EXPLAINED! The FIA's regulations and the likelihood of another Mercedes appeal!

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David Croft outlines the the FIA's regulations after a controversy-filled final race of the season saw Max Verstappen claim his first Drivers' Championship.
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[@Timbex2005]

What is the point in having rules and regulations if one man can decide to overrule them as he sees fit?

[@carlmcfadden3026]

That also opens the door for bribes in my opinion. But regardless it was a fantastic race

[@olivierkoster]

Every situation is different. It is the race directors job to ensure there is as much safe racing as possible.

[@bslangable]

Funny, cause that's in the rules too; 15.3.

[@nevilleneville6518]

@@olivierkoster but this decision wasn't about a safe restart. It was about restarting ASAP for "the show"

[@stuartking]

I think Croft (and the race stewards) are wrong about 15.3, that regulation regards the relationship between the Race Director (Masi) and the clerk of the course, not the Sporting Regulations.

[@absoluteweapon7539]

In my opinion is that the fact that the cars between max and Lewis were able to battle but sainz had no chance to do anything and battle for his first win, it completely favored max

[@patrickwhite4449]

The fia had been favouring max and Lewis all year, giving them breaks so we could have a close battle all year. It’s pathetic.

[@aztro187]

Cryyyyyy whshahahhaa

[@habakkuk414]

Have the FIA lost there rule book?

[@valenesco45]

@sammysams hold this L

[@thomasb4152]

Exactly, it's not just both sides. The whole field lost out, the ONLY person this helped was Max

[@chrisrowland1514]

There's no way Masi can be there next season

[@rollnloop]

Should masi still be there next season, I might stop watching F1 and watch wrestling insrtead. As much scripted, more fun.

[@MinusMOD98]

Or, the new FIA president will give adequate support to Race Director Michel Masi, as Crofty says.

[@superzero4250]

(4:56) Lewis Hamilton had a TEN SECOND LEAD wiped out, through no fault of his own… When Toto express displeasure, Masi told him it is called “Motor Racing”. Hmmmm… Sounds more like what Hamilton called it while it was happening, “MANIPULATED” … …

[@tuna5618]

It's called a motor race, we went car racing. Get over it, it's done, move on.

[@erikdejong9728]

You forgot what happened at Imola? Lewis was 1 lap behind and became 2nd because of Masi. The same Masi who gave a ten sec. penalty at silverstone, an insane joke. And the same Masi who didnt gave a penalty at turn 1.

[@Rob-ib1hp]

Hamilton lost the championship in Baku when he missed the first corner at the restart.

[@mitchellroyburns]

Sky too afraid to call a spade a spade and admit the whole thing was a sham and shouldn’t have stood.

[@muntublackson4757]

Exactly

[@olivierkoster]

This is simply the objective opinion. If anything, still slightly more biased towards Lewis. Get with the sport or get out

[@NOAHARK-SG]

100% Facts

[@ChristopherBurgessTaskbar]

They need access to interviews next year. They don't want another Ferrari (Sky get radio silence from them). Corrupt

[@anwarfarag8583]

True... Just what it is ....

[@blitz14u]

Masi's decision has honestly ruined a great season.

[@LeicesterRaver]

his decisions from the start of the season have ruined it. Should have stamped out the dirty and dangerous overtakes from the start. If they cant race clean then they should not be there else it just turns into a game of chicken or even worse Nascar.

[@blitz14u]

@@LeicesterRaver This gives me bad vibes for next year, if the cars are actually closer there's going to be way more incidents and more of these bad calls.

[@footballnerd277]

Only if you're a Lewis fan boy! F1 has never been more entertaining for the neutrals!!

[@moodlesracing4244]

I’m not a Lewis fan, but this still stinks

[@footballnerd277]

@@moodlesracing4244 Sure you aren't.

[@richhcassidy]

I've read so many articles and opinion pieces now since the race - many by F1 drivers - and it's really hard to come to any other conclusion than it was a fix. I don't care who was gifted the win or who was robbed - Ham, Ver, Norris or Mazepin - it's supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport. If a race result - yet alone an entire championship - can be decided by the race director effectively manipulating the rules to suit whatever narrative, then it's basically WWE, a complete joke. What's the point of watching if this is the way results can be decided? Imagine if the offside rule could be applied at the ref's discretion? Complete waste of everyones time.

[@lloyddyer1829]

@@arjun095 Max was a deserving champion going into Abu Dhabi, but the race wasn't even close. Max got dominated and embarrassed, so in that sense, feel he has to finish runner up this year. Lewis had everything against him from the start of the season, and if we go by the rulebook at least, is by default the 2021 WDC.

[@rohankar4678]

@@arjun095 well he did, there are rumors and eve Toto said that he may not return to F1.

[@brandonkew9122]

The race was not decided by Masi in the last race. The entire season had bad calls by the officials and many went against Verstappen so let's stop this conspiracy nonsense about a fix.

[@superzero4250]

@@brandonkew9122 The entire seasons worth of bad calls matter not in the last race of the season. Only the calls made that day matter, and it does not look like honest stewardship… Only SuperMax fans think the way it ended was okay. Fans in general of the sport seem to overwhelmingly think differently. Face it, Masi did no favours for the integrity of the sport. Max and more importantly Schumacher’s legacies are intact at least for this year and a little while longer… Even Alonzo thinks they should at least share the title, and he is not the only voice in the sport that believes this… …

[@brandonkew9122]

@@superzero4250 read my last sentence. It was not a good way to end the season/championship. But, the better driver won.

[@richardparsons9705]

I think this all comes down to a simple question. What is the point of having rules within F1 if they are not strictly followed or in times of fancy a racing director can override said rules. This sort of action/outcome is clearly not fair, is purely aimed at enhancing F1 as a sport to get more figures and cash. However the more that this continues I believe it will have the adverse effect with less public watching it.

[@GranatenGecko]

less public watching it because it´s pay tv

[@Firestorm.aiRClan]

Crofty, mate, you failed to mention everyone from Sainz backwards that did not get a chance because of the backmarkers they had to clear without FIA help. This is why it looks biased, fixed and scripted because the only person that benefitted was Max. There was no way Max could lose on fresh softs on the last lap with the back markers moved out of the way for him. Why were the other teams not afforded the same courtesy?

[@zeusa7075]

Karen horner probably paid of masi to get the championship. It's common sense mate that it was a clear breach of the rules but like Coulthard said it's good for the sport that someone else wins the championship instead of Hamilton and the fia know that also

[@footballnerd277]

I agree it was unfair on the likes of Sainz etc. But it didn't change anything between the front 2. If all the lapped cars had been allowed to unlap themselves straight away. You'd still have had Verstappen 1 place behind Hamilton, and he still would have won. Mercedes aren't going to be able to strip Verstappen of the world title, on the basis of "it was unfair to Sainz"

[@zeusa7075]

Feel for Hamilton though , a class act , not even complained about it once ,congratulated max but how gutting to dominate from the start an to have it taken away from u on the last lap

[@danielclawson5021]

This was a deliberate decision to let max win. Masi knew what his decision meant. He says he allowed them to race, but he negated the entire race that already happened. Money talks, masi should walk.

[@danielclawson5021]

@@footballnerd277 if all the lapped cars were allowed un lap themselves, the race would have been over. That is what is different. A new modified rule was made on the fly to let max win.

[@michaela5430]

I thought it was a sport, not WWE.

[@thenorsepioneer7311]

MAX MAX SUPER MAX

[@roman4286]

@@thenorsepioneer7311 super max consistently behind on pace for the whole race

[@twraia]

Many F1 “journalists” seem more interested in defending their mate than telling the truth

[@amp9930]

Masi had no reason to change the rules in the last lap. Lapped cars were left between 2nd and 3rd place so Sainz had no chance to race at the end whereas the cars between 1st and 2nd were removed- that in itself is fixing the race to favour one team. Hamilton was left as a sitting duck by Masi. If anything- if he really wanted a race at the end why didn't he leave all the lapped cars in place and go racing? why? Well because there would have been 5 cars between Hamilton and Verstappen and Hamilton would have won as he deserved to after being 12 secs ahead and after having already past those cars. It was a fix and Lewis Hamilton is the 2021 WDC without a doubt as the race ended under safety car conditions according to the rules.

[@hookedonhifi2570]

You are spot on… people just have to be honest. I am not an F1 fan but I really feel for Hamilton. And also, the World title won by Verstappen just doesn’t feel right.

[@av_tbk8605]

In my 12 years of watching f1 I have definitely never seen anything quite like this before and I don’t quite think this is the way a championship should be decided. But at the same time this is sport and ultimately the race director kind off does whatever the hell he wants to do. If the roles were reversed I’m sure you guys would be pretty happy, but they aren’t and Max is the 2021 champion.

[@brulaapgaapmeester8052]

@@hookedonhifi2570 Nonsense, even if Masi, as he should have done, made all the cars pass the safety car immediately, the situation would have been identical, Verstappen on softs, Hamilton on worn hards. So if all were done as usual, the outcome would have been the same. Hamilton was not left as a sitting duck, he could have pitted too and changed to softs, he didn't for good tactical reasons, but that is the teams decision in the end, not Masi's. Further more, safety cars situations ALWAYS mean that the gaps between drivers are closed, this may seem, and actually is unfair, but normal practise. Hamilton was very unlucky, but there was no 'fix'. Hamilton has had advantages in the past with safety cars, this time it turned against him. That is sport, even when it feels unfair sometimes.

[@Goaltimer]

@@brulaapgaapmeester8052 the problem with your idea is that Masi coudn't immediately let all the cars pass due to safety reasons. Otherwise there would be no need for the safety car in the first place.

[@0nTheBrakes]

@@brulaapgaapmeester8052 thank you! God these “ive been watching f1 for 50000 tears and ive never” and all these new fans need to get real and start paying attention

[@MJ-YT-USR]

The decision was made for entertainment value. F1 is going to have to decide whether it's primarily sport or entertainment. If it's the later I need to change to Sky's Entertainment package perhaps

[@olivierkoster]

Exactly. And so many other rules and decisions are there to create entertainment. I for one fully agree with this aspect of F1

[@terryevans7055]

😂 they will merge them and charge more 😂

[@stephenparry5894]

I don’t know about you but I wanted to watch a race not see the cars follow the safety car over the finish line??

[@boxingfanzone5786]

@@stephenparry5894 we watched a race for 58 laps in which Lewis dominated that’s not how a world championship should be decided and u know it

[@stephenparry5894]

@@boxingfanzone5786 Max was dominating the championship until the tyre blow out - Bottas taking him out - lewis taking him out do we take it all the way back to then and re-do them races as well?

[@damianclark550]

Shame the rules were changed for a cinematic ending

[@thenorsepioneer7311]

MAX MAX SUPER MAX

[@RR-qq3jo]

@@thenorsepioneer7311 11 seconds behind super max. Lol paper champion.

