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Helped somewhat by the heated battles between Verstappen and Hamilton seen throughout the 2021 Formula One championship, criticism on race director Michael Masi has mounted. But what next after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
Why? Because of one freaky incident? How can we forget FIA allowed a questionably legal Mercedes car to race, which gained close to a second pace with all that trickery. Red Bull's pleas weren't even given a due hearing. Unlike in any past year, Mercedes gains such an advantage and that wasn't enough for FIA to give a due consideration. Except for this one incident, FIA has unquestionably favored Mercedes. That isn't going to change.
100% agree. He is soft and isn't authoritative. Massi will be looking for a job.falonso81 wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 17:32Ferrari fan here. Happy for Carlos podium and happy that someone else won the title besides Hamilton. To me, everyone here has the wrong idea about Michael Masi. He is not the right guy for this job, not because he is incompetent, but because he is too soft of a character. He tries to please both Horner and Wolf and somehow tries to fix a mistake by making another one. Someone really high (or maybe Masi reconsidered) must have given the order for lapped cars to go by, because it would have robbed everyone of the battle between Max and Lewis if they didn't.
My guess about not all cars going by, is that the call came at the very last moment, almost the same time the SC ending was announced, so not everyone got the chance to unlap themselves or else they would have interfered with the front runners. The blame ultimately lies with the FIA, and if a protest from Mercedes goes through and reverse the outcome, it would mean the end for F1.
It would have been much less engineered to finish the race under the safety car considering Hamilton had been leading the whole race and had an 11 second cushion. Even leaving the 5 cars between Hamilton and Verstappen would have been a fairer way to restart the race. Allowing Verstappen to close up by only removing the 5 cars between him and Hamilton is absolutely wrong.Stu wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 17:26I can totally see your point, but the only other option for the race director was to keep the safety car out until the end (which would have equally been considered an engineered result). I just wonder whether had Mercedes have handed the place back on lap one (personally, I see no difference between that incident and the one last week after the first restart - MV had to give the place back), whether they would have held the same tactical advantage during the VSC period. LH would be champion now.El Scorchio wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 17:07The fact they abandoned protocol to essentially engineer a Verstappen win is extraordinary. Mercedes won’t get anywhere but yes they should protest. But it’s not Red Bull’s fault the FIA sent them the title on a plate.
It’s beyond luck.
If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message "LAPPED CARS MAY NOW
OVERTAKE" has been sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system, any cars that
have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety
car.
This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the
lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car
was deployed.
Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed
around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking, and make every effort to take up
position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car. Whilst they are overtaking, and in
order to ensure this may be carried out safely, the cars on the lead lap must always stay on the
racing line unless deviating from it is unavoidable. Unless the clerk of the course considers the
presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the
safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.
If the clerk of the course considers track conditions are unsuitable for overtaking the message
"OVERTAKING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED" will be sent to all Competitors via the official messaging
system.
Finish behind the SC would be right than?Just Passing By wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 17:45I'm not a fan of either Hamilton or Verstappen, but this is not right for me how it comes to end ...