in hand to make sure that the decision-making going forward is better and we will be holding the FIA and the decision-makers accountable for making the sport and the decision-making more robust and consistent.”



Sounds like he absolutely wanted to appeal but knew it was utterly pointless as it would have been a kangaroo court.

 

[chrismscotland]

Why did lewis even get a knighthood, services to his own career/wallet.

It was for "services to motorsport"

 

[Junglist]

Why did lewis even get a knighthood, services to his own career/wallet.

Probably for being the UKs most successful racing driver? Sports people often get them

 

[Jono8]

Why did lewis even get a knighthood, services to his own career/wallet.

It isn't unusual for exceptional sports persons to get knighted.

 

[EVH]

As much as I want next year to see more teams competing at the front, I hope Merc and Red Bull come out with a race winner.

The world needs a rematch and the opportunity for both teams to go at it again. Yes, it'd be nice if McLaren are up there but both teams will want to stamp their mark on the championship... I'm sure Max doesn't want to run the #1 on his car and finish P5 in the championship

 

[Kanpai]

As much as I want next year to see more teams competing at the front, I hope Merc and Red Bull come out with a race winner.

The world needs a rematch and the opportunity for both teams to go at it again. Yes, it'd be nice if McLaren are up there but both teams will want to stamp their mark on the championship... I'm sure Max doesn't want to run the #1 on his car and finish P5 in the championship

Agreed, the last thing I want is one dominant team, need atleast both RB and Merc as close as this season again, but deep down I want 4 teams in contention because that would be even more epic.

Here's to hoping McLaren and Ferrari can fight it up at the top of the grid too.

 

[Greboth]

There has never been an asterisk against any previous WDC titles, this one will be no different.

Max is a WDC and that's that.

Not a literal asterisk no but it will be hard to talk about this season without mentioned this. Just like '97 is rarely mentioned without Schumacher's cheating or '80 without talking about the crash and DSQ of Senna at Suzuka.

While it would be exciting season for them to be competing for the championship. I'd be equally as happy if Merc stomp it again and Hamilton walks an 8th title, maybe even 9 or 10 before he retires. Just to rub it in Red Bull's face that they can only win with assistance.

 

[Kanpai]

that they can only win with assistance.

Strongly disagree, there were many incidents over the course of the season that can be argued that Max could have been WDC before Abu Dhabi.

 

[Jono8]

Strongly disagree, there were many incidents over the course of the season that can be argued that Max could have been WDC before Abu Dhabi.

Discretionary rulings by the stewards are in no way the same as a completely new and absurdly unfair rule made up on the spot by the RD.

The two things should NOT be conflated.

 

[fez]

Strongly disagree, there were many incidents over the course of the season that can be argued that Max could have been WDC before Abu Dhabi.

Theres also incidents that could/should have cost Max points before the last race that he got away with which would have meant that Hamilton could have come second in the last race and still taken the title.

Plenty of ifs and buts on both sides of this.

 

[Greboth]

Strongly disagree, there were many incidents over the course of the season that can be argued that Max could have been WDC before Abu Dhabi.

Ok, who would have won the title had Masi followed the rules, both laid down in black and white and followed for the last however many years, that the safety car would come in at the end of the following lap?

There's instances for and against both Verstappen and Hamilton; what if Hamilton had have gotten a harsher penalty for Silverstone? What if Verstappen had have gotten a penalty for Brazil? What if, what if, what if. The problem these are all open to opinion and we could argue about them until kingdom come. The safety car rules though aren't a subjective decision or opinion, the are prescriptive.

 

[koolpc]

Wolff:

"This situation is nothing to do with Max," Wolff said. "He is a worthy champion, his driving is exceptional and Red Bull are a fierce competitor. And I have the greatest respect of the people working there. This has nothing to do with them."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59686315

 

[Scam]

There has never been an asterisk against any previous WDC titles, this one will be no different

I think most would agree that the end of this championship has been absolutely like no other, even when you get past the media frenzy/hype.

Strongly disagree, there were many incidents over the course of the season that can be argued that Max could have been WDC before Abu Dhabi.

And there's at least what 4 overtakes Max did over Lewis that should have been penalised. Not to mention Baku, the gift of Spa an the other red flags that helped him massively. Horses for courses.

 

[mattyg]

Sounds to me that behind all this Lewis didn't want a court decided WDC on his record... Good on him. Hope he totally dominates next season.
For his legacy, Its better to have a "well it should have been 9 WDC's" rather than "yeah well he only got 9 coz of the courts"

 

[steve45]

I'm not a fan of Crofty but I agree with his points (4:15 onwards).

 

[matt100]

Why did lewis even get a knighthood, services to his own career/wallet.

You're right so long as your argument is knighthoods should only ever be for charity/selfless good?

Otherwise no musician/sports or businessperson should get one.

 

[Scam]

Not to mention Lewis probably does way more for charity and social issues than most other sportspeople.

 

[sparkymark75]

Mercedes just gave away all their bargaining chips here. They must have been given some assurances, otherwise why not proceed with the appeal. It can take weeks/months for it to be heard. In the meantime, if the FIA made changes or took action that Mercedes were happy with, they could have dropped it at that point. Surely if they now try and take it to any other court, they will simply say you never followed due process. I'm almost as disappointed they've abandoned the appeal as I was after Sundays race!

Asking the FIA to do anything is like asking a student to mark their own homework!

 

[Irish_Tom]

Asking the FIA to do anything is like asking a student to mark their own homework!

Which was exactly Toto’s point and part of the reason they dropped the appeal. If the FIA are going to be judge, jury and executioner, they’re never going to find in favour of Mercedes, so why bother?

Better to try and work constructively via the commission, especially if they’ve received assurances of positive change.

 

[Slam62]

No point in the court case, Masi had a brain fart, what can you do