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

[Shrieker]

That crash was deemed Hamiltons fault.

So was Verstappen given a 10 sec penalty for brake checking, instead of a black flag. Your point ? Anyway, the evidence clearly suggests Hamilton didn't cause that crash. He never lost sleep over this.

Anyway, you will get over your denial. Verstappen is WDC. You’ll accept it in a few days, as will Mercedes.

Just toxic.

But it doesn't matter. Everyone and their dog know it's a tainted title at best.

[Gothrek]

I could be wrong, and I would love to get corrected. But I believe if there's anyone who wouldn't lose sleep over the way it was won, it's him.

Redbull won on strategy and a bit of luck. It is not like they were cheering like crazy after putting their competitor in the hospital…

I’m sorry, I didn’t realise this was a parody account. I won’t interrupt your comedy any longer.

If Massi had let the backmarkers pass earlier, same result mate. Even Alonso was asking on the radio why they were not allowed to pass… Redbull played it beautifully on strategy. And the only luck they had was Latifi crashing.

[Brake Horse Power]

I think the back markers can only unlap themselves when the track is clear, so they couldn't apply the rule 2 laps earlier. remember the back markers who unlap, then go very fast to try catch the pack. this can't happen when marshals and diggers are on track.

Actually the rulebook doesn’t mention “when the track is clear” !! It says when it is deemed safe by the clerk. So if there is the possibility to unlap in a safe manner they could have potentially done this earlier.

And judging by what we saw today, if the track was clear any earlier, we would have gone back racing earlier. So I don't see how you can suggest the track was clear 4 or 5mins earlier.

Its about cars unlapping and lining up earlier in a safe manner. This is not the same as track clear

[jz11]

From mine point of view RB strategy departement were at much higher level than Merc's. Red Bull made fast and precision decisions during qualy and race.
Their strategy was spot on.

that is because they had the 2nd spot, they could react, and for them it boiled down essentially to do whatever the Lewis/Merc doesn't, because on the same exact strategy Lewis would always win, that was clear enough when Max couldn't close down the 17sec gap as quickly as he would have wanted (and expected) on the new hards, it went down to 12 (which was due to Lewis having to lap 4 car train) with what 8-9 laps before the SC came out?

what really interests me now (something we will never know because of the SC) is how much tire was left on LH car, how close he was to the cliff and did Max had any hope there, I'd guess - very little, he would probably end up some 3-4sec behind at the end if Lewis didn't get a puncture, he has always been extremely good (and lucky) with these mickey mouse tires

mixed feelings about this, I do think it was gifted to Max, which wasn't how I hoped he would win, but then again, that decision that even no investigation was necessary for cutting the track and not gaining an advantage (like retaining track position isn't an advantage any more...), and the fact that he lost 30-50 points due to how his direct competitors drove, I feel he deserved the crown, even when it basically fell into his lap there at the end

next season with the new cars can't come fast enough... so we can forget this one, way too much drama and controversy especially because of the weak race director and poor stewarding

I think in the future they should make the race directors channel one way only - he can give directions but doesn't need to explain himself then or go into discussions, that horse trading or even straight out demands (Toto wtf...) makes this whole thing look like circus, a la WWF

alonso said after the race that trophy should be split in two,that both drivers were on extremely high level all season, and that luck today went in Max's way and that decided the result

listen to something else Alonso said

[Gothrek]

That crash was deemed Hamiltons fault.

So was Verstappen given a 10 sec penalty for brake checking, instead of a black flag. Your point ? Anyway, the evidence clearly suggests Hamilton didn't cause that crash. He never lost sleep over this.

Anyway, you will get over your denial. Verstappen is WDC. You’ll accept it in a few days, as will Mercedes.

Just toxic.

But it doesn't matter. Everyone and their dog know it's a tainted title at best.

It really seems to only be Hamilton fans mate. Again, not a fan of Ham or Ver. Best driver of the season has won the wdc, so I am happy with that.

[ringo]

Mercedes being desperate indeed. Can you imagine this happening in football after a bad call from the ref? After a champions league final. Yes, ref/racing directors can get it wrong. If you want to settle any match in court, it is going to be fun…
Hamilton has had an enormous amount of luck with the stewards this entire season, tough luck for him, today he had some bad luck.

This is more than a bad call from the ref. This is the equivalent of the ref blowing the whistle in the last second when a team is winning 1-0 holding into the ball at the far end of the pitch, and simultaneously awarding a penalty to the losing team, sending the winning team’s keeper off without allowing a sub AND deciding that goals now count double and then immediately blowing for full time when the ball hits the back of the net.

So naturally of course the same stuff would be happening.

Indeed.

But for some reason, I am calm about this.

Lewis Hamilton did not lose to Max. He lost to the FIA. That is how peerless the guy is.
It does credit to lewis, that a governing body through the years has done so much to try and stop him from winning.
Hamilton was by no means outrace this year. He was not slower than anyone. He was the fastest driver, with the most relentless pace. The driver that hunted and overtook all challenges.
Max did not leave this season as the mythical legend, nor the best in the business. Perez was a better racer today than Max.
Hamilton still stands in his own league. That's what today confirms.
So I guess let Max enjoy his rigged championship. He had the fastest car all season as proof by poles, and laps lead, and he could not get the job done by his own abilities.
He will not go down in history for beating Hamilton. He was smashed into the weeds today; with no answer for Lewis, even when using the softest tyres with a half a second a lap faster car.

Hamilton's still the GOAT. It was LH vs FIA today. F-1 will of course try to gin up Max's win by saying he overtook lewis for lead.. but it's so hollow and pathetic just thinking about it.

