More on F1 Abu Dhabi by Peter Windsor

The air is still electric in Abu Dhabi - even as the F1 world moves on to the first of the winter tests. Following the dismissal by the race stewards of Mercedes' first two protests on Sunday night, Peter Windsor in this video looks at which path Mercedes may choose to take next. Peter looks more closely at the relevant clauses in the FIA F1 Sporting Regulations that led to that last-lap sprint - and explains why Michael Masi, the Race Director, felt that he had the freedom to act beyond the boundaries of the regulations. Peter also talks about the team-to-FIA radio broadcasts we've heard this year - and about the way Charlie Whiting, Masi's predecessor, used to work things.
With thanks to Jetcraft, the world's largest buyer and seller of executive jets
jetcraft.com
And Globe - for riders of concrete, oceans and forests:
eu.globebrand.com
Save the Children
savethechildren.org.uk
Enjoy GoF1! with Matthew Marsh on Twitter:
@MatthewMarshHK

[@dutchmerchant4763]

Peter, you are correct there were mistakes made but FIA and Masi have been making them ALL SEASON! One HUGE MISTAKE is letting Toto and Horner call Masi the moment they think something is wrong. This is a BIG FIA mistake; how can Masi concentrate on all the input and talk to the stewards all the while listing to Toto and Horner quacking on??? This lobbying has to stop.

[@t1328]

Isn’t it mostly Masi’s fault that there were so many inconsistencies all season? I’m asking because I legitimately don’t know. I thought part of his role as race director was to ensure that the stewards follow the rules consistently. If that’s not his role, whose role is it, and why do they still have this job? These mistakes and inconsistencies have happened so many times this season, that it’s been infuriating and I’m sure very frustrating for both Max and Lewis, and the rest of the F1 drivers.

[@bigazTV]

Every team mana gamer can talk to him don’t bring u dare make this only about Toto and Horner

[@MasterSandman]

Toto calling Michal Masi by his apparent nickname "Mikey" gave me shivers down my spine... 🤢

[@seashackf1]

@@t1328 F1 has ALWAYS been inconsistent. If anything it’s better now than when Bernie and Mosley ran it. Charlie’s conversations with the teams were never broadcast like this and he never had this kind of ‘pressure’/lobbying from them. Different stewards each race is by far a bigger issue.

[@bryonkidder6199]

The tone of Masi on the radio seemed like he was overly stressed about the situation. Red Bull smelled the blood in the water and increased the pressure by yelling & screaming at him...lol Masi was in a job that was over his head, he needs to be fired.

[@LisztyLiszt]

So many clear-sighted thoughts here, Peter. I've said it before and I'll say it again: on a "normal" race weekend, I don't bother with the build-up or post-race analysis on TV. After the on-circuit action, I switch the TV off, get on with my weekend, and wait for your incisive and succinct videos in the evenings. Many thanks, Peter. Looking forward to the build up to 2022 in 2022. Have a lovely Christmas.

[@DM-mx9lu]

Well said

[@mike.tag.autosport]

The smartest comment ever...🎯🎯🎯

[@Firebolt1729]

Wow a non toxic comment

[@rogerbayley4394]

I would have too, but now, after this fiasco, I've just cancelled my Sky subs. 20mins ago. If Masi is fired, I might try again. Thanks to Peter though, good job as always.

[@drunkentigerindahood]

Masi said in 2020 Eifel Grand Prix "There’s a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave all the lapped cars past. “From that point, it was position six onwards that were still running [on the lead lap], so between 10 or 11 cars had to un-lap themselves. “Therefore the safety car period was a bit longer than what we would have normally expected.”

[@CaptainVirgil]

As usual, engaging, authoritative and beautifully clear. Thank you Peter for your continued objective commentary, much appreciated.

[@Milkydrummer]

Lewis won’t be afraid of George. He drove round the outside of Alonso in his first corner of F1. Much as I love George. Lewis won’t be scared.

[@ty567100]

Oliver Court...Right HAMILTARD!

[@michaela5430]

@@ty567100 at least Hamilton is not a manufactured champion.

[@DecibelDr]

The danger of George is that he is British. Therefore if he does well, he could potentially take over the massive British sponsoring that is backing Lewis, thus undermine his position in the team and in F1 in general.

[@aminkhalipe3162]

The way Lewis fight max and almost winning championship…then George is not big deal for him …. Same statement we head in the start on 2021 season then at the end we see how Lewis bounce back

[@neddoubarli3324]

I agree. Those who genuinely undermine Lewis talent have not watched his rookie season. I don't spend my time discussing with those who have seen his rookie season but still undermine his talent.

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

Peter Windsor has set everything out clearly and sensibly with candour. A credit to F1.

[@MartiniPinball]

And with a massive bias

[@8oDiplomaticImmunityo8]

@@MartiniPinball ?

[@neilwilliams2883]

@@MartiniPinball Please just stop.

[@Conservator.]

@@MartiniPinball How is Peter biased?

[@therealjimshady100]

@@MartiniPinball why? Because he's correct that lewis should have won the race and championship? It'll always be remembered as being won illegitimately which long term damages max's legacy. Its funny how redbull as so happy to win this way, it speaks volumes of their desperation to win by any means.

[@Viplav.Narayan]

I think FIA to team radio should be available to viewers. People watching are wise enough to understand what is being said and what it means.

[@mateusbez2669]

Great, great take on the resources available for the race director. It seems all of this could have been avoided by a simple act - allowing the cars to unlap themselves one lap earlier. Masi himself admitted he hadn’t looked at it because he was all focused on cleaning the track.

[@abuphonmanitip7899]

That is what I expect as well. He realised too late he should have send the cars through. When Horner asked why lapped cars were not allowed to pass, he said he was too busy having the track cleaned. But Horner's request seemed to make him realise he had to do it, as the cars got the message to pass.

[@johncooper4187]

@@abuphonmanitip7899 but not all lapped cars, all drivers should be treated the same. Rule and custom and practice is the Safety car should come in the lap after the lapped cars are released. This idea that the race director can ignore the rules as he sees fit is not actually in the rules. If Merc take it to court they most likely would win, even the statement the FIA put out to justify Masi’s actions contradicted itself. I suspect the FIA are trying to string arm Merc into dropping their appeal.

[@thevoiceofreason4104]

Masi would not need extra resources if he simply did his job and applied the rules . As written. Consistently. To all drivers. It's not rocket science. The only problems arise once he tries to manipulate results to reach a specific result in the middle of a fast-moving race. His mendacity was immediately exposed through yet another clumsy attempt to gift Verstappen the WDC. Masi is not naive - he calculated that the ONLY way Verstappen could win is by doing exactly what he orchestrated: eliminate the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen, forbid other cars from unlapping themselves and *immediately* get rid of the safety car. For him to then claim the what he created was "racing" is some pretty impressive Orwellian doublespeak. This was Masi loading up and giving Red Bull a machine gun to go shoot fish in a barrel. For the sake of the sport, Mercedes simply *must* take their appeal to the highest court and expose to all how corrupt F1 has become.

[@MFitz12]

@@johncooper4187 - Article 48:12 was not ignored. Article 48:13 was invoked which supersedes 48:12.

[@terthaankardas987]

@@thevoiceofreason4104 absolutely, you nailed it.

[@Kemfii]

Masi himself after the 2020 Eiffel Grand Prix where he extended the safety car period said that "There is a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave all the lapped cars past". Meaning that he has contradicted himself in his own ruling.

[@milandavid6405]

This should be used by mercedes in court

[@davidrubinstein5359]

@@milandavid6405 lmao this speaks volumes of desperation

[@davidrubinstein5359]

None of you said a thing about Masi bringing up point deductions for the final race, which implies that he was going to call this race different. The writing has been on the wall. The only consistency from the stewards has been them consistently f**king up decisions.

[@YouPube_X]

@@milandavid6405 they will.

[@thomaslynch9016]

@@davidrubinstein5359 well we all know who started the pts deductions lmao mad diving max... And that's fair since it's at the beginning of the race...

[@martincday007]

If this was ever argued in a court of law then Mercedes would win, however, it won't get to that as Mercedes will eventually reach the same conclusion that Lewis came to straight away, the race winner was decided by Masi. Masi doesn't need any additional resources, he could have had a team 100 strong but he would still need to know and apply the rules. Mercedes, Red Bull and all the commentators knew the rules, they knew in real time that Masi's first decision to not allow the lapped cars to be un-lapped was unusual, they knew that his final decision was very unusual, as did all the lapped drivers, and they all knew instantly that Lewis would be a sitting duck so the last lap race was always not going to be a race but a farce. Masi might be a stand-up guy who tries to do his best but he has through inconsistency and a lack of clarity become a punch bag and maybe that is because he is just not up to the job. Where is F1's equivalent of Rugby's Nigel Owens, someone who knows the rules and commands authority. If Masi continues in the role as Race Director next season that will be the FIA's next big mistake.

