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

[Slam62]

I think the safety car procedure not being followed is the most important, it was a shambles.

 

[Merlin5]

Except Masi wasn't originally planning to let all the cars unlap, he was planning on letting NONE of them unlap so he could get the safety car in before the end.

Basically either extreme would have been fine for Lewis and Merc - if all cars unlap then the race finishes under the SC, if no cars unlap then there are too many backmarkers between Lewis and Max.

The problem that Masi conjured up this unprecedented "half way house" which handed the race to Max.

It's an impossible situation as it could well be that, legally, Merc have a case but then no one really wants the result changed in a courtroom later on.

Unless there's actually a written FIA rule that says the race director can change or ignore another written FIA rule on a whim, Masi was in the wrong and he should have waited for all the lapped cars to unlap first.

 

[.:MBK:.]

That would be incredibly harsh given Hamilton was slowing down and waiting to go.

Different maybe if he was a whole car ahead.

The other view there is Max has also "blocked" Lewis from dictating the line/time to start, as lead car that is his privelege, not Max's

 

[booyaka]

The only real protest is the made up rules at the end

Agree - this is the focus of the situation for me....

The "overtake" is nonsense for me.

The farce of 5 cars can pass but no one else etc is the problem I have....

 

[MooMoo444]

Unless there's actually a written FIA rule that says the race director can change or ignore another written FIA rule on the spot, Massi was in the wrong and he should have waited for all the lapped cars to unlap first.

A rule that says "these rules can be disregarded as deemed fit" is pretty laughable though.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Someone in Paris is nervously waiting a phone call right about now.

 

[mattx2]

Masi making it up as he goes along seems to have just made a middle ground rule between letting lapped cars pass and not, maybe next years rules will have a 'let them race' rule overide

I highly doubt either protest will go anywhere, not sure what the point of protesting the overtaking under the sc, i guess hoping for penalty points rather than changing the race

They need to challenge it to understand why the rule was applied. Imagine if you were behind max racing one of those 5 cars that got to go for meaningful points, how would that be fair?

It should be all lapped cars or none go otherwise it makes safety cars even more of a lottery

 

[muon]

I think the safety car procedure not being followed is the most important, it was a shambles.

FIA would have to take blame then. As far as I'm aware they can easily just say we decided to ignore them, so what. The question then is if the rules allow arbitration in some way.

 

[Slam62]

Someone in Paris is nervously waiting a phone call right about now.

Yes this is going to run and run

 

[booyaka]

Paddy Power using it to their advantage...

JUSTICE PAYOUT

We are paying out on:
- Both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to win the Abu Dhabi GP
AND
- Both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to win the F1 Drivers Championship!

 

[Locky]

How far did Lewis finish behind Max?

 

[Azza]

+1 for thinking Max went slightly ahead. Or at least from the camera on his car perspective.

 

[Slam62]

FIA would have to take blame then. As far as I'm aware they can easily just say we decided to ignore them, so what. The question then is if the rules allow arbitration in some way.

I don't think the fia have a rule for the fia getting it wrong

 

[muon]

How far did Lewis finish behind Max?

Just over 2s.

 

[mattx2]

A rule that says "these rules can be disregarded as deemed fit" is pretty laughable though.

I believe race director can make any call in regards to safety but I don't think letting 5 cars unlapp is anything to do with safety.

 

[Mr Jack]

Also agree with Nico's opinion on the argument with the nose.

What did he say? (I don't watch the UK coverage)

 

[Goates]

Surely the rules are the rules whether it's a deciding championship decision or not?

 

[.:MBK:.]

Can see the result being, and arguably its the way the least amount of reputational damage is done here, is FIA take it on the chin, someone (unfortunately) falls on a sword, and they advise they will clarify regulations going forward.

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

Yeah I don't think you'd quite have the same tune had roles been reversed for the exact same outcome today

Definitely not, but it's no different to supporters of football teams outside of the Premiership who don't care about Man City, Chelsea or Liverpool dominating football but love to see close titles. I'm sure a lot of neutrals would love to see former giants like Williams or Man United compete for a change.

 

[ZG002]

I can't see the championship result changing now tbh.

I just want Masi to loose his job at this point.