[@kabirsharma2858]

@@thenorsepioneer7311 your super max needed FIA's help, 40 lap fresher tyres AND a safety car to get the win lmao

[@isakcelander1589]

@@kabirsharma2858 Lewis got 3 free races, had the fastest car, had the FIA on his side literally the ENTIRE race (but you will obviously not see that) AND HE STILL MANAGED TO LOSE HAHAHAHAHA

[@robinstreets1792]

They weren't changed, there is an article in the rules about the safety car that basically gives the race director free use of the safety car, and that overrides all the others. Also, before the race, all the teams agreed that the race will end in race conditions

[@williamrees6324]

How can this be compared with Glock in 2008, Glock was in the race and sliding all over the place!? The FIA Race Director was unfair, and an early exit for the safety car and partly lapped cars un-lapping themselves was utterly wrong! Lewis had earned the right to have lapped cars between them, he had to pass them on the track in the race, why was it "all right" (Crofty said) for Masi to change that and give an advantage to Max! Why should Max and Lewis be next to each other for the last lap? Lewis was at least 8-12 seconds ahead on merit! Lewis deserves to have the win re-instated. he is the real WDC. Not Max's fault, not Lewis's fault Not Red Bull or Mercedes fault. It is all down to the FIA and Masi!

[@024xp]

Thats what happens in all racing when there is a safety car. You lose all the gap you worked for the entire race. Sometimes drivers get an advantage because of a SC, sometimes they lose out. Its got nothing to do with that you "deserve" or what you "earned".

[@kevgits]

I have nothing more meaningful to add to this. You have put it so well.

[@ikhwannordin5199]

@@024xp Unfortunately the safety car rules itself was not applied fully (stated in the appeal's conclusion) and worst of it, it was only applied for Max and Lewis, hence the controversy.

[@IAmLeutrimTopalli]

2008*

[@williamrees6324]

@@IAmLeutrimTopalli Thank you- now corrected!

[@peteowen3539]

Even a red flag wouldn’t have been fair. Lewis loses his 12 second lead. However the sticking point was Masi only moved the back markers between Lewis and Max, and not behind them. So the inference is third place doesn’t matter and the race was only between the front two. That alone is sufficient grounds to void the result.

[@XxmillerniaxX]

Red and yellow flags are not meant to be "fair" they are there for the safety of those currently on the track. Multiple drivers every year lose any advantage they had on track because of Red and Yellow Flags, get over it.

[@NoobMasterGamer2759]

They couldn't call red flags. The way for the cars was open.

[@patrickpatrick9603]

Well opined......i agree with you on those basis of voiding the results.

[@ggordon4127]

You are right in the last race of the season of which will decide the championship between 2 cars third place doesn’t matter.

[@hiskingdomreigns]

@@ggordon4127 Umm no. The rules exist to ensure fairness for ALL drivers, not just the leading two. You think Sainz didn’t care about beating Verstappen for P2?

[@sebluketravis2438]

It's like a ref in football saying ''next goal wins'' when one team is 2-0 up in injury time. Does NOT work that way

[@MrMartinHazell]

A lot of football fans were watching F1 for the first time this wknd, and they have to understand that safety cars have always been a part of motor racing. And when a safety car is deployed, it bunches the field up. The football analogy makes no sense when trying to apply it to F1

[@gob4812]

@@MrMartinHazell It makes perfect sense. He isn't comparing sports, just highlighting the unfair advantage Verstappen was gifted when he had absolutely no chance of winning that race without the assist of the Safety car.

[@sebluketravis2438]

@@MrMartinHazell it does pal, it does

[@gamecat3191]

@@MrMartinHazell It does when the rules that had been administered differently (and correctly) all season were thrown out of the window at a crucial time. I've been watching since '76 and this is the lowest point for F1 in that time.

[@SerenitycL]

I don’t here too much about the fact that sainz could of had a huge impact in the end result had he not had a lapped card between him and the leaders too?

[@jamespowell1969]

What. It's everywhere.

[@brianquinndh689]

he probably wouldve let the 2 championship contenders fightz he lifted for max earlier in the race, what a guy

[@MyloSkeng]

The F1 want you to ignore that because of £££

[@samiarafa3897]

@Dan Beasley when two cars are fighting their alot slower, he would have added something to the race perhaps

[@stanettiels7367]

@Dan Beasley I’m sure Sainz also put fresh softs on but that’s irrelevant. Either let all lapped cars unlap themselves or none. You can’t just let some of them unlap themselves.

[@topcat807]

Masi said "it's motor racing", motor racing.Yet he made sure verstappen had a lapped cars behind him meaning he didn't have to bother about defending and no one could race him. It's motor racing yet Masi stopped all other cars racing, the only driver on the track that actually had to try and race was Hamilton.

[@f1alchile680]

Amazing, At what point can people actually blame Mercedes for no pitting Hamilton? they had like 3 different chances to do so...

[@Rob-ib1hp]

Hanilton lost the world championship in Baku when he missed the first corner at the restart.

[@AnjaJV]

@Ian Johnston Max would have been world champion much earlier in the season if Hamilton (Silverstone) and Bottas (Hungary) had not knocked him out of the race.

[@applejackjam2514]

I don’t think it matters what anybody says or when they try to explain, people want to believe it’s a fix. Very unfortunate. I think if they had made the decision to finish behind SC while the track was green it would has also been seen as a fiz/complete farce

[@f1alchile680]

@@applejackjam2514 Of course, because the last lap race showed that there was no need for a safety car anymore. That is a fact.

[@domroberts5570]

It wasn’t a sporting decision it was for the sake of entertainment. Saying it was a fix might be a bit too harsh so I agree with Crofty but it certainly isn’t a fair result. Basically an entire race was chalked off for one lap of racing but the leader wasn’t invited to the party. They have to learn from this season.

[@DaviMourao]

This is the worst thing for me. It was not done because of an agreement with teams, because it was the right thing to do or the most sensible thing to do. It was done because it would look good on TV -- and on Netflix. Is it a sport or is it a reality show?

[@Martao98]

@@DaviMourao In fact, it was the right thing to do. Finishing under SC is a no go. Yes, a red flag may have been a fairer solution. However, that's a split second decision by Masi. Easy to judge afterwards.

[@Martao98]

@Ian Johnston restart the race is 100% the right thing to do. You'd agree if you didn't know who was the leader...

[@mrsensei8878]

@Ian Johnston They should have let the car lapped when the first call was made to not lap. Than non of this would have bin a discussion

[@MrEstpas71]

@@Martao98 Very right indeed! People clearly didn't listen to what David actually had to say...

[@aaliyahm7140]

I actually think Merc should appeal to maintain the integrity of the sport, not to overrule the championship, but to set a precedent on the way-ward application of the rules

[@aztro187]

Go cry with merc

[@maxarrez]

@@aztro187 what?

[@aaliyahm7140]

@@aztro187 don’t need to cry, 8 times constructors champions and we have a 7 time drivers champion.

[@aztro187]

@@maxarrez still crying buddy? Whahahhaa

[@maxarrez]

@@aztro187 what? im happy max won lol

[@studioviper3016]

As a Hamilton fan, I would have hated Lewis winning in the way that Max did yesterday.

[@JoshAllingham95]

Totally agree with you

[@footballnerd277]

Lol, sure you would have! But I bet you were more than happy for Lewis to win after overtaking Verstappen by cutting the corner!

[@akshayps3672]

Easy to say that now

[@studioviper3016]

@@footballnerd277 I'm a Hamilton fan, but I thought Lewis should have given the position to Max actually. I want to see Lewis win, but only if its done fairly. What we saw yesterday wasn't fair, for either driver.

[@mbal4052]

Yea sure thing 😂😂

[@andrewwilson3448]

If this hadn't been a championship deciding race would Masi's decision been different? At the end of the day we need consistency on the application of the rules which Masi is not doing.

[@kertbert1]

No of course the race would have been finished under a safety car.

[@edjustice7755]

This is a absolutely astute and salient point, right on man. All the teams want a fair playing field and the way drivers were punished or not punished during races throughout the year goes to reinforce the inconsistency present.

[@andrewwilson3448]

@@kertbert1 that's happened before when the rules have been correctly applied

[@kertbert1]

@@andrewwilson3448 I guess then even though hearts would be broken no one could scream foul.

[@jeriljohny9007]

From a huge seb fan, obviously I hated lewis during seb-lewis championship fights. But seeing from the last race I really felt some love for Lewis. True gentleman, how he handled the whole situation and the defeat. True sportsman and legend. I hope max could learn some lesson from lewis, by his gesture towards this dramatic and controversial championship I ever seen. Both deserved the championship but not the way Masi executed. This is motor racing, this is not "Money heist" final episode. It's a shame for the sport.

[@kayrelzin5606]

Thats him infront of camera.. in public keeping his cool guy image. Dont be fooled

[@ppn1472]

@@kayrelzin5606 Nonsense

[@kayrelzin5606]

@@ppn1472 🤣🤣all for the cam

[@Resist_Oppression]

Hated someone when you don't know them, simply because you root for another person? Maybe get out of your feelings.... hate is strong.

[@kayrelzin5606]

@@LtheDetective how do u know hes not since u know him from tv too lol😗🤣🤣🤣

[@MyloSkeng]

Agree wholeheartedly with most of what Crofty said, but in my eyes Merc continuing this protest cannot 'damage the sport'. The sport was damaged the moment the FIA made that decision

[@tomadams94]

We need to know where we stand to allow teams to make the correct strategic decisions

[@lounjuu]

I hope Merc won't let this go. Its not about LH and MV at this point. Its about the integrity of the sport.

[@reboot1337]

@sampaix also in Monza where Max almost killed him

[@MegaTimtheman]

@sampaix come on man, verstappen turned in on him watch it back

[@roadrunner6224]

@@reboot1337 the Monza incident was unfortunate, the Silverstone crash always would have ended in an extremely dangerous situation

[@ecosse543]

The fact that Hamilton lost time trying to get through those back markers who were fighting each other and then his race engineer saying " its ok Max has to get through them aswell" adds to the drama. Those cars were allowed to just vanish and allow Max all the advantage. If Lewis had to pass them then so did Max. A safety car shouldn't mean that those cars are allowed to just go through. Max got handed every advantage possible to win on the last lap and Lewis got the rug pulled out from under him.

[@DenDave_]

Lewis theoratically had 10 laps or whatever to pass those back markers, but due to the safety car Max would only have had 1 to pass them AND challenge Lewis. This would have massively favoured Lewis. Whatever the FIA would've done, one of the two would have been disadvantaged. And honestly, I cant fault the FIA for choosing the path that gave us one more lap of actual racing to end the season, rather than end it behind a safety car.

[@gunshipbattlehighlights715]

100% True

[@rudicon4u]

@@DenDave_ that's not Lewis fault max was so behind.

[@DenDave_]

@@ryanwilliams3024 Safety cars are unpredictable, thats the nature of the sport. You can go on and on about how artificial that result is, but ultimately RedBull took advantage of the situation presented to them, while Mercedes did not. Mercedes had the option to change Lewis' tyres under the VSC, but they didnt. Ultimately it's their own fault that Max had that huge tyre advantage at the end.

[@DenDave_]

@@rudicon4u It's not Max' fault that there was a safety car either

[@abbzeest]

Mercedes made a decision based on the rules. Masi ignored the rules and made a decision based on feeling. Every one is saying f1 made a mistake but unfortunately the mistake cannot be rectified. One person was robbed one was gifted.