[@waybay5237]

Excellent post!

[@catherinemorgan7836]

💯% 🎯🎯🎯 👌 Massi is NOT fit for purpose‼️

[@zatosan729]

Martin Day.. Your comment is on point.

[@Crayton10]

Well said. Spot on!!!!

[@johnkijkt2713]

there is no court of law for this. that is what toto wolff thinks. so the statement that if this would ever be argued in a court of law is rubbish. a court of law is for civil law for instance not for own rules of a sports association; the court of law there is called the FIA. it is nice that merc fans cling to this kind of 'ifs' however they are not relevant. it is a non-argument. the call to get drivers that were lapped out was very late but not strange in itself. this is normal procedure.to my opinion the effect of a safety car in terms of a lead that can completely evaporate does not make any sense. that i think should be fixed.

[@boydnorville7053]

I love your common sense takes Mr Windsor, and I have a couple of points to add 1. The strategy employed by either team in this instance does not matter. The question at hand is not whether either of them chose the wrong or right strategy but whether fair and legal principles were followed in restarting the race. Mercedes cannot be blamed for their strategy if there was no fair platform for that strategy to be executed. 2. Mr. Masi took this job of his own volition. With the authority invested in him, he has to be held responsible for the consequences of his decisions. Mr. Wolff neither Mr. Horner are to blame. He alone had the final decision, he alone can be blamed.

[@1406roland]

of course point 1 is crucial! It's like Max at the start: we can argue about whether lewis needs to give position back, but really: Max just blew it at the start. That's the root-cause. In the last laps: not pitting Lewis was the rootcause. It was a mistake, fueled by fear. Fear that Lewis would have to pass Max in a do-or-die, or that the race would end behind the safety car. ROOTCAUSE. The rest is consequence. I understand all the emotions, I would be in the same anger if opposite. But let's face it: Mercedes has made too many tactical mistakes this year, and this is one of them (Lewis even pointed it out on the radio, and Mercedes explained their FEARS). Basta

[@boydnorville7053]

@@1406roland I respectfully disagree. There was no strategic Root cause to debate because it wasn't the choice of pitting or not that doomed Mercedes, it was the absence of proper procedure and protocol by Masi that made them lose. That final lap should never have happened the way it did and that is the issue. Either ALL the lapped cars should have been allowed to pass, which would have meant the last lap wouldn't have happened (or alternatively, at the least brought Sainz into the equation), or none of the lapped cars should have passed, which would have given Lewis a head start. Now the result may have been the same with option 2, but we'll never know now, will we...? The point is the race director removed the opportunity for us to see whether Mercedes's strategy would have worked. Anything that actually happened AFTER Masi's illegal action is now null and void. I'm sure that will be Mercedes's argument. Masi controls the 'use' of the safety car, which can only mean he gets to choose WHEN to use it. To assume he gets to decide what goes on BEHIND or DURING the safety car, regardless of the rules, is tantamount to chaos. Once he initiates the 'use' of the safety car, the rules then give the protocols that must be followed, not Masi.

[@renegerritsen6178]

@@boydnorville7053 I disagree, respectfully. Had Mercedes pitted Lewis, he would have won the race, certainly. Both teams took a gamble and yes, that gamble was easy for Red Bull: if they got it wrong, they would not lose anything as they would still finish 2nd. Worst case scenario: 2nd place, best case scenario: victory and the driver championship. Mercedes had more to lose, but as we saw many times this season, they relied heavily on the simulation results the computers gave them. You could hear Lewis immediately question the decision by asking why they hadn't pitted him. I understand he does not have all the information, but Mercedes' reliance on simulations goes a bit too far every now and then and it catches them out. Now, I don't know whether there was time to let all lapped cars overtake the SC before it came in. Possibly yes, but it took quite some time between the "track clear" signal and the "lapped cars may overtake" signal to be given. I just can't see how all lapped cars overtaking would have helped Lewis change the outcome.

[@1406roland]

@@boydnorville7053 you make some fair points. However, under the assumption that it was an 'illegal' move from Masi (as you put it). The rules are difficult but what I understand from several video's; Masi has the right to decide and overrule things. Secondly; I believe Mercedes was wrong the whole race in their defensive strategy. They didn't have to go in when Max did the first time around. But afraid to lose track position. Attack is the best defence they say. The last pit-stop is confusing (I think to all?). But I stand by my case, that Mercedes should have pitted Lewis for a new set of softs so he has a fighting chance, being the hunter instead of the hunted (which is always the better position in such run-downs). But I respect your view and opinion.

[@Johnny-Too-Bad]

@@1406roland no he does NOT have the right to overrule anything no idea where you've gotten that from but I'd love to see it if you have a source. He directs the sporting event, not the rules, not the interpretation of the rules and not half implementing rules as they are written. If he could overrule any of those things, then it's not a rule is it?

[@steveh2869]

Peter, Good analysis as always. Having followed F1 since 1976 (learning from your Autocar reports) I am still incredulous at the unprecedented decision the Race Director made. As I watched it, Lewis led for the best part of 57 laps and was clearly the fastest car in the race; Red Bull had effectively accepted they were beaten, although they were correctly continuing to try for any possible opportunity for Max to attack. The timing of the Safety Car was unfortunate for everyone, but Race Director took it upon himself to ensure that the race and championship would not end under a Safety Car (although following the safety rules should be paramount) and took an unprecedented decision to allow only some cars to unlap in order that ‘we must have a race’. I would argue the full unlapping should have happened (boring option #1), maybe artificial excitement could have been injected by leaving a Max shot with 5 lapped cars (exciting option#2) - but clearing a path for Max produced an inevitable change in order thereby gifting the win to a driver who at no time had led that GP (false result option#3). I concede that the Race Director is under immense pressure, but that is why he has a rule book to follow. Max drove well all season, but Lewis was robbed of the Race win by an error from the Race Director. One further point on following the Safety Car, I’d always assumed you had to be behind the car in front. I think Max has now set the precedent that it is now OK to drive right alongside and briefly in front of another car… unless this is corrected the potential for serious accidents is enormous under a Safety Car restart.

[@bx8383]

If you look at what Masi has done throughout the season, letting Max off the hooks for brake tests, dive bombing and deliberately trying to crash Lewis out, you can see that it wasn't a mistake by Masi. It's completely rigged. Anyone knows by lining up car with fresh tires against car with old tires, the outcome is known already. The only thing left to do was to set this scenario up, which was exactly what he did. He knew exactly what he was doing. Even going so far as letting only cars in between unlap? That's blatant cheating and there's a pattern all season long to stop Lewis from breaking the record. This is sickening.

[@user-ww9pd2rz4e]

@@bx8383 that's more of a cry than an argument

[@bx8383]

@@user-ww9pd2rz4e You make no sense. You are blind or in denial of you don't see Max getting help from Masi all season long. Nobody else can get away with what Max did. He the dirtiest driver in the history of F1, hands down. Illegitimate, undeserving title stealing cheat.

[@user-ww9pd2rz4e]

@@bx8383 see still a cry😂, I bet you're British too considering you used the word "cheat"

[@kevweegbegbedia2056]

@@bx8383 well said , I totally agree with you. Just terrible and obvious.

[@LisztyLiszt]

I think there should be a rule that says if you lobby the race director, both your cars get a 5 second penalty.

[@Tj930]

Haha 😄 👍But then barristers will argue about the definition of "to lobby"

[@LisztyLiszt]

Having barristers in the paddock is a weird flex, but if they are there in a professional capacity they should be made identifiable by wearing a "mein gott muss das sein" t-shirt.

[@leucadendron007]

Both teams would have a the penalty then

[@LisztyLiszt]

@@leucadendron007 There are 10 teams.

[@alanhumberstone9989]

All this is very well put are the FIA going to buy me a new television set!

[@audigex]

No no no please don't remove the FIA/Team radio. As a fan, it's my single favourite change to the sport in about 20 years, it's great

[@a.mz.g2786]

Finally went back and watched the replay of the Abu Dhabi race, something I do on race day (Sunday) evenings. Honestly feeling gutted for F1 fans, for Lewis and yes, for Max.

[@MrMervenut]

Thanks Peter for your calm and informed reflections, I wasn't aware of the Charlie/Michael differing roles/expertise and it is very illuminating. For me the team bosses should not be able to call MM in the middle of an incident and lobby/whine whatever you want to call it. David Coulthard said at the end if the C4 show that there should be only one-way voice comm's, from Race Control to the Teams and the teams should have 3 reply buttons, "Acknowledged", "Agreed" and "Disagree"!

[@ep1421]

All good points BUT none of those explains or excuses easy Masi did. He set aside the sporting code to massively impact the race and championship. What happens to let the fight be decided on track not in the stewards room? He may not be a steward but he decided the title off track.

