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?
As an American I find this comment insulting!Bill_Kar wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 19:21Surely it will happen. Maybe not next year, maybe the year after, or possibly 3 years away from now, it's inevitable. FIA has opened the Pandora's Box and they don't seem particularly keen on closing it, since it's all part of the "drama" needed for the American F1.
Agreed. Mercedes and Lewis should not let things slide. The worked just as hard as redbull, and worked even harder to be leading that race up to the safety car. It should not be taken away from them because of corruption.djones wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 18:08Some people seem to have the opinion that "what's done is done" and to just leave the protests. But the rules are rules and multiple ones have been broken.
They are not rules where there is scope for interpretation or intent. They are quite literally black and white rules that have been broken.
The result of this race simply has to be changed. The sport is in more disrepute now than if they just change it to ensure rules were complied with.
Yeah, if it were not for all the FIA controversy, it was MBs pit strategy and mainly the VSC that hit here.
That's a big gamble though, especially if you consider that would involve relinquishing track position. Merc's strategy was correct because after the VSC, it was apparent that even when Max pitted, his degradation meant he wouldn't be able to close the gap to Lewis anyway.
If Merc don't they're allowing MV the same type of driving next season, That isn't in Mercs interests, a comprimise where LH is allowed to be WDC next seasone might fit Mercs interests.littlebigcat wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 19:27This won't be going to CAS, the Mercedes board won't allow further appeal beyond today. But Toto will threaten it for politics
TBF I think they should have pit the lap after Max did as it was still under the VSC. The gap would have stayed the same, but then the whole kafuffle at the end might have been different with lapped carsBill_Kar wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 19:25To me, strategy was fine. He couldn't pit under VSC or SC because the gap was not enough to find himself ahead of Max.TNTHead wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 19:17You can discuss for pages and pages about the SC and unlapping cars, but strategy wise Merc was too cautious to loose track position. Rb outsmarted them with an aggressive strategy that - with some luck, definitely- payed out heavily. Seeing the course of the season, most of the time they were unlucky (blown tyre in Baku comes in mind for instance).
I can feel for the Merc fans: it feels like with soccer you dominate heavily, but loose a match because of a debatable penalty. But this also belongs to the sport.
RB just did what any team would have done; throw everything at Mercedes because a) they were slower today, by quite some margin and b) the guy behind has always the opportunity to react to the guy ahead.
If Mercedes pitted and Hamilton was stuck behind MV, we would talk of an extreme blunder.
Nope. You’re completely wrong. Mercedes played the situations the core t way- the only way they could. You don’t give up track position. They were just incredibly unlucky twice.
And that has implications on Silverstone, Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia decisions.Macklaren wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 18:42The question then becomes what constitutes an "overtake"? Technically, putting your wing in front DOES constitute an overtake...but under SC conditions? esp. if you give it back after 1 second?dans79 wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 18:26Ryar wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 18:04An overtake under SC, is a position gained. Did Max gain position under SC? No. Has that happened in the past where under safety car, the car ahead and behind are side by side, or nose ahead of car behind? Yes. DId the leader not start in his position when it was a go? Yes he did.
that's now what the rules say.
https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files ... -12-08.pdf
48.8With the exception of the cases listed under a) to h) below, no driver may overtake another car
on the track, including the safety car, until he passes the Line (see Article 5.3) for the first time
after the safety car has returned to the pits.
I think this season has made it very clear that there is far too much ambiguity in the regulations -- even blac-and-white rules, let alone sporting reg/driving behavior rules
Please; you're conflating issues. The first one is easily dismissed, MV was at hospital not in hospital. not because of LH because MV and lack of facilities at Silverstone.BrunoH wrote: ↑12 Dec 2021, 19:32again this year, Silverstone , with one in the hospital and hamilton given a non penalty in essence since he went on to celebrate like they won the championship.. in sky its a no go topic.... But last race Verstappen had to give 2 times the place plus a third penaly after the race!!! Here, lap 1, nothing happens, 2. wolf cry on the radio, shouts, demands no safety car etc ( Horner got a penalty for much less ) again no safety car was depolyed, and now this at the end. Merceded coulg go to the pits if they wanted. Max WON ON TRACK more than fair! crying for this front wing was for second ahead 5 corners before the safety car restart line is the biggest and most shamefull thing i have ever seen in F1!!!! shame on Mercedes!