[@masonbeck566]

48.13 and 15.3 are also in the rules. Focussing on one specific provision to the exclusion of all others is exactly why Merc’s protest was dismissed. The decision was within the preview of the rules. Most people should take issue with the rules, not just the person responsible for applying the rules. I think it should be changed specifically for situations like this where in the last 5 laps of a final championship race, if the SC is deployed the RD or clerk of the course can suspend the race. Each team should also get a free set of all compounds of tyre in the event of a red flag (and can only be used whilst the race is suspended). I, personally, will not let the events people are so upset about ruin how I saw this season. I was watching the finale live in bed on my iPad at 1 am. I think I nearly shook the bed to pieces when Max overtook Lewis (yes I was supporting Max). People can let this whole situation ruin the season for them, but that’s on them for letting one of the greatest spectacles we’ve seen in decades be soured by their feelings. We may never see a battle like this again, so appreciate how unbelievable this season was. I mean for goodness sake, Sochi was actually enjoyable this year; that’s how insane the season has been. Let’s have healthy discussions about the incident, but at some point, very soon, we have to move on and look ahead to a new generation of F1 where overtaking will be more frequent amongst the leading teams. And hopefully Lando can get that first win.

[@0nTheBrakes]

@@masonbeck566 well said!! People are forgetting the rule about the race director making over riding decisions IS ALSO A RULE!

[@realspace3]

@@masonbeck566 while I agree that we should not focus on the individual clauses themselves to the exclusion of others, there’s some extra nuance to this. The clauses in 48 aren’t just a series of separate regulations about safety cars, they’re a chronological series. Take 48.7 for example. The first sentence is “All competing cars must reduce speed and form up in line behind the safety car no more than ten car lengths apart”. Without the context of the preceding 48.1-48.6, this would always be in effect, and all racing would be illegal as they should be behind the safety car at all times. Clearly absurd, and not how the regs should be read :P This chronological/procedural structure is used throughout the regs, just look at 38, the race starting procedure for another example. Given this, 48.13 shouldn’t ‘overrule’ 48.12, it follows from it. Article 48.13 tells us how the safety car comes in after the mandatory 1 lap delay from 48.12. The 15.3 argument is more interesting, and one that lawyers will need to unpick. It gives the RD ‘overriding authority’, but doesn’t say what is being overridden. From context it could be saying the RD can overrule the clerk of the course and other officials, but the officials on the day ruled it allows the RD to override the sporting regs themselves. There’s an argument the RD should have that authority on the grounds of safety, to have the flexibility to deal with unforseeable events, but using that power to break the regs with no safety rationale, just to provide a thrilling final lap for TV is… controversial to say the least. Not to mention that the FIA was split from FOM precisely to remove these kinds of conflicts of interest between safety and drama. None of which is to take anything from Max who did nothing wrong in the race, and is a worthy winner of the championship. Just a real shame to have this stain over the season at the end.

[@XxmillerniaxX]

@@0nTheBrakes The problem is that at this point looking back over the year at all the social media posts it would not matter if Hamilton Lost this way or some other a majority of his "fans" would still be finding some reason why they believe that Lewis deserved to win the Championship. This is pretty much why none of them actually want to hear that the race was not Manipulated, or that the decision made was within the rules. There have been so many unfounded claims made by his fans, and the fact that his personal opinions keep finding their way into the media, despite what he has said publicly generally just inflames the situation more.

[@lloyddyer1829]

@@masonbeck566 sorry Mason, but that is not correct. If you read the rules yourself you will see that the Steward's defense is laughable. What happened on Sunday was not in the framework of the rules at all (that's a fact).

[@paulallen8109]

The decent decision would have been to have the race end behind the safety car. Why? Because it didn't look as if anything was going to stop Lewis from winning anyway. Hence this event would have resulted in a somewhat disappointing finish but still what would have happened anyway without a safety car. Dull but fair. And when you decide to let the lapped cars unlap themselves they must first be allowed to rejoin at the far back first. Otherwise what's the point?? The decision was to let the last lap end in drama. And drama they got. In the form of gargantuan controversy.

[@joelbrooks3198]

Red flag the race and let both Max and Lewis get fresh soft tires and then battle it out for 3 or 4 laps.

[@TheLegenDacster]

Paul Allen. Nicely articulated. Dull but fair and also avoiding violating teams' rights. There has been plenty of excitement this season, unnecessarily contriving a last gasp of excitement ruined the season and the FIA's reputation.

[@rahrah5484]

Masi after the 2020 Eifel GP regarding the prolonged safety car on track: "There is a requirement in the sporting regulations to let ALL lapped cars through." This is in complete contradiction to yesterday's interpretation. This is a deliberate manipulation

[@pilkipilki4472]

If he said that he has to go

[@minechaftgamer288]

Needs to be made more of if true

[@chrisjohnhyman]

When regulations can be manipulated by 'one person' and they have carte blanche on the rule book. it opens the door to possible 'fixing' of races (That's just a fact now). Not saying for one minute this was the intention, but the FIA have just set an incredibly dangerous precedent. How do they come back from this if that's their reasoning for turning down the appeal? I've been a life long F1 fan and my horse wasn't even in the race yesterday, but I am not sure I want to give my support to a sport in such a state of decline. Well done Max, huge congratulation to Lewis, who was clearly the better driver on the day and a slow hand clap all around to the FIA who have just fired that last nail into the coffin that was the pinnacle of motor sport.

[@johncooper4187]

Does make you wonder if Masi is on RB’s payroll Spa and now this, he is a joke who has ruined F1. I expect Lewis to leave before the start of 2022 why would he want to drive where the F1/FIA choose who wins and Merc will leave at the end of 2022 season having given notice now. F1 will be gone within the next ten years.

[@madarauchiha4329]

@@johncooper4187 What happened yesterday reminded me of when the FIA did everything in their power to stop Ferrari's hot streak in the early 2000s. That was bad, but this? This is on another level of bad.

[@eman19487]

One could easily say that was fixed without a shadow of a doubt , Hamilton had no chance so is he on RB`s payroll ? By the way I`m no Hamilton fan.

[@ixifutureproof9286]

@@johncooper4187 because he's an F1 racer who signed his contract with barely a sniff of winning this year's WDC. So whilst he ended up being the victim of a sport breaking level of controversy, I think his focus was on the new car for 2022 all along. I think this championship became more and more interesting for Lewis as the year went on.

[@johncooper4187]

@@ixifutureproof9286 fingers crossed.

[@Ginbaubabe]

Both Max and Lewis equally deserved winning the title and I’m indeed more satisfied that it’s Max who won his maiden title instead of Lewis winning his 8th, but you can’t deny the fact that Michael Masi ie FIA’s own gamekeeper manipulated the regulations and manufactured the last lap show down between Max and Lewis and ignored the rights of all the remaining competitors by allowing only the 5 backmarkers between P1 n P2 to unlap and not the others. Now that is not fair racing and as a result Masi and the FIA has failed in their responsibilities. Masi must be removed from officiating any motor race in the future!

[@Shifty_Malone]

Masi did nothing wrong. It is simply disadvantageous to be leading in certain situations. We has seen this several times this season alone. Look at Norris losing an almost certain maiden victory simply because he was leading as the rain hit. It is an extremely tough call to give up track position when you are leading. If it was the other way around Hamilton would have stayed out and Norris would have boxed and won. Lewis was finally unlucky and Max was finally lucky. Lewis should have won that race, but not the championship.

[@TDiMedia]

The other point is that there was an initial decision NOT to allow lapped cars to overtake.... then changed to lapped cars can overtake.... but then only some lapped cars were allowed past... not all lapped cars..Add to this the nonsense at the previous round when he was almost negotiating a penalty with Red Bull, rather than simply stating what the penalty would be and you have more than one reason why he cannot stay in the job next year. The end of the season has been an absolute shambles. Letting the lapped cars through... ALL of the lapped cars was the right decision, and if that means the race would have ended under the safety car then so be it.... Too late to do anything about it now... but things must change next year.

[@Appl1108]

Masi ruined the most pulsating F1 championship in recent history by intervening in the worst possible moment. A red flag would have been the most fair outcome to both teams and no one would have had any complaints.

[@imo098765]

@@Shifty_Malone To use your rain example. Masi said Norris cant pit for wet tyres but others can, thats what happened this weekend This is the major factor about that race, EVERYONE had a chance to pit for wet tyres, everyone made a choice what to do therefore it was a fair result. This last restart forget the tyre situation, forget all of that. Why was the cars only in front of Max moved out of the way? Why was everyone else left to deal with traffic? Why was Sainz not allowed to compete with the 2 of them? Why was Norris not allowed to compete and then lost 5th place in the drivers standings? Masi said we going racing, no we werent. We were giving Max and only Max a chance to improve his position Also if you say Lewis should've won that race, then he should've won the championship because he had the most points over the entire season. The person who gets the most points is the person who deserves to win it.

[@Shifty_Malone]

@@imo098765 because the purpose of the rule is that lapped cars don't interfere with the leaders. It says "any" not "all", so only the lapped cars between the leaders were allowed to pass the safety car. As per the rules and regulations.

[@readesiun988]

What nobody is talking about is that third and fourth ect would also of had a chance for race win or second place. This is the most dodgy decision I have ever seen in 53 years and I am a Max fan.

[@whoanelly737-8]

Exactly. Nothing more than a drag race with Lewis at a significant disadvantage after Masi wiping Lewis’ 10 plus second lead.

[@randomguy7199]

@@whoanelly737-8 how is it masi’s fault that Hamilton lost his 10 second advantage😂.

[@esciteach7997]

agree

[@whoanelly737-8]

@@randomguy7199 Masi made the decision, that’s why...🙄

[@name5798]

@@whoanelly737-8 its not masi` fault hamilton lost his 10 second advantage it was the safety car, there was always going to be a safety car with the crash latifi had

[@SomeoneJustWatching]

The only right choice in that incident was a red flag, so the FIA could go racing for one or a few last laps on equal grounds, they didn't have to finish on safety car nor did they have to break their own rules.

[@ruzaroos]

Someone said that a Red Flag after 75% distance ends the race.

[@Dyonvdm]

They didnt break any rules, also mercedes (toto wolf) wanted the fia to bend the rules even more and wanted them to reinstate the second to last lap as the last lap ,which is not allowed.

[@LeicesterRaver]

@@ruzaroos depends on how much of the alloted time would be left after the track is cleared. There is both a distance and time limit once the race starts, or at least there used to be. Masi would probably ignore that too. I reckon he had a tenner on max winning.

[@fabriciojimenez575]

Do you know why and when they choose a red flag or a safety car? The main thing that I know is that they don't choose it to see how could be a better racing, they choose because safety mainly and if it is posible to clean the track quick and restart the race as soon as possible

[@Ruylopez778]

All the teams knew before the race start there wouldn't be a red flag at the end unless absolutely necessary. It wasn't necessary. If they red flagged it and Verstappen won, Hamilton fans would be saying it should have ended under SC. When the VSC was out, Toto was pleading for no SC because it would allow all cars to close up.