[@soostdijk]

@@ep1421 Why do people keep on whining? In the US it is forbidden to end a race under a yellow flag, F1 should have that too. Mercedes lost due to their mistake of not bringing in Lewis for new tyres under the safety car. There was enough time to decide that and then it would have been shootout on equal rubber, now Lewis was a sitting duck.

[@robertblake1228]

Sky F1 is a disgrace...Hill is so bitter...and now Peter too but.the only one doing his job was Masi

[@ep1421]

@@soostdijk the US uellow flag rule have nothing to do with F1 rule. Its not whinging is stating that the rules were not followed. In F1 when unlapping is allowed all the lapped cars are unlapped. They are then sent around the track to get back to rear of the main pack. Then the safety car does one more lap before returning to the pits. Masi decided to overrule that for one reason only. Second point, the lead car cannot pit, its too risky. RB could pit because they were lose nothing if it didn't work. Had Merc pitted and RB stayed out to inherit the lead and Masi did what the rule dictates then the race would have finished under SC given Max the win. If Masi wanted to be fear, he could have red flagged the race after the accident and give all cars the opportunity to get fresh tyres.

[@amanda123889]

@@ep1421 this is the most sensible summation of what happened that I have read.

[@clustrone]

The best, most level headed and fair analysis of this whole situation. Thank you Peter. Having followed you for over a decade, I would expect nothing less! Cannot wait until next year and all of your videos to come.

[@sithembisozulu6973]

I couldn’t have said it better. I’ve watched dozens of analysts from this last race but no one has even attempted to put it as Peter has

[@timwright4676]

I would like to associate myself with these remarks.

[@jeroendejong8449]

1. The rules says that not all cars do un-lap themselves. 2. When the track is clear and there is still 1 lap to race, we will race. That was the wish of all teams (including those of Mercedes) expressed at the start of this season.

[@roppenzo3121]

exactly.

[@F1Guy-Guy]

Wish is not in the rules and its irrelevent to why Masi broke them

[@jimmcgonigle492]

Awesome video, thanks for breaking it down. As a not a Lewis fan, you were right on of how he acted after the race. Very impressed with him on that, he truly is an ambassador for F1 now. Looking forward to next year.

[@tidianediallo6860]

Peter , just say it : #lewisHamilton was a robbed on live of the championship , by the rulling authority .... and i think we know who that is ... we love your show!

[@OPortuguesfm]

Am I the only one that as soon as Latifi crashed said that was a Red Flag? I was obvious that there were not enough laps to clear the incident and then we would have had 4/5 laps with all on soft's for a perfect season ending, title decider, race

[@lionking5687]

Exactly! Go apply for race director!

[@JohnR31415]

Nope, I said it about ten seconds after the SC was deployed. A four lap sprint with both on fresh tyres would have been an artificial, but fitting, end to the season.

[@OPortuguesfm]

@@lionking5687 would not mind, my CV is not the worst 😅🤷, but Im sure there are better options if they want to change

[@OPortuguesfm]

@@JohnR31415 exactly, but after the SC they could not do it, they needed to go straight to red flag, they could not do the same mistake again

[@howardleckey2089]

Thats a really valid point and seems most correct, safe and fair to all competitors. Nice job!

[@haroldasraz]

Over the 2021 season, Max has had 10 wins, 10 pols. Lewis has had 8 wins and 6 poles. Arguably Max had worse luck up to this point with a tyre blowout, Silverstone crash. Red Bull has been braver with tactics and worked better under pressure. Though, let's be honest everyone is a winner with great exposure to the sport. New fans. Lewis now has a world champion that he can compete with next year if RB and Silver arrows manage to develop their cars well. It's all gravy.

[@haroldasraz]

Maybe in the future AI Masi?

[@wilbyvanbragt5210]

If Max was just as lucky as Lewis, the season would already be over before the last race..

[@haroldasraz]

@@wilbyvanbragt5210 indeed

[@VANITY80]

The amount of salt and cope from the British world from pundits to fans is delicious. Short memory and partisan commentary. Delicious.

[@konradandrag845]

If it is true that Lewis told toto to withdraw the appeal I think that is a piece of the greatest sportsmanship I’ve ever seen. I wanted max to win and by no means is Lewis perfect but I really like him a lot more now

[@MrJamkev]

Ofcourse they will like him now, he gave Max. Championship

[@senadl4733]

@@MrJamkev Yeah sure he gave a championship to a guy that had 10 wins,10 poles and 18 Podiums in a season...,get your hating head clear man...

[@acrylup]

@@senadl4733 everybody saw Lewis had the championship his way until the very last lap and the shit show we’ve seen. Stop saying max won fair and square

[@Resist_Oppression]

Listen to yourself. You don't like someone when you don't know him/them. Sounds like you buy into the politics. Sad

[@darwinharmon8341]

If he in fact did do that then good on him, I imagine a large part of the way he acted after the race had to do with the talk his father had with him after getting out of the car and before any press interviews

[@tifathasan22]

Many of us are thanking Max and Lewis to give us an amazing year and exciting season-ending. I want to add my two cents. It has given FIA what they wanted, but at what cost? Are we considering the human factor here? I know many will argue that Lewis had been favored by many such decisions in the past. But still, the way the title has been taken away from him just before one last lap, situations like this are more than enough to shatter a person. No matter how you want to argue, it felt like completely hammering down Lewis hamilton. He always uses, "still we rise". But after this, I don't know how much will he be able to pick himself up and try to give another go. I get a feeling that's the beginning of the end for Lewis Hamilton. I just wish he has the strength to recover from this. I am not taking anything away from Max. These are just my thoughts. Truly, It's gonna be a long winter for Lewis.

[@tonespeaks]

@tifat hasan As a Black Kid growing up in the UK, this is probably just one of the injustices that Lewis has had to face in racing. I can tell you that as a fact. While they are tough and sometimes painful. The talent doesn't leave!!! What Lewis showed the World, that he dominated the track, no one was close to him and he would have been the Race winner and Champion, if it wasn't for a gross mistake by the Official. One of the things you have to learn when entering sports is that, you will be robbed at some time, no matter how good you are. So you have to believe in yourself and keep pushing!!!

[@ruiferreira7318]

He lost his first championship with similar drama and frustration, and he kept improving ever since. He probably is devastated right now, but I believe he will recover and this scam will motivate him even more.

[@snoop65441]

Lewis will come back stronger next year

[@wilbertkendal2524]

Nobody in their right mind is gonna take a win like that seriously. The race was tainted with too many farcical and controversial decisions. One things for sure Max is not a legit champion.

[@raywalker4656]

@@ruiferreira7318 Yes, but I'm not sure the fans will return if things are left the way they are. Nobody wants FIA selected winners and losers, there is little point in watching a movie set in action.

[@larumpole]

Thank you for this superbly insightful analysis. All this ‘stuff’ in plain sight yet behind the scenes without your take is much appreciated.

[@seretsemompei9605]

As usual, great analysis Peter. Lot's of questions answered for me in terms of the way forward after this epic mess! But nobody really knows how this particular chapter will end. Keep doing a great job, don't always agree with you, but you have an incredible and credible amount of knowledge!

[@rogerbayley4394]

Well actually I do agree with Peter here and bow to his experience. The race was badly handled. Max needed a win, but at not at any cost! This was a weak result for Max and the sport. For me it'll never be undisputed. I have been a supporter of Max from Brazil 2016 but this was the most diappointing outcome possible on Sunday and possibly for many years to come. I feel sorry for you Max. Please drive hard, but fairly in the future. Try and be the absolute best and follow Lewis's example if you want the respect you truly deserve.

[@thestranger3588]

@@rogerbayley4394 It is true, Max will always have an asterisk next to that win, at least for me anyway.

[@supaG-1.0]

Ending the race under green flags, whilst preffered, shouldn't be forced. An incident or SC can occur with just 2 laps to go. It would be impossible to clear the track and get racing just for those 2 laps. The regulations and procedures are there to ensure safety and fairness, not to put on a show. Oh and lovely vid as always Peter, a pleasure to hear you insightful thoughts.

[@aesir1ases64]

the teams agreed to do everything in their power to end the race not under yellow flags

[@supaG-1.0]

@@aesir1ases64 Yes. My point is that there are going to be situations where they simply can't.

[@Ningishzidd4]

Except of course, when it benefits your favorite driver. In that case you will turn all of your arguments upside down and argue it was the right call to end the race on green conditions.

[@supaG-1.0]

@@Ningishzidd4 it's not about favourite driver. It's about adhering to the rules so that we have fair competition. Otherwise the sport becomes a show and looses credibility. I would have loved to see the midfield runners going for it in the last lap, but we were denied this.

