2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina, Dec 10 - 12

[Hammerfist]

Posters have mentioned past races where penalties were not given and so on. However this situation is not about driver behavior, or subjectivity on if a driver intended to break a rule, or went to far.
We have regulations and policies being breached completely by the regulators themselves to effect the outcome of the sport. This is beyond Max or Lewis or what they have done and gotten away with in the past.
It is important for the sport that lap 58 is invalidated. I don't think anyone even a Max fan can say what we saw today was fair and uninfluenced competition. It makes no sense for teams to build these cars, work within technical regulations, conduct their strategy towards the same regulations and rules, and then competition is corrupted. It is not tenable.

The race was 58 laps, why just invalidate that one lap? Invalidate the whole race then. Mercedes had the chance to win, they f*cked up thei strategy by not pitting. Verstappen deserved the win.

LOL no. If Mercedes had pitted it's guaranteed the race would have ended with a safety car. Everybody in the world knows that except you.

[Laserguru]

What makes me sad is Mercedes sent a bunch of lawyers to the officials where RBR have Newey and Horner (Albert Fabrega). As always with Toto the exact opposite he promises. It is not settled on track, not by the drivers, not even by the teams but their lawyers. He has personally taken the sport to a new level. It’s officially no longer a sport. If money can’t buy you the championship hire advocates. Cannot recall any other sport that is decided after the last event finished by lawyers. The idea he took them (plural) to the championship race in the first place is enough to give me shivers. Bravo Paul Harris QC. A sad day for Motorsport.

[Gillian]

Today was another day of terrible decisions. Hamilton deserved to win this race, Verstappen deserves to be champion this year. Not knowing who will actually be champion, even though the race is over is the most terrible end of a season.

[Macklaren]

VER OVERTAKING UNDER SC DISMISSED
now we await the SC restart protest

[Jolle]

My chain of thought. Last lap and the appeal to have it deleted somehow: the FIA ff-ed up, shame. But their effing up shouldn’t be Verstappen’s problem, even if he benefitted from it. But, Verstappen took considerable risk during the safetycar behind Hamilton, when he didn’t had to (the tire differences was so big anyway) and that is a mistake that should count and he only should be responsible for.

[Dr. Acula]

I think we can all agree that F1 would greatly benefit from ditching Michael Masi and getting a race director that can actually direct races based on regulations rather than emotion and team radios.

Whiting had his --- ups too. I don't want to defend Masi, i also think he did a rather poor job overall this season. But based on past events, i don't think the FIA will change anything.

[wogx]

[nevill3]

From The Stewards
To All Teams, All Officials
Document 57
Date 12 December 2021
Time 22:15
2021 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
9 - 12 December 2021
The Stewards
Title Decision - Mercedes Protest Art. 48.8
Description Decision - Mercedes Protest Art. 48.8
Enclosed UAE DOC 57 - Mercedes Protest Art 48.8.pdf
Garry Connelly Felix Holter
Derek Warwick Mohamed Al Hashmi
2021 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
9 – 12 December 2021
From The Stewards Document 57
To All Teams Date 12 December 2021
Time 22:14

Protest filed by Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team against Car number 33,
driven by Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing Honda)
Stewards Decision:
The Protest is dismissed.
Procedure:
1. On December 12 the parties were summoned at 1945 hrs (Documents 52 and 53) and
heard. The following persons were present during the hearing.
On behalf of Mercedes:
‐ Ron Meadows
‐ Andrew Shovlin
‐ Paul Harris (Team Legal Counsel)
On behalf of Red Bull:
‐ Jonathan Wheatley
2. At the hearing there were no objections against the composition of the Stewards panel.
The parties set out oral arguments and addressed the questions asked by the Stewards.
3. At the hearing the parties referred to the documents submitted. None of the parties
submitted further evidence or initiated the hearing of additional persons or
conducting further investigations.
The claims of Mercedes:
Mercedes claimed that Car 33 overtook Car 44 during the Safety Car period at 1832hrs, in
breach of Article 48.8 of the 2021 Formula One Sporting Regulations.
Red Bull’s arguments in defence:
Red Bull argued that Car 44 was not “overtaken” by Car 33, that both cars were “on and off the
throttle” and that there were “a million precedents” under Safety Car where cars had pulled
alongside then moved back behind the Car that was in front.
Conclusions of the Stewards :
The Stewards consider that the protest is admissible.
Having considered the various statements made by the parties. The Stewards determine that
although Car 33 did at one stage, for a very short period of time, move slightly in front of Car 44,
at a time when both cars where accelerating and braking, it moved back behind Car 44 and it was
not in front when the Safety Car period ended (i.e. at the line).
Accordingly, the Protest is dismissed and the Protest Deposit is not refunded.
Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in
accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial
and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits.
Garry Connelly Felix Holter
Derek Warwick Mohamed Al Hashmi
The Stewardshttps://www.fia.com/sites/default/files ... 2048.8.pdf