[@selnor1983]

What I am not seeing anyone really mention is the breach in Sporting code of conduct. A referee (or race director on F1) cannot under the Sporting code of conduct have a rule that applies to some and not all of the competitors. Massi allowed 5 cars to pass Lewis so Max was able to be behind Lewis on fresh soft tires for a SC restart. Now firstly RB chose to pit and lose track position behind lapped cars. Noone forced RB to make that choice. They did that themselves. Now Massi had 2 choices. 1. Allow ALL cars to unlap, but that would have meant the race finishes under the safety car. There wasn't time in lap 57 to do so. 2. Don't unlap the cars and allow them to race on Lap 58. Albeit with 5 cars between Max and Lewis. Which is RB fault for pitting. They could have been on Lewis rear wing with Hard tires on a restart. Now Massi choosing to only allow some drivers to unlap means he decided a rule that wasn't in the regulations during a race. And that new rule breaches Sporting code of conduct. Because you cannot have a rule that only applies or helps 1 competitor. Massi left other unlapped cars in other drivers way. Which is unacceptable. Max and Lewis should not have preferential treatment just because they are in a title battle. Points are given for other places on the grid for a reason. Rules govern sport so all competitors have 100% fairness 100% of the time. Applying a new rule that is made up that doesn't apply to all competitors is against the Sporting code of conduct. And I'm 100% certain Court of Arbitrition of Sport will find that as well. The court would find any cars to mean ALL cars. As you cannot apply a rule to some of the cars. So therefore Any will automatically mean all to uphold Sporting code of conduct. What we saw yesterday was RB make a mistake by pitting and losing track position. Which then required Massi to breach the Sporting code of conduct to allow Max to be next to Lewis on the restart.

[@JUMBO2]

Great point and even better explanation

[@umayrmakda759]

Perfectly said mate

[@TheGodlessGuitarist]

Yep, it was a capricious application of the rules alright. They managed to ruin a whole championship in the course of a few minutes. I dont think I'll be sitting through a whole season of racing just to be stitched up again.

[@antoniok4735]

Very well said !

[@SC-wx6qd]

Absolutely correct It’s an absolute farce … You can’t change the rules just for the amusement of the spectators Mercedes knew what the rules were and played their cards to that rule There was no way max was getting past Lewis when the circumstances unfolded with one lap to go .. Either they had to get through the back markers or the race finished behind a safety car

[@gadger5865]

Feels like a fix to me and I'm not a Hamilton fan, I cannot see me bothering next year.

[@hollandgm62]

The one time that I wished I had a SKY Subscription to cancel. I’d have been on the phone before they got to the podium.

[@siloPIRATE]

@@hollandgm62 Get a Sky Sports subscription and then cancel it immediately because of what happened

[@arthurmackrell8154]

It's a mockery that the FIA doesn't apply It's own Rules. How will Teams ever be able to plan strategy now?

[@siloPIRATE]

@@arthurmackrell8154 but no Verstappen won fair and square. What about Silverstone? Mercedes should have pitted. Other fans’ arguments. There’s a video on KZbin of the team radios during the safety car period. Pretty much all but one driver and engineer pairing was confused. These guys aren’t dumb. The drivers have been racing pretty much their whole lives so anyone knows how it’s supposed to work, it’s them. But if they were confused and some even calling it out then you know something that shouldn’t have happened, happened

[@mychaellucas167]

I've been watching Formula One half of my life I have never seen a disgraceful race that I ever seen I'm calling it like I see it Martin brundle and all the other hosts didn't say flat out the race was cheated ever since Charlie Whiting pass from Formula 1 it has never been the same since he passed away guys from the FIA does not know how to call a race if anybody knows anything about racing that was a clear violation of the rules do F1 Formula 1 Racers including David Coulter and anybody else anything about what happened really what happened Lewis Hamilton was railroaded plain and simple you should man up and say the real truth about the race what really happened

[@adrianlivesey4375]

Not only did Hamilton have a 10 second lead, there was also 5 back markers between them, I cannot understand why the teams behind Verstappen that were unable to fight for places because there were still lapped cars in their way have not also appealing the scenario the Masi created. Masi needs to be sacked and the FIA need to get their house in order, the end!

[@josephjoestar995]

Everything you have said is factual, it's a fact that Lewis was robbed of the win I still can't believe what happened m

[@camkai1998]

It’s the way everyone is just accepting it!!

[@adrianlivesey4375]

@@josephjoestar995 As much as Hamilton should have won the race given the correct following of the rules, the choices made cannot be undone, this years championship will always be tainted, Verstappen was gifted it by the FIA and if it changes to Hamilton it will be the one he won in court. The FIA needs to change and learn to follow it's own rules the stewards are the judge and the FIA look after safety, what Masi did on behalf of the FIA was gift the championship to Max, if he knew that was going to happen he needs to go, if he didn't see it he also needs to go for being blind to it. I do not know if he was bullied into making a last lap race by somebody or group, but it was an act that was not legitimate and should never have happened

[@kylesports72]

Ye but his there were dead

[@Bryanzebox]

Just out of curiosity, if the safety car came in.. and lap cars were there.. they would've gotten the blue flag at the start finish line right..? i wonder if max would've been able to pass them all immediately and maybe even fight into sector 3..

[@masterindisguises]

11 seconds in front with a 5 car buffer, all gone out the window for Lewis, because Massi wanted a last round shoot out. What was the point of the whole race where Lewis earned his advantage by driving hard, over taking, only taking one pit stop? MV needed 3 stops for new tyres, his team mate Perez helping him out to close the gap, a Crash, a safety car, and ultimately the FIA to grant him a position behind Lewis with fresh tyres, it took all that for this shambolic result, MV could have crashed into Lewis and still won in the last lap, which Lewis avoided in the last lap, it was all game over when the FIA meddled and manipulated the result. A complete and utter shambles. This should have ended on the safety car or the lapped cars to unlap and the buffer which Lewis earned to remain in place. MV got handed a championship on a silver platter by the FIA, it was not earned, handed. Fixed!

[@Dan-nh8nu]

Absolutely bang on.

[@StuBuchy]

I wanted max to win but I can't agree more with this statement

[@Dan-nh8nu]

Imagine if the roles were reversed.

[@bashsharif8272]

E.X.A.C.T.L.Y

[@grahameida7163]

@@Dan-nh8nu yep, red bull would be shouting foul and max would have had a hissy fit, at least Lewis was magnanimous in defeat, I didn’t think he would have been, but that makes me respect him more.

[@iannichols8393]

The one thing that stands out to me is that Masi wanted the race to end under green, he wanted the challengers to fight it out head to head, what he failed to see was that the two challengers were not on equal footing due to the tire situation, it was unfair and Masi screwed the pooch. Put new soft tires on Lewis's car and Max doesnt get past him.

[@Knappovision]

Mercedes should have taken the opportunity to pit then. Thats on them.

[@iannichols8393]

@@Knappovision no its not they played the game based on the rules, they preserved track position, any team would have done the same based on the rules. Masi changed the rules.

[@iannichols8393]

@@Knappovision All true but you leave out one thing, the tires, if Lewis pits he loses track position and thats unfair since they worked the race very well, the only fair way to end the race under green was for Lewis to have the same tires on, anything less is a mistake.

[@Knappovision]

@@iannichols8393 then they should have pitted for fresh tyres and taken the gamble that either Red Bull would do the same OR they wouldn't and they could race to the finish with a tyre advantage because they took the opportunity to pit and improve their chances on that final lap. Loowis did everything right, Mercedes played it safe and have a history of making average strategy calls when the pressure is on. This is another one of those. Pitting would have been a huge gamble, especially if Red Bull stayed out but I honestly believe the race would have run green to the end regardless and that would have put the tyre advantage into their court.

[@har234908234]

@@Knappovision People who say he should have pitted seem to forget that RBR likely wouldn't have pitted behind Hamilton, and played the SC finish gamble. Ordinary procedures in that case, and Hamilton throws away the championship in the biggest blunder the sport has ever seen.

[@CarbideGuy]

Beg to differ, Masi bungled this before the start by not being prepared. The plan should have been in place for a sprint finish if a crash occurred with less than 10 laps remaining. LeClerc deserved a chance to race to surpass Norris in the standing, Vettel deserved a chance to fight for 10th. This buffoon's bungle will leave a cloud over a dramatic 2021 season. But as good as Max is; please remember, that Redbull was permitted to keep points earned with an illegal rear wing which allowed Max to be in the position to challenge Lewis and the Mercedes.

[@lynx6722]

Masi in October 2020: "There's a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave ALL the lapped cars past." From the man himself after the Eifel GP. Also from the man who had the nerve to call the 2021 Belgium GP a "race" after just 2 laps behind a safety car. He and the FIA is a joke and made the sport a joke.

[@roybakker1973]

Rule 48.12 states very clearly that ‘ANY lapped cars MAY now overtake’ not ANY lapped cars MUST now overtake’ The rule was made to get lapped cars out between the other cars and exactly that happened.

[@chrispick306]

@@roybakker1973 what about poor sainz though!? Does he not matter? Just goes to show it was fixed for viewing pleasure and not consistent regulation

[@Malc180s]

@@roybakker1973 Max could have been passed by Sainz. Guess we'll never know now eh?

[@LeeVittout]

@@Malc180s he certainly wouldn't have been able to attack so freely against LH if that was the case. But it would seem that was not the intention of MM.

[@mathewjones8886]

@@roybakker1973 The point being that not all cars were given that option, only a carefully chosen few.

[@batemanlife]

Is it a fix. As soon as they ignore the usual procedure and let Max restart immediately behind Lewis they know Max has a 90% chance of winning. Either let them start with the lapped cars in between or standing start so everyone can change tyres and get in the correct order. Mercedes won't win an appeal though. Move Masi on, his reputation is shot, get a team in and dont let the teams talk directly to the race director

[@footballnerd277]

"As soon as they ignore the usual procedure and let Max restart immediately behind Lewis" "let them start with the lapped cars in between" Clearly you're one of these "new to F1 fans". Or just a Lewis fan boy who's blinded to reality!! In dry conditions, USUAL PROCEDURE is for lapped cars to immediately be able to unlap themselves during a safety car. If that had happened, they would have been well out the way by the time the safety car came in. And Max would still have started right behind Lewis and would still have won. The real question is, why did Masi intially prevent lapped cars from unlapping themselves (a decision which Horner and Verstappen called "a joke" because they knew it was against USUAL PROCEDURE). It's almost as if he wanted to keep those cars between Max and Lewis, but then he realised how UNUSUAL a decision that would have been.

[@maxchohan8908]

Totally.... this crap by Masi to 'Let Them Race' was in total ignorance to the circumstances that gave MV an unfair advantage. There was no way LH could defend on older tyres. Masi knew this. He'd have to be a complete id1ot not to have seen the ensuing consequences.

[@batemanlife]

@@footballnerd277 I'm 46 and have watched F1 with my family since I was a kid.

[@sandeepathwal4188]

If they knew they wer gonna do this & change the rules, Marc's strategie would of been way different.

[@robthornton6288]

Spot on.

[@kingcecil7126]

The offside rule is pretty simple and everyone understands it, what happened in the last race was manipulated!