[@supaG-1.0]

@@arletottens6349 Not if they had followed the rules. Allowing only some of the cars to unlap and calling the safety car in immediately is the only reason we got the last lap. The cars behind Max should have been allowed to unlap too. Sainz should have had the chance to fight for second.

[@fredericktennant9151]

With the amount of rules what went unanswered over the season I suspect that Lewis was never going to win the championship but by ignoring the rules which was set years ago the following season will be a mess.

[@erwinr9328]

It's not as if Verstappen had any luck. Tbh Max should've won it in Qatar if it was a regular season but we all saw it wasn't🤣

[@andrewtolbert2112]

I hate to say it ,but it is as clear as black and white

[@NathanJaneAndLouis]

@peterwindsor, what's crazy, and unfortunately makes me query Masi's motives even more, is that the simple and very well used option would have been to immediately red flag the race. All cars to the pits, all on softs, 3-4 lap sprint to the end, exactly the ending we all wanted. Instead he "bumbled" his way to a farcical ending.

[@peterporkeresq.2817]

@@arletottens6349 But there was a credible reason to throw the rule book away?

[@peterporkeresq.2817]

@@arletottens6349 Haha, nice. 'Creative' way indeed. And you think that was a fair thing to do? Excitement over fairness?

[@peterporkeresq.2817]

@@arletottens6349 What a disingenuous nonsense. The rules were manipulated to favour the driver who did nothing all race to win and your verdict is 's!@# happens,' who do you guys think you're fooling with that logic? How about doing the right thing?! Is that too much to ask? And when the right thing is not done how about calling out the injustice and stop hiding behind convenient nonsense like 'creative way?'

[@peterporkeresq.2817]

@@arletottens6349 Hahaha finally! Hypocrite. Who did you think you were fooling? Pathetic! 🤣

[@kngbusy548]

Masi knew that removing the cars would disadvantage Hamilton, but he was okay with it. The fair thing would have been to have Max fight the same traffic that Lewis had prior to the safety car. Lewis outraced Max and had the victory given to Max.

[@AwesomeBryantStephen]

For the season max is great but abu dhabi last race lewis won that race..clear

[@alexsavul]

it would have also been fair to end the race behind the safety car. I don't think either team would have protested that. red flags and a standing start with 4-5 laps to go would have also been fair and it would have fitted Masi's desired ending where Lewis and Max would have raced the remaining laps. Mercedes would have protested that but probably not officially since it's a matter of safety. so Masi had 3 option that would have been fair to both title contestants but he chose to create a 4th that put one of them in disadvantage. that's what you get when you have 2 team principals screaming at you like it's the trading floor on wall street

[@erwinfischer]

Then you should have done that all season. So lewis would have been a lap down on Imola and never been able to get second. They should have started removing on lap 56 but there they made the wrong call and they started to late and created this mess.

[@aad9108]

We dont forget silverstone and bottas. Max was the best over the season. So true winner

[@waybay5237]

@@alexsavul They can scream at him, but rules are also intended for stressful situations. Just follow the rules, which Masi did not do.

[@Obsidian281]

I appreciate your milder reflection on Masi's performance compared to other KZbin channels

[@briandavies7515]

You can't change the rules just because you don't want the race to finish behind the sc,that's what had to happen under the rules and as for a precession that's what thay had all race with Lewis ahead of Max.

[@ahelmste]

Totally. They didn’t have a problem beginning and ending under a safety car at Spa and giving a win and points to a driver that never raced.

[@alexlamas6324]

Thank you Peter for being the F1 voice of reason! This was the most coherent and sober assessment of the Abu Dhabi GP I have listened to thus far.

[@crazyawakening]

Thanks loving ur analysis

[@LisztyLiszt]

Looking forward to hearing this

[@abhinavgaur13]

FIA should bring back the gravel traps and do away with this business of run off areas. This has brought in too many ways to bend the intent of the rules and hence bringing human subjectivity of race stewards into play.

[@wildlive1296]

100% correct. Since the stewards have proven unable to provide consistent rulings, take it out of their hands.

[@davidrubinstein5359]

Spot on 💯🎯

[@Schilliebillie]

100%!

[@joostvanburen3422]

Peter, factually the rules don’t say the SC can only come in after the lapped cars went around and are at the back of the pack. 48.12 states that “these [the lapped] cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking, and make EVERY EFFORT to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car.” and “once the last lapped car has PASSED THE LEADER the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap”

[@GG-ng3ce]

excellent as always peter! thank you

[@suryacoapy5129]

I think it would’ve been a fairer and better outcome if Masi had red flagged the race and had a standing start with Lewis on fresh soft tyres. As it turned out, the race was decided by luck and decisions that were possibly erroneous. It wasn’t decided by driving skill or car speed. The winner was not the better driver on the day.

[@bigazTV]

Definitely erroneous

[@jjg19631]

Neither happened at Silverstone. You win some, you lose some 😊.

[@figu26]

Probably tut most reasonable thing they could have done.

[@stanleyyoung6716]

as always Peter a brilliant summary. I feel Masi has to go and the FIA needs to beef up the race director team (as you stated) and have a permanent group of stewards. This is a global sport with a global audience and it can not be run like an old boys club.

[@johnnyboy7538]

he has to go, there is no other way around but i believe he did not act alone, the FIA most likely have their hand in this. How Masi does go will determine if i was right or wrong, you'll see.

[@ambrella6631]

@@johnnyboy7538 they'll be a whistle-blower wait and see. Some people can't live with wrong actions

[@stanleyyoung6716]

@@johnnyboy7538 Bernie has already said "Masi did nothing wrong" and I guess he is still influential. I don't want Merc to take this to the courts but they should use this as leverage to get the FIA sorted out once and for all. We all need to have trust in the FIA if we are to continue to believe in this sport.

[@johnnyboy7538]

@@stanleyyoung6716 to hell with bernie, he is quite senile these days and as an old man nearing the grave i would have expected him to tell the truth more but bernie is bernie. Yes Merc have to use the threat of ligitation to bring sanity to the FIA. This is unbecoming really and it is a huge letdown.

[@julesjules7097]

@@ambrella6631 oh I said that earlier today on another video.. but do we really need any whistle blowers..anyone watching the season know the FIA let Max get away with Murder because they were hell bent on anointing him champion to boost their "show" thats the key wording here "show" you heard that allot throughout the season and especially the last couple of weekends, nothing about sporting or integrity.. See they know most of the sheep will be back next year what ever shenanigans they pull controversy shells and they're probably already sitting back on their holidays rubbing their hands and doing their accounting..

[@ruialmeida5755]

Let's face it - unlike Charlie Whiting who saw the rule book as being "can or cannot" - Masi introduced - "maybe"! And by doing so left drivers at the mercy of whoever was loudest or had the last word. That my friends is dangerous for the sport, because if you start changing\inventing rules as you go along there will never be justice in the eyes of those who end up at the short end of the stick. Ask anyone who drives in any category around the world and they will tell you exactly where Mr. Masi stopped being a Race director and decided to become a film director of a reality show.

[@elmadi7391]

Thank you again Peter for explaining things and for your thoughts 🙏🏁🏎

[@Staticc146]

Lewis showed why he is one of the best to ever do it yesterday

[@davidrubinstein5359]

lol

[@Staticc146]

@Lancom Kerr yeah a 7 time champ ain’t one of the best to ever do it

[@Staticc146]

@Lancom Kerr you do realize this isn’t Max first or second or even third year in F1 also the Merc was not the fastest car all year only in the last stretch was it the fastest car

[@therealquaid1694]

@@Staticc146 yes it was the fastest car all year. Lewis is just slow.

[@fredherfst8148]

Masi's job is horrible. Having to deal with Toto and others yelling at him the whole time. Agree 100%.

[@kityhawk2000]

Maybe so but if he can't do the job he shouldn't be there. This isn't a job for beginners or to learn as you go.

[@fredherfst8148]

@@kityhawk2000 …so you think dumping Masi, things will be so much better? You need to listen to this video again.

[@kpraz]

its been a week i still cant get over this

[@michaelmcbreen4025]

Peter I would just like to say as an avid fi supporter I find that the way you spoke was so refreshing and knowledgeable also so clear and concise so I have just subscribed to your channel and can't wait for the next video.👍

[@EnterScreenameHere]

Thank you for explaining all sides objectively. It’s been a pleasure to watch your analysis. Can’t wait for next season!

[@locatefastballchange]

Sure, nothing to see here. Sad.

[@EnterScreenameHere]

@@locatefastballchange what?

