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

[javspace]

RIP the "2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina, Dec 10 - 12" thread.

[Tom145145]

Mercedes and Toto didn't say anything since Sunday on social media. Susie Wolff an hour ago on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Susie_Wolff

Also using the word "robbed" . Unbelievable. Merc left lewis out on old tyres making him vulnarable to safety cars. He had so much pace compared to Max I don't understand why they didnt gave up track position during first VSC and went a bit more aggressive. Even then Toto on the radio begging Masi not to make it a full SC. Besides LH poor defence against Perez' counter attacks also didnt help. They were unlucky with the SC but they could have done better themselves.

Poor defence? He was trying to overtake an aggressive defending car without crashing.

Exactly…Perez had a faster car on the straights and had spent 10 laps waiting for Hamilton to prepare. If Hamilton had won everyone would be saying how they held their nerve and how well he handled Perez. Where are all the fans who hate second drivers and team play. Perez has been reduced to a support act now, he is slower than Gasly but he is willing to play second fiddle so he gets praised by the team. Redbull even retired him from a podium, just in case!

[west52keep64]

[KeiKo403]

If Mercedes and Hamilton can accept this then so can I.
Well done Mercedes, Well done Max.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Hopefully 2022 will be a better year for the FIA & F1

[west52keep64]

Bit of a hot take, but some changes I think that could be made as part of the agreement:

* Masi not to retake his position as RD in 2022, a team of RDs will be appointed with a different RD selected from the team for each race.
* Netflix "Drive to Survive" to be quietly canned.

[El Scorchio]

Also using the word "robbed" . Unbelievable. Merc left lewis out on old tyres making him vulnarable to safety cars. He had so much pace compared to Max I don't understand why they didnt gave up track position during first VSC and went a bit more aggressive. Even then Toto on the radio begging Masi not to make it a full SC. Besides LH poor defence against Perez' counter attacks also didnt help. They were unlucky with the SC but they could have done better themselves.

Poor defence? He was trying to overtake an aggressive defending car without crashing.

He left the door open on the inside twice! First part of the back straight by alot. On the second part he defended the inside but still leaving a small gap for Perez. He should have been more to the left like Max did on the last lap leaving no space to pass on the inside.

You know why the answer to this is, and it's obvious. Hamilton had to leave an incredibly wide berth when even near an RBR car as he couldn't risk even small accidental contact as neither RBR car was going to jump out the way of any contact- especially Perez who isn't really a horse in the race. Verstappen had no need whatsoever to do this which is why he's been able to be so aggressive with his car placement in the last 3-4 races. Perez or Verstappen touch Hamilton- possibly game over in Verstappen's favour.

[El Scorchio]

Also using the word "robbed" . Unbelievable. Merc left lewis out on old tyres making him vulnarable to safety cars. He had so much pace compared to Max I don't understand why they didnt gave up track position during first VSC and went a bit more aggressive. Even then Toto on the radio begging Masi not to make it a full SC. Besides LH poor defence against Perez' counter attacks also didnt help. They were unlucky with the SC but they could have done better themselves.

Poor defence? He was trying to overtake an aggressive defending car without crashing.

Exactly…Perez had a faster car on the straights and had spent 10 laps waiting for Hamilton to prepare. If Hamilton had won everyone would be saying how they held their nerve and how well he handled Perez. Where are all the fans who hate second drivers and team play. Perez has been reduced to a support act now, he is slower than Gasly but he is willing to play second fiddle so he gets praised by the team. Redbull even retired him from a podium, just in case!

Agree on drivers doing a job for their team. It only ever seems to be an issue when it's Hamilton's team mate and not noteworthy if it's anyone else. If Bottas was consistently sacrificed over and over like Perez was- multiple times in the AD race weekend- then the internet would explode!

[InsaneX_Badger]

I hope the shitshow created from this will clear up the rulebook once and for all. It has shown when the competition if finally there, the rules of engagement and procedure are not up to scratch has left a mark on this season with two fantastic teams, and two relentless drivers in Lewis, and a much deserved champion in Max. And if the new regs do allow for closer racing, then I hope that the rules will be clear and concise enough to stop each race weekend or session in the stewards room waiting for judgements, and just left on the bloody track between the drivers and teams.