[@Cafferssss]

How could he expect Hamilton to stand even a close chance? After fighting for almost all of the race, battling Max in the first lap, using his pace to earn a safe lead, battling past perez and nearly losing his lead, then a VSC where he faced a new threat in Max on new tyres AND STILL managing to eke out an even bigger gap. Lewis did everything possible to win and lost on an arbitrary decision that contravened the normal rules made by the man that wants the winner to be decided on track, the hypcrisy being that the winner was decided in the race control office. Lewis couldn't risk pitting at the safety car, as max would do the opposite and had the safety car followed the normal routine, Max would have assumed the lead an won. Why does Masi have to mess with the age old norms to try and spice things up? Masi is not an entertainer, hes a Race Director, and not in a theatrical sense! His job is to make sure things run smoothly with accordance to the Regs. Why did we need anymore excitement and jeopardy this weekend? we had an exciting race that ended in a way that left a lot of fans on both sides with a sour taste in their mouths.

[@XboneMalone]

Hear, hear

[@ahjwille]

Masi was bought by RedBull. There's clearly a match fixing. Lewis is the true Champion. He drove his wheels off (Especially battling with Perez). F1 is going to lose fans for these types of nastiness. Especially the Interlagos incident being swept under the rug. Plus Max is a dirty racer. The way he is, he'll only be a One time chap.

[@sid7607]

"battling in the first lap" - I think you mean taking a sneaky shortcut ;)

[@hpnights]

Spot on. Absolute liberty. Never seen something so corrupt from the powers that be and acting like it’s acceptable. Christian Horner said it perfectly. Lewis had a “hollow victory “ well you my friend have a “hollow championship “. Max drove well and is talented but Lewis is the champion and any neutral without bias appreciating the rules can see that.

[@Cafferssss]

@@sid7607 when max ran Lewis off track what should Lewis do? You can't just push people off track, that's not racing. Although the way he gained an advantage rejoining wasn't right, perhaps the place should've been given up, perhaps not. Either way, with the pace Lewis had, he would've passed Max and we all know it.

[@04knightj]

They wanted to put on a show and they did that. Whilst I feel Max deserved the championship, I don’t feel Lewis deserved to lose it this way. This was purely for Netflix and the new fans.

[@Curi0u50ne]

Any time Channel 4 collaborates with big media corporations Britain loses

[@poki580]

@@Curi0u50ne neat

[@MrColum213]

🙄

[@EdgeSoloBeats]

As a new fan i can say that due to this i wont be back next year

[@bslangable]

@@Curi0u50ne Britain?..whatever, nobody cares about Britain.

[@theshinyrocket]

The sport has seriously damaged its reputation, Masi needs to go. The whole season has had some shambolic decisions, and that last 5 laps crowned it off. This has made us feel this way, ive watched it for 45 years, rarely missing a race.

[@PaintrainX]

Yeah. A race director doesn’t have the right to make impulsive decisions. We already saw that in Brazil. What Verstappen did was disgraceful. Even Montoya rated it as unacceptable. Masi just decided on the fly there wouldn’t even be an investigation.

[@mallory10259]

the fia will try and gloss thing over and brush them under the carpet they have already issued a statement that us fans are misunderstanding the race the basic fact of the matter the race was fixed the only way to restore some credibility back in the sport is to sack masi the whole thing stinks

[@simonmatty5819]

What a shame. The best title race in years with two drivers who deserved to win overshadowed by avoidable conservatives. The sport, the drivers and the fans deserve better.

[@gartje]

Obviously you're only watching the news in the UK, because the rest of the world is still partying after three days!

[@camix7290]

"The fans don't really want to see the race finish behind a safety car." Yeah and the fans also don't want to see the rules deliberately disregarded when there is only one person it benefits. At the very worst it should have been red flagged so both drivers had a fair run at it. If Masi isn't sacked then I believe a large portion of the fans Crofty refers to will believe the sport has lost a huge amount of credability. Edit: I also don't understand why there are so many sky pundits taking bullets for Michael Masi? If you're terrible at your job you're usually sacked or placed into another role. He clearly can't fairly direct these races so his position is practically untenable.

[@JohnJohnnyUtah]

They may well see the faults in the product; but it's still their job to sell it.

[@KoalaTMM]

I agree

[@adriangilholm2425]

CAMIX 44 minutes ago (edited) "The fans don't really want to see the race finish behind a safety car." Yet that's exactly what they did in Spa after 2 laps? If it was good enough then?

[@camix7290]

@SteveNL like I mentioned previously. If you are going by the letter of the law then the race more than likely would have finished under safety car, as has happened previously. If MB were to pit for new tyres and Verstappen stay out then by the letter of the law there would have been a very high likelihood Verstappen would have followed the safety car to the finish line.

[@urbanjentry222]

Rules were followed as has been explained and demonstrated with how the race continued rather than being ended 5 laps early niki lauda devised the “let them race” scenario are we gonna question his legacy bearing in mind he was a Mercedes man

[@bruttus11]

The decision taken was only every going to result in Max winning. The race director knew this and decided he would change the rules to let max win. That is fixing the result of the race, whichever way you look at it, whatever the motivation. Sport must follow the rules agreed upon for participation or it is not fair sport.

[@andrewwright4195]

@UCcJw8chc63VZy4wGbEr-fRA the salt for 24 hours haha so happy for max there another Dutchman I like van Dirk I hope we win another title with him lol

[@RD-wg9em]

@UCcJw8chc63VZy4wGbEr-fRA merc didn’t put because it was expected that the race would end under safety car, which would have happened if proper protocol had been followed. If it was made clear earlier that the safety car was boxing, merc could’ve made a strategy decision, but they made one based on the info they had, only for it to change last minute

[@jakemico]

@UCcJw8chc63VZy4wGbEr-fRA if the rules were followed, there wouldn’t have been another racing lap. It’s a simple fact. Let Max have his championship. Mercedes are throwing good money after bad. They won the prize pot. There’s no prize money for the drivers championship. Even as a Max fan you can’t deny that this is an incredibly suspicious turn of events which really did favour one driver. Max was nowhere in contention. Lewis out drove him all race. These are facts. Max won and was a deserved winner given the circumstances. Michael Masi best update his CV.

[@James-my4dz]

@UCcJw8chc63VZy4wGbEr-fRA so they pit, lose track position to max, who wouldnt, and lose the race because, assuming the rules were followed, the race would have ended under the safety car. great logic from you there

[@macattackk]

@UCcJw8chc63VZy4wGbEr-fRA if they pitted they’d have given up track position. Think before you comment. Say what you will about the rest of the season, Merc deserved the victory in the last race and were robbed of it by blatant result fixing.

[@enfyrfrayt]

what i dont get is why mclaren dont say anything? like, they took away the chance for Dani Ric to pass Vet at the restart 🤷‍♂because Vet got a head start just because he was ahead of Max.... 🙆‍♂it makes no sence... 🙅‍♂

[@asbood112]

It’s alright saying that 15.3 overrides 48.13 which in turn overrides 48.12 BUT the FIA regulations did not stipulate any exceptions to 48.12 or, by natural consequence of Masi’s actions, 48.13. Read all the regulations, there are no exceptions to any of them UNLESS they are clearly stated. This means that 48.12 has priority (especially given that some lapped cars were allowed to overtake) over 48.13 as there is a ‘quality’ about it that should be adhered to (the safety car entering the pits the following lap after ALL lapped cars have passed the leader and the SC). Why would they have exceptions for some of the regulations written and other exceptions not? If, however, he had not decided to let the lapped cars through 48.13 would have been fine as 48.12 was not being used. Furthermore, Article 2 makes for interesting reading ‘officials must undertake the provisions supplemented or amended by the regulations’ or some other phrasing. This again backs my point about “exceptions”. To my mind if 48.12 was supposed to cede to 48.13, specific provision must be written within the regulations. As for 15.3, that would make him able to produce and remove the safety car whenever he wanted to. Even under 15.3, Masi is supposed to work with the clerk of the course (joint decision making, which is why he doesn’t seem supported because he wanted to make the decision himself) and all powers given to Masi under 15.3 are subject to the relevant Articles within the regulations so as not to appear arbitrary.

[@JUMBO2]

The FIA had absolutley no right to force that battle. The FIA's purpose is to enforces rules NOT produce an entertaining finish, or even an entertaining race for that matter.

[@sweetfreedomGB]

Nonsense

[@JUMBO2]

@@sweetfreedomGB you cannot seriously disagree... The FIA is a rules body and only a rules body

[@Arwel22597]

"i dont like competition and would like the favouratism to revert back to where its been for 7 years"

[@sweetfreedomGB]

@@Arwel22597 haha great

[@JUMBO2]

@@Arwel22597 🤦‍♂️ yikes

[@leedixon2113]

I can't believe at 2:55 Crofty said "Masi had to get the cars between Lewis and Max out of the way so that they could have that 'FAIR' fight", ludicrous, nothing fair about it! Let all lapped cars past or none, but don't give one team all of the potential advantages. Sad that none of the Sky Sports F1 team are standing up for what's right and sporting!

[@mash83]

It really is a joke, poor from him.

[@mziyabo]

We are being Manipulated

[@JohnJohnnyUtah]

But did you see the viewing figures. Wasn't just a win for Max. Really think a pundit is going to shoot down the product they are selling. It's the mouth that feeds them.

[@footballnerd277]

When have you ever seen a safety car restart with lapped cars still at the front? It's standard for lapped cars to unlap themselves during a safety car. Considering the conditions were dry, it should have happened straight away (as Max and Horner were saying). But for some reason Masi delayed it.

[@KrisVic91]

@@JohnJohnnyUtah who cares? There is a thing called Integrity.

[@lungelondlovu7018]

I understand what he's explaining about feeling sad unfortunately he should be worried about the millions of old and new fan's who think this is racing not WWE wrestling where you always looking for the entertainment. What happened was totally wrong and the Mercedes AMG will be honoring the future of the sport by going through with the appeal due to that this situation is not about Max winning but it about principles of the formula 1

[@john1703]

Exactly, say what you like Mr Croft, it was a fix.

[@dailysoof4176]

@@john1703 It wasn't a fix...? This is some of the most ironic "LEWIS HAMILTON IS MY HERO AND I WILL DO ANYTHING TO DEFEND HIM". So we forget everything Hamilton has done wrong all season? the crashes he caused? but yet when something happens in return, it's rigged? This is hilarious lol

[@applejackjam2514]

But don’t you think finishing the race behind a SC while the track is clear would have also been a complete farce/ fix? Or letting them race but not in the right order? If Hamilton would have pitted, and max stayed out, max would have been a sitting duck too. Isn’t that always the case with a safety car that late in the race?

[@animalworld5296]

@@john1703 funny enough crofty was confused and questioned every decision that was made by Masi right till the last battle , but now he seems to change his mind, i guess he needs his job.

[@animalworld5296]

@@dailysoof4176 look at you, an inept that blinded by a hate. Hamilton was penalized for a crash that he was involved. i know it is hard for you to comprehend a basic

[@Adam-Adamson]

"Masi needs a team around him and support" I completely agree but that is also Masi's fault this is not his first year in the job.