[chrisgr]

How easy would have been to issue a red flag immediately and both would have change to new tires and we would have more laps to race and everything would be fine...

[ENGINE TUNER]

Lap 1 incident:
Max came from very far back, he had zero portion of his car alongside into the braking zone. Per the rules he is required to leave space for Hamilton, which he clearly did not. The FIA incompetence this season is sadly infecting many casual viewers who think Lewis did anything wrong there.

Absolutely correct, Hamilton was fully ahead at the beginning of the braking zone and at corner entry, verstappen mere divebombed him and did not leave proper racing room, any opportunity for Hamilton to keep even 1 wheel on track. Not only should Hamilton be allowed to keep his place, verstappen should have been penalized in some way.

What I am astonished by is the 3 so called champions at sky sports claiming that Hamilton should have been forced to give back a place that he never took in that corner. Even they don't know the rules and that is a huge part of the problem.

[the EDGE]

So now you can overtake under the safety car as long as you give the place back before the safety car line

Sounds like a bad precedent to me

[DChemTech]

What makes me sad is Mercedes sent a bunch of lawyers to the officials where RBR have Newey and Horner (Albert Fabrega). As always with Toto the exact opposite he promises. It is not settled on track, not by the drivers, not even by the teams but their lawyers. He has personally taken the sport to a new level. It’s officially no longer a sport. If money can’t buy you the championship hire advocates. Cannot recall any other sport that is decided after the last event finished by lawyers. The idea he took them (plural) to the championship race in the first place is enough to give me shivers. Bravo Paul Harris QC. A sad day for Motorsport.

Agree, toto's antics are so annoying. I get that MB is bummed, but Toto's whining every race is just sad. MB won the WCC and deserved it. But if there was a world manager champion, it should be Zak or so. Horner and Toot disgrace the sport.

[DChemTech]

So now you can overtake under the safety car as long as you give the place back before the safety car line

Sounds like a bad precedent to me

Why? Who was hurt? Who was affected?max was ahead for a millisecond due to lewis braking, no consequence at all. What's the problem

[El Scorchio]

I’m glad they removed the possibility of shifting blame for Masi’s **** up onto Verstappen and penalising him for that. That would have been snide in the extreme.

However they do need to now take responsibility for their own actions, which I am sure they will try everything not to do.

[Shrieker]

What makes me sad is Mercedes sent a bunch of lawyers to the officials where RBR have Newey and Horner (Albert Fabrega). As always with Toto the exact opposite he promises. It is not settled on track, not by the drivers, not even by the teams but their lawyers. He has personally taken the sport to a new level. It’s officially no longer a sport. If money can’t buy you the championship hire advocates. Cannot recall any other sport that is decided after the last event finished by lawyers. The idea he took them (plural) to the championship race in the first place is enough to give me shivers. Bravo Paul Harris QC. A sad day for Motorsport.

Oh come on.

It wasn't as if it was between two drivers, and toto was just defending his'. The people who were under obligation to apply the (not abide by, but apply) the rules, gave a decision that was completely out of the realms of possibility, according to the rules themselves. It was as if the ball was out for a throw in, and all of a sudden a penalty was awarded at the other end of the pitch

If a fraction of this was done to you, and you weren't seeking legal avenues, that would make you a [insert very bad word here].