[@markonewolf4728]

Here is my thought on this coming from a HONDA F1 Racing Fan who also happens to be a Lewis Hamilton Fan. I had nothing to lose this weekend as either way I would have been happy. Or So I thought. My issue with how things went is that only some cars were allowed to unlap seemingly giving the only advantage to MAX. There were at least three other cars that should have been un-lapped by my calculation and had this taken place I don’t see an issue especially if it is standard operating procedure. If the idea that following SOP would have resulted in a Safety car end of the race SO BE IT. Lewis was incredibly fast all day. Red Bull fought with team work and flawless pit stop and strategy that just didn’t pan out. Max made key mistakes that cost him the championship, Flat spotting the tires and starting on the Soft and making a bad start. So we want to erase all that because only the lapped cars that separated Lewis and Max were able to go through? It doesn’t seem very consistent and in my opinion is very suspicious. The W was all but handed to Max given the age of the tires compared to Lewis. I think it would have been more of a FAIR fight to let max get through traffic and fight Lewis I think it would have been massively better finish as I don’t know which way it would have gone, but the decision made seems only to favor ONE driver and that is my issue with it.

[@raywalker4656]

Well said Mark. I believe many of us feel the same way. This race resulted in a fraudulent result, the winner is currently tainted and will remain so in the history of F1, unless there is some redress for these events.

[@sheldoniusRex]

Rule changes F1 needs: No communication between teams and race director. All lapped cars *must* be allowed to unlap themselves when the safety car is deployed, though that may occur either immediately or after the track is cleared of debris. If a yellow flag occurs within five laps of a race ending, and safety car conditions persist over three laps, there *must* be a red flag with a two lap Sprint once race track conditions are safe, unless the overall time limit expires. No one can change tires under red flag conditions within ten laps of either the start or finish of the race. If they must for safety reasons they start from pit lane. A race can not be said to have been held, and points can not be awarded unless there are at least five consecutive laps completed under green flag conditions.

[@maureenmucureezi7099]

This is fair. Non of what happened,was fair

[@dietpepsivanilla3095]

Once again Peter delivers an honest, fair and unbiased opinion. Shoot, I take Peter as fact.

[@SamuelSantos_]

There would’ve been nothing wrong with the race ending under the safety car. The 2012 title decider between Seb Vettel and Fernando Alonso ended under the safety car, and 2012 is considered one of the best seasons in history and no one complains about that title decider ending under a safety car. Masi used his overriding permission for the sake of the spectacle as opposed to following the FIA’s rules properly. They either should’ve waited for all the lapped cars to make their way around, in which case the race would’ve ended under the SC, or they should’ve told the lapped drivers to go past earlier, in which case the result would’ve likely stayed the same. Or they could’ve not let the lapped cars un-lap themselves.

[@easternwoods4378]

Or stopped the race

[@nathaneastmure]

@@easternwoods4378 I agree. I think a red flag would have satisfied all needs in this situation

[@muhammad.mohsen]

Given that the entirety of the current technical regulations were formulated to improve the show (better-looking, faster cars with friggin' sparks flying and trumpet exhausts), I fail to see your point...Standing starts after red flags were introduced to improve the show...The list goes on!! The main argument of 'the rules were broken' is just an opinion...An opinion that's not shared by the actual stewards and the race director! No matter how much you reference the regulations, it'll always be an opinion (unless the courts deem it otherwise, I guess)

[@samleary2733]

@@muhammad.mohsen this comment right here. This is what’s wrong with current formula 1. That the rules are so vague that not everyone agrees with what they say. Massi may very well have done everything by the book. He also may well have not followed the rules. But because it’s not clear, we may never know

[@RichardHartley65]

@@muhammad.mohsen - if you read the relevant regulations, it’s pretty hard to see how Mercedes could lose this in court. Of course the FIA’s stewards have ruled the FIA’s Race Director to be in compliance. But no objective reading of the regulations would lead to that conclusion.

[@paulrijkens]

Good analysis Peter, just one point you may also have made: I know of no sport where 'managers' can talk directly to the chief empire. I realize that Mr. Massi, in the strictest word is not an empire, but he should have turned of his microphone right at the beginning of this shouting match ages ago.

[@VivianNewman]

Peter is one of the best! I always look to him for insight!

[@brandonmanaigo9553]

That eye roll at 00:45 😆

[@collinsmatthews1993]

You make a great point Peter. If I'm a team owner throwing millions into this. I would like to know what specifically he can change about the safety car. How would I know that the next decision he makes won't affect my constructors points/position, meaning affecting my money.

[@EspadaMK]

Agreed 100%, that is why those directives are in place, Masi overstepped the bounds by ignoring them. I hope Mercedes do take this to court otherwise this sort of thing will continue into next year and F1 will simply become a laughing stock.

[@fraserloudon167]

It’s not just constructors points it’s advertising deals and manufacture investment. Merc we’re about to have the next 10+ years of having the advertising of the most successful driver of all time. The only 8 time champion. If the race director has been seen to not act in accordance with the sporting regs then who covers the financial loss associated by not having that. The teams also lose out as F1 should be a standard of integrity. If this is found to not be correct the sport is then no longer the pinnacle. You don’t get this in Indy Car or NASCAR. F1 needs to be better and correct application of rules and clear direction is a must to be a top sport. You don’t see golf bending rules to make sure it’s a last hole play off.

[@waybay5237]

@@fraserloudon167 "financial loss associated by not having that.". Many are not critical thinkers, with Hamilton not getting the WDC, Mercedes will lose hundreds of millions in potential revenue.

[@abuphonmanitip7899]

What he is allowed to change will probably never be written in the rules. He has that authority, so he can act on issues that are unexpected and therefore not written down. This rule gives them authority to change what they like, without being accountable.

[@EspadaMK]

@@abuphonmanitip7899 actually you are very wrong on that front, firstly from a racing perspective, this was not in any way exceptional but that is what red flags are for. The fact it was the last race of the season is irrelevant. The rules allow him to dictate when a safety car is needed i.e Vsc, safety car, or red flag. They do not allow flexibility on the how. Yes sports do specify in their rules what rules can be bent and when and by whom. This was not one of those situations and those directives are for Masi to follow so that the teams and drivers know what is happening. To put it simply Masi cheated, the only real question is whether it was due to incompetence or corruption.

[@ronsmith6110]

Great video as always. I just have a contention with the idea that it was difficult for Masi to follow the safety car procedure that is constantly used and that he has deployed for years, including at the end of races. I think it’s not an issue of confusion. He chose to break the rules to have a one lap race. The question is why? Pressure for sure. Just from the teams?

[@t1328]

Because he buckled under Horner’s pressure. He should be fired.

[@ChielReemer]

I smell a conspiracy theory! OOoohhhh....

[@alextjb]

The FIA wanted a one lap shoot out for the drama. Which isn’t really how sports works, that’s how Netflix works :( It’s never going to be changed but I totally get why Merc is pissed. Every driver but Max got shafted by that decision.

[@sebastiandonickler.6715]

You nailed it, I can’t believe that a trained race director can’t follow a safety car procedure or that he needed a team of data analysts to understand the consequences. From my home I was able to know the moment he did what he did that the result was set. And that not allowing the cars to un lap was right, nobody says that those cars were between them because Max pit for new tires, the cost of new tires was son cars in between.

[@tonysabberton7252]

And unfortunately for mercs, their strategy was influenced by the rules and regulations for the safety car. Now that it’s been brought to light that Masi can override the rules when he so chooses, gives him too much power to influence a race as demonstrated in Abu Dhabi

[@blue04mx53]

I am the race director ! Under Article 15:3 The first 10 cars shall run clockwise and the last 10 shall run anti-clockwise !

[@kw9130]

As a fan it was awesome to watch them race that last lap.

[@LogistiQbunnik]

Thank you for highlighting the point about Masi / Race Control being outgunned by the teams here. Pretty much exactly as Liberty did with the development of the new car package, they need to invest in race control to have a far more solid team there. Better, more transparency etc. We have had so many dodgy issues, so many times the "show" aspect won out over the proper procedures etc.

[@myselfandeye3884]

Ironically that 'show aspect' winning out was demanded by the teams years ago after a championship was decided behind a safety car. They wanted it changed because it made a mockery out of F1. Now Masi did exactly what they wanted and now everybody on Masi's case. Masi did what he was supposed to do. It was Mercedes dropping the ball and now want to blame it on Masi.

[@valentindogbo9293]

@@myselfandeye3884 What happened is akin to NFL official handing an extra timeout to a team out of timeout to stop the clock running its course at the end of a Super Bowl game so that team can run a last play with freshly substituted players. What a disgrace FIA. Show or no show, officials don’t just make a rule towards the end of sporting event. Show started on lap 1 and not lap 57.