[@Raybo1uk]

If he cannot cope with the job then he should not be in the job, happens in every walk of life. However, changing his initial decision to favour Horner and red bull is a definite fix especially when he only allowed the cars between 33 and 44 to move out the way to give RB a total advantage. UTTER SHAMBLES FIA Hamilton had the race won easily before your cheating fix 😡🤬

[@yeah2011bb]

If he would simply apply the rules as written and consistent with president he would be a lot safer ...

[@Magyarkhan]

Previous years most discussions weren’t that important cause Mercedes’ was so dominant but now this has changed he need more a team to manage all conflicting interests

[@johnsheldonfrederick2862]

The team principals do not need to have an open line to the race director. Right now its just used to complain to Massi.

[@Raybo1uk]

@@johnsheldonfrederick2862 or to instruct him in Horners case. There is a lot going to come out due to this fiasco … just watch.

[@user-ns2dh6mp9l]

It's rigged F1 wanted a new champion giving red bull a big push before current season with their change of rules .It was fixed from get go.

[@Arwel22597]

like last year with DAS and the pink mercedes. Dont act like there arent farces every season. F1 has been a joke for a decade and this is the linchpin of that

[@user-ns2dh6mp9l]

@@Arwel22597 you admit it was rigged .

[@gorgonizer]

@@Arwel22597 You do understand that under the 2020 rules and regulations DAS was completely legal? The main reason it was banned for 2021 was cost, rather than anything else. Also, with the Pink Mercedes, Mercedes themselves were found completely innocent.

[@user-ns2dh6mp9l]

@@gorgonizer it was banned because red bull couldn't stop crying about it .If you can't develop destroy what others got that's what Karen Horner wanted and got .

[@ACsPianoCorner]

I disagree with Crofty slightly. Safety car rules that under every other circumstance would have been followed weren’t followed here. That’s not just a mistake from Masi it could easily be considered “A Fix”. I have no problem with Max he did what he was entitled to do and won the Championship. But Masi robbed Hamilton of that Championship. I agree Red flagging would’ve been the best solution. But I’ve watched for as long as Crofty’s been in the sport (15+yrs) and the changing of the rules mid-race so we can have a suitable “spectacle” has never happened. That’s fixing pure and simple. If a race finishes under safety car it finishes under safety car. You don’t change the rules.

[@stubob7454]

totally agree

[@jowisdom5321]

I disagree strongly with crofty lol

[@nondos9742]

Its a fix, not in favour of red bull, but in favour of just drama and putting on a show. Everyone except Lewis and Max was completely ignored in that situation. Carlos wasn't able to complete for win because he had Lance and Daniel in the way, who also wasn't able to attempt to gain positions because they were stuck 1 lap down.

[@donkey18071980]

Totally agree. I think there was massive back handers changing hands there.

[@ACsPianoCorner]

@@nondos9742 I agree with your point and assessment, and that’s not right or fair. Favouring drama and show over following the rules just isn’t right.

[@paulburke712]

He was going to mount a challenge he was 14 seconds behind before the crash the at the end of the day Lewis Hamilton smashed him in every department on that day and it took skulduggery to take it away from him these people have got no shame 🤷🏼‍♂️😡

[@drstew1]

I can only imagine if this was done with RB, being the leading car. And Mercedes took the win. They would of gone mental… I’ve lost interest in F1, I don’t like rule bending…

[@Martao98]

If it was reversed I would have pointed to all mistakes the stewards made before. Not to this lucky safety car situation. The mistakes the stewards made on Silverstone were MUCH bigger.

[@0nTheBrakes]

Bye bye!

[@charlyjones7]

You nailed it ‼️ I feel the same way .. Horner would have lost his mind for sure .. Hamilton led 54 Laps .. Max 1/2 of a Lap . I just wanted to enjoy a clean competitive Race .. As a Hamilton Fan , I was still prepared for Max to possibly win and that was Ok .. but Not this Way .. and Masi actually Tainted Max’s Title Win because of the controversy that comes with it .. Horner was calling Masi and literally telling Masi what HE wanted done on the Track ..🤯 During the JEDDAH Race the same thing happened .. and Martin Brundle said “ This feels like the LET’s Make a DEAL TV Show “ not a Formula 1 Race. I feel that Mercedes still will pursue an appeal not necessarily resulting in reversing this Disaster of a Race , but to prevent it from happening again .

[@haybes2837]

Love how all the pundits are too scared to call out what an atrocious situation this is. Still cant upset the FIA, jobs for the boys and all that.

[@mash83]

Yep

[@stanettiels7367]

Spot on.

[@footballnerd277]

Maybe the pundits are just a bit more neutral and level headed than all you Lewis fan boys?

[@haybes2837]

@@footballnerd277 Ricciardofan myself, just not enjoying seeing F1 has become. Easy to claim anyone speaking out is somehow bitter about the result but I think the majority just want to sport governed with competence. Go fish elsewhere.

[@stanettiels7367]

@@footballnerd277 Don’t be so ridiculous. Anyone who’s objective, has two functioning eyes and a functioning brain knows that what happened was disgraceful, broke long standing protocols and rules and clearly settled the championship unfairly.

[@mikecessford3207]

Michale Masi might be over worked, he might be under pressure, but as several decisions this year have shows, he is also incompetent. Under pressure the person in that role needs to be able to make a good call. Not perfect every time, but reasonable, consistent and sensibly balanced to all sides. Michael Masi has proven he isn't up to it. He must go, for the sake if F1 and to restore some level of confidence in the sport going forward.

[@footballnerd277]

Agreed, allowing Hamilton to overtake off the track was totally inconsistent. When Lewis forced Verstappen wide in Bahrain, Max overtook him off the track and was forced to give the place back. So why did the same no happen yesterday? Why was Hamilton allowed to cut the corner by about 20 metres, without even making an attempt of getting back on the track at the earliest available opportunity? Why did the FIA lie to us and say "Lewis has given back the advantage he gained" when they blatantly wasn't true?

[@keithcarthy1893]

So was bernie ecceslstone, and mercs got a way with murder then

[@maxchohan8908]

Agreed... Even if he's overworked and understaffed, he has one job to do for each race. He is not multitasking at different venues.... and if he knew the FIA rulebook, if he knew his job, if he learned anything from Charlie Whiting, he would have applied his decisions FAIRLY!

[@kappiah]

True

[@Alex-md6bu]

@@footballnerd277 max was never on a racing line, he took that corner in a specific way to force Lewis off the track, Lewis was on the racing line in Bahrain and took his natural line, big difference

[@WillSatchwell]

My thought here is what would Charlie have done? Put simply, follow the rules to the word! Put simply thats how he kept such tight reign on the drivers and races. Masi screwed up and has to accept he tried to be clever and it back fired in spectacular fashion. He has to take the hit for this and the FIA have to take the hit for being complacent.

[@garymparsons]

Those rules were written by Charlie 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@patrickoceon]

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Massi’s little plan with others in the FIA backfired and they need to pay for their deceit. Fire that guy. What they did was dirty. We are real fans of F1 not Netflix bandwagon. I watched all season.. spent my valuable time and money for a year to see corruption prevail with its ugly head at the last race. I am furious. I won’t be following F1 like I used to. Mercedes should appeal in high court. Justice

[@MrShadowofthewind]

It were the stewards decision, not Masi, plus, it was the end of the championship, no way it should have ended behind the safety car, everyone is just mad because they don't like the outcome.

[@kaveeshakarunaratne8961]

I agree 100%.Charlie would have ended the race under the safety car. I am sure of it. That was the right thing to do aswell.

[@WillSatchwell]

@@garymparsons they were revised before the 2021 season. Charlie died in 2019.

[@tascrphs]

This entire spectacle is reminiscent of the ending of the epic film Gladiator (in 2000), when Commodus cowardly knifed a bound and shackled Maximus prior to their battle in the Coliseum, because Commodus knew he was no match for a Maximus at equal strength. The heads at FIA and the duplicitous brand Liberty Media knew Verstappen had shown for 54 odd laps he was no match for Hamilton at equal strength. From the start, Hamilton had aced the race. Hence when the opportunity arose, even while millions were watching and it required disadvantaging ALL other drivers to benefit Verstappen, the FIA blatantly manipulated the contest to expose a weakened Hamilton to a strengthen Verstappen. That's when the race ended and the decision began. IMO, at the Yas Marina, Hamilton was clearly the better gladiator - he won fight when it was a race. Max won the decision. Ultimately, it's the FIA's game and they get to decide how it's played. Verstappen played the rules best, and he's the winner. I can't argue with that "decision" whatsoever.

[@bar1066]

Crofty covered it there when he said "the race should have stopped with a red flag". The fact that Masi failed to follow what is already in the rules and regulations, is why so many race fans feel cheated. The result, therefore, was manufactured. You can't have a system where the race director can decide who decides who is going to decide what parts of the rules and regulations he will override to select the winner of a race, that just leads to corruption.

[@larryhaines7109]

There was no need for a red flag. Red flag is for safety purposes, not to generate artificial entertainment.

[@sethje]

Bending the rules to create a red flag is alrigjt if it favors lewis. For a red flag there needs to be a very dangerous situation. There was not. A SC was a normal action for what happened. The SC is there to clean the track and resume as soon as possible. Its a race. Not a rulebook exercise! The stewards had their share of dubious decisions this year but this was not one of them.

[@macsmith6216]

The officials had already stated before the race it would not be red flagged for that type of incident Where is it in the regulations Officials also determined that the race director has unilateral control over the deployment and use of the safety car (Article 15.3), though there is some debate over the spirit of that rule and; Article 48.13 indicates that the "Safety Car In This Lap" message displayed to drivers in fact, means that the safety car will be in during that lap, not the following lap, therefore superseding article 48.12, which says that "any cars which have been lapped" must un-lap themselves during the safety car.

[@or2194]

These give the winnings to max it very clear, these new the state of Lewis wheels

[@corybouch1720]

I don’t even think it’s about the red flag. The only person who benefited from letting the cars through was Max. Even poor Sainz wasn’t able to fight with Lewis and Max for position. That whole situation was manipulated and the only person it benefited was max so that is wrong! I don’t particularly care about who won it’s about right and wrong and everyone knows that wasn’t right

[@arw8719]

I don't think the issue is " alot of people don't understand the rules" , I think the issue is, too many people understand the rules. this was not sport this was entertainment when all decisions are made to "increase racing" you are artificially helping some teams and hindering others narrowin the gap, this is acceptable, inbetween seasons bending,stretching and disregarding rules to achieve this aim, during a season, goes against everything sport is supposed to stand for it's no longer motorsport it's motorentertainment

[@almosthonest6660]

exactly. well written mate

[@MajorStress]

This was money making.... pure and simple.

[@Tosti3]

Mercedes failed to do tactics, relying on their faster car...

[@MultiFifa007]

Well said !

[@jondonnelly4831]

Motormouths decide win not motorraces

[@Andreorsel]

I believe when the red flag would have been called Toto would have shouted“ No no Michael, no red flag! This race should end under the safetycar”

[@robinsanders635]

The smocking gun is the decision Massi made at the Eifel Grand Prix in Germany last year.

