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

[nimoraca]

Its like being 115 vs 0 up in football, and the referee declares that the next goal wins and also gives a penalty to one of the teams.

[Restomaniac]

I am just waiting for Hamilton to end this by asking Mercedes to revert the complaint.
He has shown so mush class the especially the last two races.
During and post race.

It would be so classy and honestly. Today, he has shown how a world championship is being won if the governing role does not work for your side.

I hope he does this. It would be the least controversial full stop to this travesty.

No it wouldn’t it would just prove that being dodgy as hell pays.

[214270]

Race control error is interesting phraseology.

[TwanV]

I am just waiting for Hamilton to end this by asking Mercedes to revert the complaint.
He has shown so mush class the especially the last two races.
During and post race.

It would be so classy and honestly. Today, he has shown how a world championship is being won if the governing role does not work for your side.

Agreed 100%. It's easy playing the GOAT during a winning streak, he showed today he is capable of accepting loss like a champion too. He's a brutal competitor but in the end his heart is in the right place. Love how his dad helped him there.

[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.

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].

If we are talking about precedents, I am not looking forward to each and every possible faul or mistake being filed by a bunch of advocates after crossing the finish line.

I have not seen people taking it out personally to others here that often, it was all about debating arguments, so you set your own precedent there. Thanks for the compliment.

[dans79]

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.

That seems rather a misunderstanding of the sporting regulations. The race director has "overriding authority" [regulation 15.3] to do whatever they want with respect to safety car operation and starting procedures.

That rule is about him having the authority to initiate a safety car, and things like if a start should be a standing start or a rolling one. They do not give him the right to circumvent other aspects of the rules!

[chrisgr]

That seems rather a misunderstanding of the sporting regulations. The race director has "overriding authority" [regulation 15.3] to do whatever they want with respect to safety car operation and starting procedures.

So maybe he could let Verstappen or Sainz or any driver to overtake the safety car, fly to the finish line and win? What I am trying to say is that overriding authority has its limit and is bounded by the rules. He conveniently chose only those 5 cars, between Hamilton and Verstappen, and in that way he dictated a champion.

[InsaneX_Badger]

If Michael gives any explanation that can warrant the smallest explainable excuse, the FIA will snatch it with both hands and run away with it. The backlash from all angles if the championship changes hands would be huge

[El Scorchio]

Its like being 115 vs 0 up in football, and the referee declares that the next goal wins and also gives a penalty to one of the teams.

Not too dissimilar at all. Or like in snooker in the deciding frame have one player 8 points up with only the black left, and then telling everyone the black is now worth 9 points instead of 7 when it’s right over the pocket and it’s the player behind’s go.

[Just_a_fan]

I am just waiting for Hamilton to end this by asking Mercedes to revert the complaint.
He has shown so mush class the especially the last two races.
During and post race.

It would be so classy and honestly. Today, he has shown how a world championship is being won if the governing role does not work for your side.

Agreed 100%. It's easy playing the GOAT during a winning streak, he showed today he is capable of accepting loss like a champion too. He's a cunning competitor but in the end his heart is in the right place.

Stayed on the podium spraying the fizzy pop too.

I was glad to see Lewis congratulate Max personally and in interview. Nicely done, sir.

[kaller]

Also to the people complaining about Wolf talking to Masi being disrespectful and trying to influence him, here's what Horner said:
'We were screaming at him "let em race,"' he told Sky Sports. 'That’s what we’ve been talking about all these years: let them race."

[mzivtins]

I think nearly half of all fans in some way expected this kind of result.

I do not think rules have been broken, but the word is they have not been followed, it's a tiny difference in wording but can mean a lot in regards to the handling of on track control by race director.

The reason it's so bad is that rules of governance allow strategy to work within the confines of those rules, and if that governance is not adhered to, you can not possibly plan for that.

The race director should never impart random acts of God on a race, like rain or Tyre failure.

I believe the only way forward from this mess is a resignation from massi and the result to stand, I would prefer Hamilton with the wdc, but this is not Max's fault.

Between max, Jos, Hamilton and Anthony these guys were amazing after the race, that's what I love about f1.

[El Scorchio]

Also to the people complaining about Wolf talking to Masi being disrespectful and trying to influence him, here's what Horner said:
'We were screaming at him "let em race,"' he told Sky Sports. 'That’s what we’ve been talking about all these years: let them race."

So the opposite of what they were saying after lap 1 then!

[Restomaniac]

I think nearly half of all fans in some way expected this kind of result.

I do not think rules have been broken, but the word is they have not been followed, it's a tiny difference in wording but can mean a lot in regards to the handling of on track control by race director.

The reason it's so bad is that rules of governance allow strategy to work within the confines of those rules, and if that governance is not adhered to, you can not possibly plan for that.

The race director should never impart random acts of God on a race, like rain or Tyre failure.

I believe the only way forward from this mess is a resignation from massi and the result to stand, I would prefer Hamilton with the wdc, but this is not Max's fault.

Between max, Jos, Hamilton and Anthony these guys were amazing after the race, that's what I love about f1.

No it’s not Max’s fault however he never should have had it anyway.

[Fairplay]

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.

It is an even sadder day when the Race Director gives the race to a team by not following the rules.