[@myselfandeye3884]

@@valentindogbo9293 Your analogy doesn't hold water on different levels. But the thing is Masi played by the rulebook. The reason there is a rule that states lapped cars may overtake the safety car is to not interfere with the racing. Masi got the cars out that could interfere with the racing. Then he proceeded to make sure the race wouldn't end under a safety car, like teams demanded years ago, by invoking his discretion to pull the SC in. It may seem unfair but that's just because Mercedes gambled and lost. They had time to pull Hamilton in for new tires but they didn't want to give up track position. Which is understandable but in hindsight not the right decision. At the end of the day it wasn't Masi who crashed the Williams. It wasn't Masi who gave Verstappen a free pit stop. It was Masi doing what he was supposed to do. In fact you could even argue that Bottas gave Verstappen that free pit stop because he was no where near Verstappen to make them think twice.

[@F1jones]

@@myselfandeye3884 I'm not sure what season you're referring to, but whether it's fiction or not and since there is no rule provision whatsoever in the sporting regs for the scenario you're describing, it's your position that doesn't hold water. Moreover, last anyone checked, Sainz and Tsunoda were also still racing. They had to deal with backmarkers, so even that position of yours is inconsistent and is leaking all down your leg. Lastly, rules aren't enforced for one car based on where their teammate is, or where any other car is. They're to be followed irrespective of which race or championship scenario is happening at the given time. So, where Bottas was or wasn't is irrelevant. Also irrelevant is what caused the yellow caution, whether it was Latifi or Masi (?). You're grasping at straws with zero understanding of what the straws even are.

[@seshu2yk]

@@F1jones let this scenario play out next season and Max losing. They will absolutely loose thier nuts and have a proper meltdown 😂 this guys are are drama queen fans which Netflix series has given to F1, all they want is entertainment and drama, the sports aspect can take the third seat.

[@charles-antoinemartel-roy]

I really wonder if this might affect Lewis' determination and commitment. Doing all of these efforts to claw his way back, having done the job in that race too, only to have it taken from him through really no fault of his own. It's one thing when an engine expires like in 2016, you tell yourself, oh well I was unlucky, but in this case, it's not just luck, the bad luck was to have a perfectly timed VSC and then safety car 5 laps from the end with your rival 11 seconds behind on fresher tyres. But then to be put in an unfair position after all that because multiple regulations were breached, I'd feel like there's no point in putting on a show for them anymore. Wouldn't it have been an even more epic finale to see Max desperately try to get through the back markers and catch Lewis before the end. Possibly in S3 and then have him try a move somewhere we never see a move? Idk I think it's better than what we got.

[@pietvanmeetelen4471]

same could have been said for the rest of the field with their (FIA) decisions, not only lewis has felt the pain of their mistakes and i worry not only for his determination but the rest of the field as well

[@charles-antoinemartel-roy]

@@pietvanmeetelen4471 I've said this before and I'll say it again, bad stewarding decisions are different from bad decisions from the race director. The stewards can only investigate what is reported to them, and have to take into consideration the intent of the drivers and a bunch of other subjective matters. The race director has very clear procedures to follow in accordance to the regulations, with the power to over-ride them in the name of safety. What he did there was not in the name of safety, he abused of his powers to put on a bigger show.

[@ramborigs]

This is not the first time Lewis faces adversity like this. He'll bounce back stronger. If he needed any extra motivation at his age and stature in the sport he just got it.

[@youridevries1734]

Dont forget the emaculate timing of clipping the right rear wheel of his title rival at silverstone, i mean what more does a guy need to do?

[@mountainconstructions]

You say that like 2nd in the World Champs is a bad thing.... Every other driver would be frothing at such a result

[@shro8605]

Great video.

[@chanhw]

2021 F1 Abu Dhabi GP is a championship-deciding race - all sporting regulations must be followed instead of selectively enforced for better entertainment.

[@DrJimmee59]

Seems to me that once Masi realized that there were not enough laps remaining for all the lapped cars to come through and around, that the should have red-flagged the race. That would have allowed everyone to assume their proper position, change tires, address any other issues and have an even-steven three lap race from a standing start to decide the championship.

[@abuphonmanitip7899]

Would that not have been breaking the rules as well? There was a safety car situation, not a red flag situation concerning safety. My thought was he realised too late he should have let cars overtake before to have the situation he wanted (finishing without safety car), and decided to compromise.

[@gogglespaesano2931]

Well done, Peter. Thank you for the sane comments. I'm hoping this year will light a fire in Lewis next year. If so, I think Lewis will take it to another level still. I can hardly wait for next year.

[@gackauo]

How can anyone race to another level if they know whatever they do can be taken away. Its like a rigged carnival game, you lose your will to play knowing the rules are skewed.

[@Breslinmusic]

@@gackauo Yeah, I thought the same but then I reminded myself that I'm a lesser mortal than lewis and the Mercedes machine. It's what's so unbelievable about Lewis, why I'm so inspired by him, he feels all the pain yet he keeps coming back. He is the GOAT. :-)

[@amanda123889]

@@Breslinmusic still I rise

[@rodolphendessabeka8721]

Thank you Peter for another sobering analysis. I agree with you regarding the conversations between the teams and the race director being kept private. However like I said earlier it's being done not for transparency but rather for entertainment.

[@csmarkham]

Beilliant analysis, Peter. Thanks for being a voice of reson, calm, balance and fairness. The conclusions you draw for the future and the power and limits of the race director in the future are very well-taken. Good work, as usual.

[@drunkentigerindahood]

Masi said in 2020 Eifel Grand Prix "There’s a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave all the lapped cars past. “From that point, it was position six onwards that were still running [on the lead lap], so between 10 or 11 cars had to un-lap themselves. “Therefore the safety car period was a bit longer than what we would have normally expected.”

[@solidoperative]

Hi Peter, any thoughts on what Masi said after the Eifel GP in October 2020, where he said ”There’s a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave all the lapped cars past,” to Motorsport Week and it's possible bearing on the appeals?

[@timneat4085]

Absolutely zero consistency

[@SmashGhost]

"Any" cars. Not ALL cars.

[@daz4355]

@@SmashGhost cars not car

[@solidoperative]

@@SmashGhost How many times have you posted that today...

[@LDBCFC]

"Overriding authority" means make rules up as you deem fit. Complete shambles of a decision just to see a last lap overtake which didn't need to happen. I'm a big fan of Max, but there will always be that shadow over his first championship

[@RodFarrell]

This whole season has seen changing interpretations and applications of the rules and that is what needs to be fixed. To avoid bad decisions in the pressure of the last few laps why not ban safety cars in the last 5 laps and go straight to red flag. That way all drivers have the same opportunity to change tyres, if their strategy has been wise enough to have some available and have a clean restart. In this case this would have resulted in Max winning anyway because his team was better strategically and he would have restarted on new soft tyres but it removes any accusation of bias.

[@sokolum]

1:30 Masi SAID: “Lapped cars may not unlap themselves”, huge difference Peter!

[@tensevo]

I think we have to accept that F1 is under new direction and management and they are clear, it is all about eyeballs. This is the attention they wanted and is the attention they got. They are basically turning it into Mario kart.

[@dukeman8481]

After 2 decades as a fan they lost me. They are showing F1 is no longer a sport but a netflix show. It's no longer enjoyable discussing F1 either because so many toxic young fans come in through netflix and social media and can't engage conversation without asinine bickering and ad hominen attacks. They are doing great with the new exposure and subscriptions, but I predict the short term fans who are more about the drama than the sport can got bored and leave quick as they come, so they might have no choice but keep on this show-business direction more and more to keep them.

[@rodolphendessabeka8721]

This is exactly what many "adults" have been thinking.

[@tensevo]

@@dukeman8481 somebody used the analogy of penalty shoot out. But, here you had a penalty shoot out where one team was already 1-0 at full time.

[@dworkin7110]

I think it is reasonably clear that the intention and "spirit" of rule 15.3 (e) is not to give the race director an overriding authority over all rules for no valid reason. Rule 15.3 (d) gives him control over the starting procedure. Does this mean he can change the start order of the cars on the grid? Does it mean he can start the race when only half the cars are at the grid?.

[@RichardHartley65]

Yes. This is the massive flaw in the Steward’s decision. 15.3 - when taken in context - is actually to show that the Race Director ranks above the Clerk or the Course when it comes to various aspects of race control. It’s most definitely not a green light for Masi to just make up the rules about when and how to withdraw the safety car. Article 48 has been carefully drafted with very detailed rules about the use of the safety car and those regulations are most certainly supposed to be binding on the Race Director. He clearly didn’t apply them and Mercedes would therefore seem to have a very strong case.

[@RichardHartley65]

@@arletottens6349 - 48.12 states “… *any* cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.” Note it says *any* cars not *some* cars It goes on to say: “…once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the *following* lap.” It does not say the safety car will return the pits as soon as some of the lapped cars have passed the leader. Masi was making it up as he went along, based on his (understandable) urge to get the race underway again. In doing so, he ignored the regulations and made himself look incompetent.