[@sandeepathwal4188]

Why dude? Wot happened then? Please...

[@Jonathan-hy5sd]

“The sports reputation has been damage to a certain extent because a lot of people just can’t understand what happened last night”... I think it’s been damaged because people understood exactly what happened last night. If I’d worked on the sport for 15 years, I’d probably want to cover it up too!

[@manuelight]

it's all within the regulations... mercedes are sore loosers and made bad strategy with tyres

[@footballnerd277]

No, people don't understand what happened last night. What should have happened, is lapped cars should have been able to unlap themselves straight away. Masi delayed this, and that's what caused all the confusion. If he'd allowed it to happen straight away, then Verstappen would still be champion and there would have been no controversy (other than the arguments between safety car vs red flag).

[@Pretency]

Fully agree with this. Croft sat there pretending that seasoned F1 fans like myself don't understand what happened. What happened was the race director made a decision which is completely against what has ever happened with safety cars. The Channel 4 commentary was much better and Alex painted the controversy much better. Shame C4 didn't use their own commentary live.

[@68tonyn]

@@manuelight That's incorrect

[@drystkrab269]

@@footballnerd277 they cant unlap until its safe to do so. they were clearing the car with a crane and cleaning the debris up.

[@KXF41]

It's a shame F1 has ruined it's best ever season for a long time with a farcical decision like this, not saying Max doesn't deserve the championship he has raced heart out this year but nothing changes the fact the best man on the day didn't win because of a poor decision made at the worst of times.

[@robjj5373]

He's getting his own decisions all season and since he started. Stop crying and move on

[@antagonistickeypress5271]

The best man of they day didn’t win, but the best man of the season did

[@MagicGoPro]

@@antagonistickeypress5271 I dont disagree with that statement but still think Lewis was robbed. It should have been a red flag or restart without releasing backmarkers... this was rigged for ratings and Masi should go.

[@greendegenerationx]

@@robjj5373 no one is crying, people just ask for rules to be followed. Football refs can do what they want but they don’t change rules for the lols, Masi has tarnished this championship forever, whatever the outcome there will always be an asterisk

[@naathnaath6377]

The best man didn't win on the day..BUT the best man over the whole season definitely won.

[@johntang9766]

Absent the poor decsision and if they had followed the rules, the race would have finished under the SC and Hamilton would have won. You wouldn’t have any doubt about the result so the remedy is available to overturn the result.

[@johnchristopher5075]

I couldn’t agree more but I hope to God they won’t punish Max for another man’s poor judgement. That is why Massi must GO!

[@dj1926]

If what transpired during the last five laps of the race had the exact impact on determining the Constructors Championship and Red Bull was Lewis while Mercedes were Max, would Red Bull have accepted the manner in which decisions were made and how things were allowed to play out on the day? Would they have congratulated Mercedes and called it a day and come back next year?

[@ppn1472]

Of course they wouldn't. Max didn't even stay for the podium at Saudi Arabia and Horner has been known to threaten the FIA with Red Bull leaving F1.

[@wizake]

whats the point of questions for which we'll never have the answer ? Unless this exact situation is happening again next year. Then we'll know.

[@wilbyvanbragt5210]

Mercedes messed up their strategy... why is no one questioning this? Why didn' t they extend Lewis his first stint on the yellow tires? Max was on the reds.. Lewis could extend his first stint 10 Laps or more.. they would have done this in every other race.. Because Mercedes was to scared to lose track position.. maybe that made the difference at the end.. and Lewis knows this.. btw Max deserved it more than Hamilton over the whole season...😉

[@mrgejwaites]

People don't understand what happened because basically Masi made a decision never made before, to benefit a single driver. It's not complicated, he clearly knew what he was doing. Disregarding established protocol, for the benefit of one driver, for no reason other than entertainment. It was a fix clearly, everyone knows that.

[@lifestyleofjunior]

Even the dumbest F1 fans know the outcome of putting fresh soft tyres against used hard tyres, even a hass would have overtaken lewis in that situation, It wasn't about racing it was about making max verstappen win.

[@joehatton9790]

I agree, Masi totally, 100%, knew what he was doing, handing the championship to MV on a plate. It also typifies what type of human being MV is, a true sportsman would have “seen” what was going on and pulled out on the last corner. The true world champion has not got the crown.

[@lifestyleofjunior]

@@joehatton9790 I don't blame max tbh, he did what he had to do, I just feel gutted for lewis.

[@mrgejwaites]

@@lifestyleofjunior Can't believe he's actually going to take number 1 next season, no shame at all 😂

[@MEHColeman]

@@footballnerd277 stick to football, mate

[@sb50cal9]

If there was no appropriate alternative, you could potentially take Masi's side. But the fact that they could have very easily raised a red flag with a few laps to go makes it seem so ludicrous. It would have been a very entertaining last few laps, whilst also being fair to everyone.

[@jordans98]

There is also no rule that says the lapped cars had to pass, his two realistic options were to (A) safety car lap cars cant pass or (B) they all can pass. By only choosing those cars you are basically crowning max champion. Lewis couldn't win the race once that decision was made...

[@macsmith6216]

For those wondering why there wasn't a red flag: According to the Sky Sports broadcast, prior to the start, stewards decided the race was not going to be red flagged had a crash happened in the spot that Latifi crashed into, so that wasn't an option.

[@rocklaidemha9751]

@@jordans98 yes but the worst part is that if you allow for cars to lap you have to wait another lap therefore ending the race but the safety car ended before that

[@NotThatOneThisOne]

@@jordans98 there is no rule saying they had to be told to pass, but, if it would be safe for them to do so, there is precedent to say that they should. But, yes, the regulations dictate the message to be sent, and that message wasn't the one given. I'm curious as to what would have happened if Bottas had stuck himself between Lewis & Max as the cars in front unlapped. He could have insisted that the message to unlap hadn't been correctly given and, as such, he couldn't go pass the race lead (regs don't say anything about passing 2nd place).

[@kkt391]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I respect Masi doing one of the hardest job in motorsport. He didn’t do the best job thos season. But I think with the backlash he will learn and reflect from it. Like crofty said he needs more resources.

[@cliffgittens9852]

If you watch the same race i watched redbull wasnt a match for the mercedes on the day and if Masi was consistent the race would have been won under the yellow but i dont think anyone could dispute the result. But what he did was stack the deck whether willingly or not. I also had the thought that the only solution to finish racing fairly wiuld have been the red flag and go at it on softs for 4 to 5 laps. Changes are needed.. you cant be comfortably out in front and have things ripped away from you.

[@itstrbo]

I dont understand this doesnt happen in any other sport you cant just reset the score in the last quarter....this has turned me off of F1

[@philopowell]

As a part time fan of f1, that was the first race i've watched in a while.. and will be the last for a much longer time. How can you just make the rules up as you go?

[@senanur1983]

Race director has the authority to over-ride safety car rules based on race condition. Rules were not made up mate. I understand that it’s tough for you to understand as a part time F1 fan but that’s how it is.

[@camix7290]

@@senanur1983 explain why all lapped cars weren't unlapped? Explain why they didn't red flag the race so both drivers weren't given any advantage? Explain why we have rules and regulations when at the end of the day the director can do as he pleases when he pleases. I dont have a preference between either but it goes against the spirit of the sport when you have people changing the rules on the fly. A little bit of consistency would go a long way.

[@PK-xu7gu]

@@senanur1983 He said himself at Eiffel gp the rules state all cars must be unlapped, then chooses to just let those between max and Lewis go. What about sainz?

[@SueMyChin]

@@senanur1983 of course they were made up, he decided one thing, then after Horner's lobbying he changed his mind... That's literally making it up as you go...

[@fad2679]

The fact of the matter is that sports is only fair and real if it's played out organically and without manipulation and unnecessary intervention. Masi intervened to create a cinematic finish rather than letting the race finish on its own accord. You have to ask yourself, do you want to watch a movie or are you a sporting purist? F1 has been damaged badly by this. The heart of sporting spirit is to let the sport play out organically. This isn't a film. This isn't cinema. This isn't theatrics. It's a sport. Let the drivers drive and let the cars do the talking. It's a travesty and a really sad end to what's been an enthralling season of F1.

[@tomr200199]

Bingo. If Masi wouldn't have done the same thing in the first race of the season, then he should not on a whim do it in the last. All races are equal and all decisions need to be consistent otherwise the 'pinacle' of motorsport turns from a professional sport setting the ultimate standard into a piece of WWE style theatre.

[@SzegediXY]

Masi intervening is a funny sentence, when all season we can listen to TOto calling Masi every race telling him what to do.

[@fad2679]

@@SzegediXY Horner was extremely pushy with Masi too. Both of them were. It's up to Masi to stand up to them and draw the line. Don't blame Toto and I don't blame Horner. This is on the FIA and Masi for being weak and confused.

[@hmmpppsaywhat7878]

Yeah, there are so may people who don't seem to think the sport is damaged but the fact that all the comments are dominated by this means it is. As much as people hate Mercedes winning all the time, all it came down to were people just saying how easy it was for LH as he was in the fastest car. The result of yesterday is that we're questioning the race director, rules, regulations, FIA bias, corruption, people saying they are done with the sport and whether F1 is even a sport

[@frank6250]

¨this isn´t theatrics¨, it´s called the ¨travelling circus¨, you must be very young.

[@dan3dp]

The rule book is pointless having if the director can just throw it out of the window.

[@andrenadeausimard9958]

If it feels like a fix, it hurts everyone like a fix…

[@teammonkey8385]

This was NOT sport. This is the FIA turning into a pantomime. The result is artifical and manipulated. In trying to have a racing finish you've thrown away 54 laps of actual racing. Total own goal, F1 looks like a joke and stage managed, a dark day for F1. FIA please learn some lessons from this. Max and Lewis both deserved to win the championship, but they didn't really decide this one did they?

[@MarkFarge]

I would have applauded whichever driver won the championship yesterday. Winning on merit and not on a technicality. If the reverse had happened and Max was overtaken by Lewis on the last lap through no fault of his own I would be saying Max was robbed. It is a bitterly disappointing end to what has been a thrilling season. F1 had a golden opportunity to appeal to a new generation of supporters yesterday but instead created a circus show through some inept decision making.

[@mpooler9326]

Exactly, neither driver is at fault for this and both are clearly deserving champions after the performances we've seen this season. But there's no way around that fact that the winner was selected by Michael Masi this year, which is such a slap in the face of all of the people that put in the effort for the entire season, and to the fans that want to watch competitive sport, not a scripted performance.

[@rikachu571]

@@mpooler9326 excellent comment. For me, Max keeps the title but Masi has to go. His position is untenable.

[@aesir1ases64]

so i guess max was robbed since he was taken out of gps by a mercedes lol

[@wronggg]

This drama will create 10 more new viewers for every 1 lost.