[seense]

Poor defence? He was trying to overtake an aggressive defending car without crashing.

He left the door open on the inside twice! First part of the back straight by alot. On the second part he defended the inside but still leaving a small gap for Perez. He should have been more to the left like Max did on the last lap leaving no space to pass on the inside.

You know why the answer to this is, and it's obvious. Hamilton had to leave an incredibly wide berth when even near an RBR car as he couldn't risk even small accidental contact as neither RBR car was going to jump out the way of any contact- especially Perez who isn't really a horse in the race. Verstappen had no need whatsoever to do this which is why he's been able to be so aggressive with his car placement in the last 3-4 races. Perez or Verstappen touch Hamilton- possibly game over in Verstappen's favour.

He had to be a bit more carefull offcourse. But IMO he was a bit too carefull. The lap after he was way more decisive with car placement.

[Tvetovnato]

If Mercedes and Hamilton can accept this then so can I.
Well done Mercedes, Well done Max.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Hopefully 2022 will be a better year for the FIA & F1

They have no choice but to accept it. Any other choice will make them look bad and having the eigth title for Hamilton through court would make his legacy no favour, despite that he has all the right to have this title to his name. One thing is for sure though, the season is irreversibly tainted, no matter how you look at it.

[SiLo]

He left the door open on the inside twice! First part of the back straight by alot. On the second part he defended the inside but still leaving a small gap for Perez. He should have been more to the left like Max did on the last lap leaving no space to pass on the inside.

You know why the answer to this is, and it's obvious. Hamilton had to leave an incredibly wide berth when even near an RBR car as he couldn't risk even small accidental contact as neither RBR car was going to jump out the way of any contact- especially Perez who isn't really a horse in the race. Verstappen had no need whatsoever to do this which is why he's been able to be so aggressive with his car placement in the last 3-4 races. Perez or Verstappen touch Hamilton- possibly game over in Verstappen's favour.

He had to be a bit more carefull offcourse. But IMO he was a bit too carefull. The lap after he was way more decisive with car placement.

He left a cars width and Perez took it. It's fair racing.

[rb88]

Slightly disappointed that they didn't stick it to the FIA, but I think they actually did stick it to them - don't work with us and all hell breaks loose, and we'll burn the house down for all we care (not in FIA's best interest). Or, work with us and fix this once and for all. Masi is out I believe, and good riddance. I believe they really will hold the FIA accountable and if the result is not to their liking, they'll pursue litigation anyway.

Let's hope Merc did actually sacrifice some of this year for next year and I can see Lewis win his 8th title regardless of what happened this year, which would be the ultimate revenge.

That's it for me until testing. Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year all.

[El Scorchio]

He left the door open on the inside twice! First part of the back straight by alot. On the second part he defended the inside but still leaving a small gap for Perez. He should have been more to the left like Max did on the last lap leaving no space to pass on the inside.

You know why the answer to this is, and it's obvious. Hamilton had to leave an incredibly wide berth when even near an RBR car as he couldn't risk even small accidental contact as neither RBR car was going to jump out the way of any contact- especially Perez who isn't really a horse in the race. Verstappen had no need whatsoever to do this which is why he's been able to be so aggressive with his car placement in the last 3-4 races. Perez or Verstappen touch Hamilton- possibly game over in Verstappen's favour.

He had to be a bit more carefull offcourse. But IMO he was a bit too carefull. The lap after he was way more decisive with car placement.

Yes- because by then Verstappen was only 1.5 seconds behind and being caught in a Red Bull sandwich or losing the lead outright would have been an absolute disaster so it was probably do or die which is why he was. You have to credit Perez for his great defensive driving but you have to consider the huge caveat of what was the outcome for the race and championship for for each of the three protagonists if there was contact. In a race without any of those stakes you'd have seen Hamilton dispense of Perez far more quickly and decisively, but Perez had the knowledge he could just get close and Hamilton would have no choice but to jump out of the way.

[101FlyingDutchman]

Well that statement from Merc was expected. A fair few of us have gotten quite a bit of flak for showing another point of view.
Hope some can reflect a little bit on how their bias affects the way they converse on this forum. Then maybe like the FIA and F1, we might all have a better time in ‘22.

Merry Xmas all

[Ryar]

Long live the fight of this forum.