[@dworkin7110]

​@@arletottens6349 48.12 is pretty clear.. Any car that has been lapped by the leader is required to pass the safety car. "Any" has to mean all in this case otherwise it wouldn't be followed by "required" Unlapping selected cars is not in the spirit of the rule in my opinion and AFAIK has never been done before either. This was blatant manipulation of the race by mistake or otherwise. Both drivers were worthy Championship winner and deserved reasonably fair and unbiased race. We ended up with a joke of an ending.

[@dworkin7110]

@@arletottens6349 As far as I am aware the purpose of rule 48.12 is to effectively reset the race following a safety car incident so that the (clearly) slower cars do not get in the way of the front runners. This serves the purpose of helping to avoid crashes between faster and slower cars when the race gets back under way and also to allow the front running cars (not just the first two) the ability to go racing again. None of the rule are there to create unfairness. They are supposed to be there to do the exact opposite.. Allowing only selected cars to unlap themselves broke the rule. Even the FiA's argument for dismissal of the complaint doesn't avoid this fact.. they just claim that 15.3 covers this eventuality. Personally I don't think it does but rules and laws are always open to interpretation.

[@dworkin7110]

@@arletottens6349 Arlet. The purpose of the rule was never to disadvantage any driver. If a driver becomes disadvantaged because the rule was followed.. well that's tough (and has happened many, many times in the past). However the rule was not followed correctly and was therefore applied unfairly. Remember that Mercedes chose not to pit Lewis because they expected rules to be followed, they either expected Lewis to win under the safety car because there wasn't enough time to unlap all the cars or assumed that lapped cars would not be allowed to unlap themselves and therefore there would be cars between Max and Lewis. In fact Masi himself in the Eifel GP stated that ALL cars are required to pass. He broke both precedent and the rule itself (in fact he broke the rule in two places because he brought the safety car in a lap early too). IF Mercedes had been aware in advance that the rule could be ignored (bent) then they may well have chosen to pit Lewis onto softs. RB may or may not have pitted Max to do the same..

[@Harrypjotter7]

My name is Peter Windsor and i am British

[@adalke2]

Still eagerly awaiting a video where you walk through the titles in that glorious library!

[@pauldonatantonio7785]

The post-race dignity displayed by Lewis has done more to elevate him above Schumacher than winning an 8th title would have done. Sir Stirling will be smiling in his grave.

[@deebow6486]

Why has he always to be above Schumacher or Senna or Prost? Every champion is a champion in his own style..

[@Taz1451]

@@deebow6486 This year the Max fans have continually thrown out this rhetoric that Max is the GOAT, hence putting Lewis below everyone else. As you say, champions of their own time

[@deebow6486]

@@Taz1451 12 year old kids opinions doesnt count. Only ex-champions are in the position to decide "who's the best".

[@crambo765]

@@Taz1451 the thing with sports is there can never be a greatest only best of that generation. That’s it, the greatest ever argument is fucking dumb. Hell the greatest driver ever maybe drove for a year and was killed 60 years ago. There is no way of comparing divers using different cars at different time against different competition. Lewis will never be seen as the greatest due to lack of competition. We will never know because the Mercedes’ car was so much better than everyone else

[@Gez492]

Excellent point

[@raydrury9243]

I really like your analysis style and balanced perspective on the turn of events. What do you think about the idea of closing the pit lane as soon as a VSC or Safety Car is deployed?

[@lindabenny4454]

I have never agreed with being able to change tyres when there's a safety car. If Max had been on his hard tyres & Lewis on his it would have least been a fairer fight.

[@jessiebrader2926]

@@lindabenny4454 I agree, no tire changes under yellow, maybe red as well!

[@tomdiskin8090]

all the max and lewis controversy distracts from the fact that ricciardo could have very easily finished in the points in the final race, yet all his opponents were allowed to basically start their final lap early. sainz may have also challenged for second against hamilton on much older tires if all cars were let through and not just the front 5, or perhaps maxes defense of sainz would have stopped him from managing to make the pass in total. we will never know, it could have been such an absolutely brilliant end to an amazing season, and its sickening.

[@paolasanchezd]

It would be great to know two things: Does Masi have the authority to restart the race if the track was safe to do so? Was the move to allow cars to unlap themselves within regulation? If both answers are Yes then the restart of the race was permissible and luck favored one team vs the other, end of story

[@timothytwnwolde2122]

The stewards answered both these questions with yes.

[@happyguy5414]

However he doesn’t have the authority to inform all the teams that no overtaking of the SC will be permitted so that Mercedes are not able to pit for new tyres because the race is then over in their favour, but then to change his mind and allow only the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to un lap themselves so that he can award the win to Verstappen. That’s not part of his unlimited discretion! End of. Mercedes must must take this all the way to the high court to expose this corruption✔️

[@MrBigbeee]

Did you watch the video?..

[@happyguy5414]

@@arletottens6349 why would they?

[@radweld]

I guess this is what the lawyers will decide if it makes it this far. I really can't see the WDC being overturned however I think it's correct that the sporting code they're all supposed to operate by is clarified. If Masi can effectively decide the outcome of the race. is this morally right?

[@ep1421]

So to be clear it should have been unlap none and race the last lap as is OR unlap all, wait for the unlapped cars to rejoin at the back then one more lap behind the SC.

[@108hindu]

Thanks Peter!

[@fpeverini]

Toto said this ""Michael, please no Safety Car, it interferes with the race" at the first incident. Can't help but think this then later influenced Masi in the next decision.

[@R08U5]

So true. Although he meant 'it interferes with our championship'. Toto jinxed it big time...

[@12Tebza]

Great analysis, very balanced views here, Thank you, Peter.

[@SmashGhost]

It's not about "should" unlap. The rules says "required" to unlap. However, the Race Director has ultimate control of how that is executed.

[@johnnyboy7538]

to unlap ALL the cars not some of them, not in a title decider like this, it was bullshit.

[@SmashGhost]

@@johnnyboy7538 The regs say any, not all. There is precedent to do this. The outcome would have been the same regardless, assuming that the rules were correctly applied at the initial call.

[@johnnyboy7538]

@@SmashGhost okay then answer this simple question then, were "any" unlapped cars left after those 5 lapped cars had unlapped?

[@212go]

​@@johnnyboy7538 yes, there were left 3 of them. The rule was right, the procedure was wrong.

[@driesvanoosten4417]

You leave out part of the rule, which is that cars are required to pass the safety car if the message "LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE" has been sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system. The rule does not say that the race director (or rather the clerk instructed by the rd) has to send that message. The rule is thus not a directive that says what the RD should be doing, but a directive that says how the cars must respond if he does so.

[@MASAo7]

It's a shame that a one-sided one lap sprint race is considered more important to the spectacle than the preceding two hours of actual racing.

[@bigprocrastinator]

Worrying about a championship ending under a safety car should never happen anyway. Going forward, if a safety car is deployed in the last few laps of a race, it should be confirmed that two laps of racing would be allowed (whether standing or rolling start) after the safety car comes in even if it goes past the initial lap count. Call it overtime

[@kelvinchelli2561]

Any lapped cars does not mean all lapped cars Peter !!! The safety issue was properly taken care of. And so basically what Mickey had to decide was to whether the race should be finished behind the safety car. And he took the right decision. Irrespective of who would have won .

[@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931]

What I miss in this story is the main issue: that most of these matters should not be going to the stewards in the first place: 'Let them race'. That means no more asphalted run-off areas and a whole lot of other things too many to mention.

[@radweld]

Does let them race include off the track as well as on? Max has pushed the limits of the sport code by positioning his car is such as way that you either move, or we crash. I don't this is acceptable in F1. If Lewis held his ground and didnt let Max push him off track, they'd have collided every race and who knows, Maybe Valterri would be WDC today. Standards, including driving standards need to be improved, you can let one driver get away with crowding yet penalise others.

[@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931]

@@radweld How else do you overtake without positioning your car next to the other one? Take the first incident last race where Lewis went off track. They were side by side and without runoff area Lewis would have just breaked and be overtaken. All the drivers I heard including Rosberg and Webber agreed that Lewis should have been passed there. That's racing, if you're on the outside: tough luck, you are the one running out of track so you have to break.

[@rjpm92]

@@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931 The latter point is wrong. Look at Austria... outside car gets run off the track and the inside car gets penalised for it. There were plenty of overtaking moves going into that same corner in the race that proved it could be done with both cars staying on track. The Hamilton v Perez battle was one notable example, as well as a move that Sainz was involved in. The trouble is Verstappen only has one form of overtaking. He comes from a long way back, points the car at the apex in a straight line, makes sure he goes deep so the other car can't turn in and then, and only then, does he attempt to make the corner. We want to see racing like the Hamilton v Perez battle so we need to encourage driving like that. Those two battled throughout a whole lap with huge aggression but even greater respect. That's what makes a battle. You'll rarely get a battle with Verstappen because his favoured move is to run in and sucker punch the defending driver whilst he least expects it. Effective, but neither honourable nor exciting to watch.