[@hmmpppsaywhat7878]

@@wronggg If drama and bringing new viewers in was the main driver of decisions, I'd rather they put RPGs and spikes on the car or tactical oil spills on the track

[@francisbasker4722]

Boy, the British are having a hard time with Verstappen's championship, very sad people

[@simonborowicz9284]

One could say that if it looks like a fix, tastes like a fix and smells like a fix...it probably is one. And I agree with Crofty, it wasn't a fix, it was simply a mistake made under extreme pressure and circumstances, but unfortunately it will forever remain....looking/smelling and tasting...like a fix

[@NotThatOneThisOne]

But they have openly admitted that they do it to ensure that the race wouldn't have finished under a safety car. That's admitting to changing the rules mid race because the rules would result in an ending they didn't want. That's a fix.

[@olliebell1245]

@@NotThatOneThisOne that’s admitting changing the rules if you listened to crofty…

[@NotThatOneThisOne]

@@olliebell1245 that's admitting to changing the rules as per the stewards decision document. 48.12 not applied fully in order to finish the race under a green light.

[@vish1013]

To the sky sports f1 team, I appreciate you have a contract with your employer so you have to tag the 'company line' however how do you not see or understand that the FIAs job, first and foremost, is to provide stewardship to ensure fair competition through consistent following of rules. Whilst I understand the need to enhance the 'show' to grow the fan base, leave that to the commercial rights holders and F1. Or change the technical rules, like 2022 and give all teams the same chance to react, not make your own rules in race. It is not Michael Masi's job to go rogue and overrule the rules to improve the show, quite the opposite! It is exactly in that scenario that he should be seeing what was happening in the race, Lewis over 11 seconds ahead with 6 laps to go, if he followed the rules and that disadvantaged a driver that's just unlucky, in this case, he overrules the rules for the betterment of the spectacle, it is not your job! If Max had been a second or two behind Lewis and the safety car stopped the racing, I can understand why in the interest of continuing the race, he chooses to overrule and get a lap of racing. In this case, the race was done and how do you all not see that? Or do you chose not to see it due to your own commercial interests?

[@simonhendy199]

Perfectly said Vish101!

[@ForbeseUK]

So, how about this as a suggestion. Neither get it. Tied on second place, honours even, let's go again next year?

[@71MWhite]

Well said

[@lw3609]

also heres a nice little quote from masi at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix where he stated ‘There is a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave all the lapped cars past’ [emphasis added] before the safety car returns to the pit lane and the race recommences ‘therefore the safety car period was a bit longer than what we would have normally wanted

[@esciteach7997]

thank you, thank you: Sky; you lost INTEGRITY

[@Brickhazard]

There is no explaining what happened last night. It was pure match fixing. These pundits are just sweeping everything under the carpet because F1 is a mess and they are just worried for their job.

[@agomes6455]

The 'pundits' are also shockingly biased towards RB and MV

[@footballnerd277]

Crofty's been working with Sky Sports for years. Not to mention, Sky Sports are massive Hmailton fans. He's not going to lose his job to call out the FIA. He's just stating facts. And you see him as biased cos you can't accept reality.

[@MarkSmith-gz3tu]

@@agomes6455 glad it's not just me that thinks that. I'm sure the FIA are sponsored by Red Bull

[@agomes6455]

@@footballnerd277 Crofty wasn't who I was thinking of.

[@jamesmain_email6969]

so basically the Race Director overode the rules as he can, to legally manipulate the result.

[@hiltonaeroplane4402]

If this is not challenged in the courts we will begin to see more and more sports results manipulated by officials to try and produce more exciting TV.

[@kimallen4132]

Lewis had done everything he needed to do to win the race if the rules had been adhered to. The race director then changed the rules which left Lewis little chance of winning. It is demeaning to every member of every team as all their efforts count for nothing! As the race director decided the outcome of the race he should be sacked and the last lap should be stricken from the race as it was rigged by an official. I hope it goes to court and justice is seen to be done.

[@cidluiz]

Croft has just presented the letter of the law underpinning the Stewards' decision. Verstappen will go down as the 2021 champion, end of the story!

[@martinmalone6324]

I just don't get how they keep saying verstappen deserved to win the championship? he started on super softs, got beaten to the first corner to lewis on meds, dived to hopefully make a collision at turn 7, then was out driven for 40 laps there after, I've heard this all day even in this vid, I'm like what race and races have you been watching?

[@Elikem2982]

Plain and simple!

[@masonwoolley6064]

u do realise that theres also a rule that says if the race director sees fit he can make adjustments so no rules were broken

[@rebel-vl5vx]

@@martinmalone6324 I guess you decided to skip the parts where he talks about maxs year.

[@georgbrew1464]

If you put the rule book aside for a moment, the final lap took the sporting element away from the Drivers' Championship finale. It was no longer a level playing field. A massive, massive wrong has been committed here. F1 has been profoundly tainted by it. I really don't want to watch F1 anymore. It's made a complete mockery of itself.

[@christopherstanley9997]

same, ive been watchign f1 since 1996 and i am now done, what happened there (and the whole season for that matter) was an absolute disgrace and a taint on the sport, the championship will always be tainted by an asterisk, michael massi is a disgrace and needs to be fired, as for that im done with f1 its not a sport

[@siloPIRATE]

7:40 They don't want to damage the reputation of the sport. Masi did that all by himself, and by allowing it, the FIA do more damage

[@ForbeseUK]

So, if you made a huge error and made your company look foolish in a such a public fashion, would you expect them to back you and keep your job?

[@siloPIRATE]

@@ForbeseUK No. You likely would not keep it or you'd be moved to a different position

[@dmitrykireev3607]

Doesn't red flag after 75% of the distance mean that the race shall not be resumed?

[@Chris-Oyema]

FIA is the one damaging the sport with their inconsistency. Baku had two had two laps after the max crash. Why was there no red flag and have 5 laps of had racing to the end. That all point to it being a fix for Max as Sainz was not given a chance to first for his first win having to fight through lapped cars.

[@sethje]

There was no red flag situation. There needs to be danger involved that a SC can not solve. In baku there was debris on the fastest part of the track. So bending the rules for lewis is alright i guess.

[@kaveeshakarunaratne8961]

@@sethje I agree, the Latifi incident was not severe enough to red flag the race. The SC was the right choice but the race should have ended behind the safety car though as they didnt have enough time to let the lapped cars through. Masi messed up by trying to create some fake drama for the DtS crowd. All he had to do was to follow the rules and regs without thinking about the "show" factor of the race. Thinking about the tv ratings is not a part of his job.

[@kdx1214]

Fairness is the epitome of any sports, what happened was wrong. If you allow cars between Ham and Vers to pass knowing Vers has advantage, is that fair. What about the drivers that were behind Vers, they were simply ignored, all their hard work unappreciated. That's "manipulation", insider job.

[@esciteach7997]

doesn't happen in Nascar.

[@0nTheBrakes]

Verstappen having an advantage isnt the rare directors problem. Why are yall forgetting that the race director having overriding authority is also a rule. Quit crying.

[@janfeelders6051]

Was Silverstone and what Bottas did fair??? Normaly Verstappen was already champion weeks ago!!!!

[@Uninfluenceable]

having the back markers unlap the leading cars is not an advantage given to Max, it's literally what's supposed to happen under SC. But I do 100% agree that a red flag would have been a better call. I don't have a horse in this race, I'm not a fan of either drivers, but it is refreshing that this year was not a runaway championship for Mercedes which has been incredibly boring to watch all these years. Might actually start watching the races next year instead of just the highlights....

[@randar1969]

So if people decide not to pit the rules must be different then when they do? Or when 2 opponents are close to each other in standing on different compounds it isn't allowed because it ain't fair? Seems looking at straws to me. The decision to end the safety car should be made regardless what tyre people drive at that point, it has nothing to do with the decision. If the situation was reversed aka Ham pitted and Max staying out on whites should have ended in the same result last lap with Max on old white vs lewis red. That being said i would like to see no difference in virtual vs actual safety car procedures and that in both cases drivers need to hold the same gap betweem them. Seems more fair to have Max having to make those 11 seconds up in which case Lewis would have won. So i fully understand that it feels unfair as Max fan i've seen Max gap upon Lewis shrink to nothing as well more then an couple of times doesn't feel right either. I also would like to see that no race can end under safety car , put in an extra lap if the situation requires it to be safe.. But you will always have discussions regardless.

[@davidstephenson4452]

Crofty said that Michael is a very busy man with lots of responsibilities BUT on Sunday afternoon he has ONE responsibility - the race.

[@enzoonrg]

FORMULA 1 in this year: In the pursuit of entertainment, they failed to be sportive

[@kirt7262]

Verstappen won the title because of how masi wanted to interpret the rules simple. His decision meant verstappen was winning the title from that second.

[@robjj5373]

Lies

[@stopsucking7367]

as is such in so many other sports. F1 fans just aren't used to it

[@TheGodlessGuitarist]

Absolutely bang on. The race was won in the race control room not on the track.

[@kirt7262]

@@robjj5373 not at all, masi gifted the title to verstappen

[@kirt7262]

@@stopsucking7367 hmmm this was blantant

[@DeeTeeCee]

It was also at Masi’s discretion to allow the back markers to unlap themselves. If he wanted to “go racing” before the final lap then just restart without amending the order, not apply half a procedure. Mercedes should continue with their appeal not for Hamilton’s sake but for clarity in the sport. Congrats Max.

[@justamanl]

100 % mate , that was the right decision as red bull chose to give up track position for the tyres

[@marshalldekock8017]

I fully agree David. This race was not fair.

[@TheGodlessGuitarist]

@@marshalldekock8017 Yep, they didnt just screw up one race, they screwed up the whole championship as a result.

[@fulmar07]

Whilst i thought this was sn excellent interview. The one thing that wasn't mentioned was the race director made a decision then after Red Bull complained it was changed to favour them. Yes the safety car gave them and not merc chance to pit. I don't agree it was a mistake. The race director had taken his time to make the initial decisions then changed it within seconds of red bull complaining which they had the right to do.

[@Armandox]

No true... If you watch the onboard of Lewis with teamradio (which always is a couple of seconds later than the actual radio-transmission) you can hear Bono's call to Lewis: "Double yellow exit turn 14. Stay left, stay left. Staying out, staying out! Safety car deployed, keep your delta positive." Lewis (just before coming on to pit-entry) calls to Bono: "I can't box?!". Bono replies: "Negative." They HAD the chance to pit Lewis, but decided not to. Poor strategy desicion on Mercedes part! And that was the 2nd time they could have called in Lewis. A couple of laps before during VSC, Max had also pitted and they could have pitted Lewis aswell for fresh tires. So actually Mercedes made not one but TWO strategic blunders this race!

[@lw3609]

@@Armandox i wouldnt say it was a strategic blunder. teams have to make strategies based on what the sporting regulations state. mercedes correctly judged that the race would end under safety car or max would have to pass lapped cars. what teams can not and should not have to account for is a race director disregarding the rules for the sake of a last lap spectacle. to quote masi at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix ‘There is a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave ALL the lapped cars past’ before the safety car returns to the pit lane and the race recommences ‘therefore the safety car period was a bit longer than what we would have normally wanted

[@maaduece5132]

@@Armandox agreed Lewis was in a worse strategy position than max , max took a risk and Bono played it safe

[@BicZippo]

As a fan.. I didn’t come to watch a one lap shootout on mismatched tires. This was a travesty.