[Shrieker]

listen to something else Alonso said

Lmao he is still butthurt over 2007 Well, maybe you shouldn't have blackmailed your own team you dork. We're 14 years in. What a sore loser...

[astracrazy]

It honestly seems to me its only Lewis fans that can't see the best driver, over a season, won.

[f1jcw]

It honestly seems to me its only Lewis fans that can't see the best driver, over a season, won.

And yet, to win, he needed illegal FIA assistance to rig it so he did

[Shrieker]

It honestly seems to me its only Lewis fans that can't see the best driver, over a season, won.

Fastest over the whole season ? Maybe.

Best driver ? A driver who still can't race wheel to wheel ? Even Perez did a better job than him today, when it came to that...

[Restomaniac]

Masi really has to go after this season. I do not think he rigged it for Max to win, but his poor, indecisive decision making allowed RB to benefit from some luck. That's why I don't think it is fair to label Max an undeserving champion. Plus it is a season-long championship, not a cup final. Max and Lewis have been as close to equal through the season. Either driver that came out on top was deserving

He completely did rig it for Max to win.

Let’s look at the facts.
Normal SC restart involves all lapped cars unlapping themselves and then on the next lap a restart.
Today Masi decided only cars between a guy on 46 lap old hards in 1st and a guy on 1 lap old Softs in 2nd need clearing. Oh and we’ll not bother with the normal restart but throw it within seconds of the very same selective lapped cars being clear. The only way he could think that was in any way fair is if he didn’t know that the guy on 46 lap hards stood no chance against a guy in 1 lap Softs. If that’s is the case he’s an imbecile.

I don’t think he’s an imbecile so he knew what was coming next. It WAS rigged after being egged on by RedBull no less.

[Tom145145]

Masi really has to go after this season. I do not think he rigged it for Max to win, but his poor, indecisive decision making allowed RB to benefit from some luck. That's why I don't think it is fair to label Max an undeserving champion. Plus it is a season-long championship, not a cup final. Max and Lewis have been as close to equal through the season. Either driver that came out on top was deserving

I agree, I think Masi thought it was a smart compromise at the time. But I can’t tell if he was favouring Max or actually didn’t understand it was ever going to be a fight. If it’s either he isn’t fit for the job and I expect he will be leaving in a few weeks. I don’t think you can overturn the result, it wouldn’t be right. I am proud of the Hamilton’s reaction after the race and that’s what great competitors do.

[AMG.Tzan]

that is because they had the 2nd spot, they could react, and for them it boiled down essentially to do whatever the Lewis/Merc doesn't, because on the same exact strategy Lewis would always win, that was clear enough when Max couldn't close down the 17sec gap as quickly as he would have wanted (and expected) on the new hards, it went down to 12 (which was due to Lewis having to lap 4 car train) with what 8-9 laps before the SC came out?

what really interests me now (something we will never know because of the SC) is how much tire was left on LH car, how close he was to the cliff and did Max had any hope there, I'd guess - very little, he would probably end up some 3-4sec behind at the end if Lewis didn't get a puncture, he has always been extremely good (and lucky) with these mickey mouse tires

mixed feelings about this, I do think it was gifted to Max, which wasn't how I hoped he would win, but then again, that decision that even no investigation was necessary for cutting the track and not gaining an advantage (like retaining track position isn't an advantage any more...), and the fact that he lost 30-50 points due to how his direct competitors drove, I feel he deserved the crown, even when it basically fell into his lap there at the end

next season with the new cars can't come fast enough... so we can forget this one, way too much drama and controversy especially because of the weak race director and poor stewarding

I think in the future they should make the race directors channel one way only - he can give directions but doesn't need to explain himself then or go into discussions, that horse trading or even straight out demands (Toto wtf...) makes this whole thing look like circus, a la WWF

alonso said after the race that trophy should be split in two,that both drivers were on extremely high level all season, and that luck today went in Max's way and that decided the result

listen to something else Alonso said

Can't believe Alonso still has negative feelings for Hamilton!

The guy this year has proven time and time again how big a fan of Max he is just because Max is having a chance of beating Lewis! This so low class from Fernando! No questions on why he didn't manage to win more than 2 championships after Hamilton, Vettel showed up...

[Shrieker]

He completely did rig it for Max to win.

Let’s look at the facts.
Normal SC restart involves all lapped cars unlapping themselves and then on the next lap a restart.
Today Masi decided only cars between a guy on 46 lap old hards in 1st and a guy on 1 lap old Softs in 2nd need clearing. Oh and we’ll not bother with the normal restart but throw it within seconds of the very same selective lapped cars being clear. The only way he could that that was in any way fair is if he didn’t know that the guy on 46 lap hards stood no chance against a guy in 1 lap Softs. If that’s is the case he’s an imbecile.

I don’t think he’s an imbecile so he knew what was coming next. It WAS rigged after being egged on by RedBull no less.

Yep. No way in hell he didn't know what he was doing.

[ringo]

It honestly seems to me its only Lewis fans that can't see the best driver, over a season, won.

Fastest over the whole season ? Maybe.

Best driver ? A driver who still can't race wheel to wheel ? Even Perez did a better job than him today, when it came to that...

I doubt this. More often than not, if Hamilton is ahead, he cannot catch him. If Hamilton is behind, Hamilton will attack him. Max is a great qualifier and has good car control.
But this is not to take away from his great season. He did a great season, but I disagree with those who think that because he had a good season, he deserves to win through corruption.
By virtue that both were equal on points, and Hamilton snatched P-1 from him at the start, then manhandled two redbulls at once.. then leading by 11 seconds to the end.. I don't see why Lewis is just as deserving. The guy did earn all his points, even losing some from the FIA as well.

Anyhow. It is what it is. Tainted 2021.