[@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931]

@@rjpm92 Ayrton Senna: 'When you no longer go for a gap you are no longer a racing driver'.

[@rjpm92]

@@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931 😅 ah yes, this old chestnut 🤣 Are you aware of the fineries of that quote? When it was said? The circumstances it was said in? It's very apt that you would apply that to Verstappen's defence. Bit of F1 history for you: Senna said that in an interview with Jackie Stewart in Australia 1990, one race after he'd crashed into Prost to take the driver's title at Suzuka. It was an excuse. Everyone knew it was intentional, but Senna tried to cover it up with that oft quoted sentence. After the interview, he told Stewart to never talk to him again. A year later, Senna rang Stewart up after a year of no talking to apologise. The guilt had got to him and he admitted he had intentionally taken Prost out, or at least admitted he was fully intending to not back out of a crash should Prost turn in. The next day, he told the world's media the same thing. So there we go. The most quoted sentence in F1 history, one oft used to defend a driver's hard and borderline dangerous manoeuvres, is a lie. No more than an excuse to defend Senna's intent to cause an accident.

[@soguimesarl2012]

Thanks Sir. Everything well explained with calm without taking any side.Just right in the middle.keep up the good work Sir.

[@forlatagate1]

,this gentleman, is the most articulate, wise and intelligent person I've heard speak on formula one. Sky sports or Channel four should begging him to work for them.

[@mohannandwani7971]

Always appreciative of your insight Peter. You are a treasure to F1. It's sad that this brilliant finale was compromised. I feel your disappointment too.

[@hassandavis]

One point to consider is this: is the race director permitted to alter the course of the championship? Because, by taking the unprecedented step to remove those cars, and only those cars, between Lewis and Max, Masi effectively eroded the cumulative gains Lewis had made throughout the race. This Masi did, knowing that Max was on new soft tires. A sizable alteration of the championship was the only outcome. Here is a far more balanced approach that would have had negligible direct affect on the outcome: let the race end in the natural manner, as has been the case with most every past race, i.e. either allow all cars to un-lap themselves OR restart the race with no change to the car positions.

[@JeLifeCoach]

I was at the race and thought the same thing. Either let them all unlap including Carlos so Max also has to defend from him, which he didn’t have to worry about, or make max work through the field. Lewis has to work and drive to clear all of them, why does max get a freebie. I also learned that isn’t a rule that is always to be followed - it can be or cant be but isnt required.

[@JeLifeCoach]

I was at the race and thought the same thing. Either let them all unlap including Carlos so Max also has to defend from him, which he didn’t have to worry about, or make max work through the field. Lewis has to work and drive to clear all of them, why does max get a freebie. I also learned that isn’t a rule that is always to be followed - it can be or cant be but isnt required.

[@davidrubinstein5359]

“MAX VERSTAPPEN YOU ARE WORLD CHAMPION!!!”

[@dmaharry7976]

Great objective perspective. Mind you I don’t sympathize for masi. He cocked it up knowing he gave it to RB. He knew what he was doing. And if he didn’t then it’s even worse

[@IAmKry]

To be fair, it was only "giving it to red bull" because Mercedes didnt pit lewis under two different opportunities. He had good enough pace on mediums to run right by Max on his softs. If he had pit, and Max had been out front on the older tires on the restart, this entire conversation would be reversed and we'd be saying Masi gave Merc the win. It's a bit of a clusterfuck, but Merc's loss is not solely Masi's calls. It's a factor, but it's not the only factor. I wouldn't want Masi's job in a million years, but I'd rather have this controversial end than a championship decided under a yellow flag finish. If Masi didn't flip flop on the lapped cars overtaking and waited till the last minute, it also would have been much less controversial. It was the flip flopping that made it so ridiculous. That was Lewis' race, for sure. I'm a Max fan, and even I can see that. But it wasn't just Masi that lost them that race, I guess is my point.

[@kyam3331]

Dont believe for a second that masi would have done the same if Mercedes had pitted

[@jeffreyhutchins6527]

@@kyam3331 Why not ? Masi let Hamilton exceed track limits in turn 4 at Bahrain for 29 laps. It wasn't until Verstappen did it one time before Hamilton was made to stop. Then he even had the stones to get on the team radio and complain about being made to stop. So, I don't understand where you get your certainty Masi would not have done the same. They let Hamilton gain a massive advantage turn 6 lap 1 so....

[@tonespeaks]

@@IAmKry I totally disagree, the rules are really clear. More importantly there was no reason to only let some cars unlap and not all. Mercedes would have won in either scenario. If all cars unlap, Lewis wins, if no cars unlap Lewis wins. So allowing some cars to unlap and not others, is not part of the rules. It was a constructed to create a spectacle for 1 lap. But it would not be a fair fight because Lewis was on Old Hard tires, whereas Max was on New Softs. As a referee or organizer, that create a scenario that was unfair. It is one thing if the unfair scenario is created on track by the participants, but not the officials. Just to counter your point that is wasn't 100% Massi's fault. He stated at the beginning there would be not passing the Safety Car, so there was no reason for Lewis to Change tires, race is won. Then changed his mind but only for a select group of cars, how in the World could Mercedes have anticipated that??? You can't blame Mercedes they got the strategy right. But where I do agree with you.....they should have known Massi would something strange and kept that in the back of their minds. I just hope that F1 and FIA come to F1 with clean hands in 2022. It would be nice to see them revamp the rules and roles. Teams for sure shouldn't be allowed to petition the officials during the race.

[@IAmKry]

@@tonespeaks I'm not referring to lewis changing tires then. You are misconstruing what i'm saying. There was a vsc earlier, and at the start of the safety car you can literally listen to lewis' onboard. He wanted to pit and once his team told him no, he passed the pits and max pitted for softs. Why the hell would I suggest he pit AFTER max was on softs? I think you completely missed that point in what I was saying. We had a vsc where they left him out AND at the start of the safety car he had a chance to pit BEFORE Max, and against Lewis' wishes they did not pit him because then he'd have been behind Max, who had not pitted.

[@philmastman2490]

Thank you, Peter for this reasoned analysis. I agree with your comment about not publicly releasing conversations between team principals and the race director... and would go further to say that the race director should not be subjected to badgering or argument or lobbying from the teams at all during a race. Also, let me say that I miss seeing you on American F1 TV coverage. I always highly valued your work with Speed Channel.

[@ozzytrait4777]

Informative video 🇱🇨🇲🇸🇬🇧

[@eldiablort1461]

Let me make something abundantly clear: this is why more rules aren’t always better. If you kept things simple, stuck to the simple rules, and actually enforced what simple rules you had left, things would work themselves out on their own. Racing, at its core, is an extremely simple thing. As with anything else, the more you needlessly complicate it, the worse it becomes.

[@RichardHartley65]

The existing rules relating to the safety car are really quite simple. Not hard for them to followed.

[@bryonkidder6199]

Formula-1 has never been simplistic in anything!...lol

[@henrybanye6535]

Nothing complicated about the rules though

[@lindabenny4454]

Thanks Peter, Excellent as always. I have felt sick since the end of that race, it's really the injustice of it all. I feel so much for Lewis & once the dust settles I'm sure that Max will have like to win in a more sportsman like way. Masi needs to be much more firm in his decisions he is so easily swayed by both sides.

[@buildindian8169]

I call it a cheap win..

[@davidrubinstein5359]

Max beat Lewis in a sportsman’s fashion. Zero racing incidents. You’re just mad your idol lost.

[@buildindian8169]

@@davidrubinstein5359 a cheap win sir

[@FruitFlyKilla]

@@davidrubinstein5359 Agree 100%.

[@waybay5237]

@@davidrubinstein5359 You are a fool or simply dishonest to think that Max is the true WDC. His WDC will always be seen as not a true WDC win.

[@GlobalSportsChannel]

Peter, much respect for your knowledge and insight. This race in general combined with the entire season, a season like no other, has shown many flaws in the F1 Show. Tracks - There needs to be more deterrents stopping drivers from cutting corners and rejoining the track, this would have eliminated many of the issues we saw in the 2021season. Your point on adequately resourcing Michael Massi's team is pertinent, let's not throw Michael under the bus, rather support him better so he has the tools to do the job better. And finally, stop immediately the Team Directors having radio access to the Race Director. It does not happen in any other sport and should not in F1.

[@shi01]

Well, the radio between Race Director and Team Directors could be very well a thing of the past now. Ross Brawn also mentioned his discontent with this and normally, if he doesn't like something it disappears rather quickly from F1.

[@ryanv2023]

You are correct to say that Masi doesn’t have a big analytical team behind him to make the judgment but the main point is that he’s there to apply the rules and regulations as they are written - it’s not his job to analyze data to make decisions that would give it the best show for TV