Our verdict on the controversial end to the 2021 Formula 1 season

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Formula 1's dramatic world championship decider between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will never be forgotten. With the dust yet to settle and Mercedes still considering taking the matter to the FIA's International Court of Appeal, Glenn Freeman is joined from Abu Dhabi by Scott Mitchell and Edd Straw to hear what they made of how the end of the race was handled. They also give their opinions on if Mercedes would be likely to have any joy if it goes through with an appeal.
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[@REDLINERUNNER]

How about the race Hamilton destroyed Massa's dreams he was a World champion for 20 seconds when Hamilton passed the car and became World champion for the first time..

[@faithrakhajiit9773]

Funny how no one mention the bad strategy of Mercedes refusing to change tyres believing that the 2021 drivers' champion would be decided behind a safety car....spend your protest money to hire a new strategist....

[@matent1125]

@@faithrakhajiit9773 OK, if you are leading this race and decide to come in for new tires and Redbull stays out, you just gave up the lead and if the FIA followed the rules, you also gave up the title because the race should have ended under yellow. Finishing under yellow is not ideal, but it is the rules. A better question is why Red Bull came into the pits for new softs? If they stay out they are in second place, right behind Hamilton. How did Red Bull know that Massi was going to through out the rules and make up his own rules?

[@purwantiallan5089]

@@REDLINERUNNER yes. Should be fully noted.

[@stktriz]

@@REDLINERUNNER what about kimi destroying Lewis dreams in 2007 on his rookie year

[@_taste]

I'll give the FIA this: they are consistent in their inconsistency. Did anyone actually expect this to end any other way besides the FIA mucking about?

[@yenice3652]

I did. I get that collisions and track limits can slightly vary depending on how you ask but how do you fuck up a safety car?

[@cheesyriceo4]

Before Abu Dhabi 2021, they were solidly consistent with safety car procedures. It’s comical how badly they screwed this one up.

[@InvestToLive]

well said

[@TheStevieb1983]

so true. it's really the only fitting end. either way someone was going to get screwed.

[@_taste]

@@cheesyriceo4 That just means they were bound to mess it up. But in all seriousness, 100% true.

[@nominaltimes]

Adding a rule that a Red Flag is totally acceptable at the 35km to go mark in order to serve the entertainment aspect of a GP seems totally on the mark to me. The 'safety' aspect is that the FIA wants to 'safely' end under green. No gimmics, the Red Flag rule would have put Lewis and Max on equal terms, and the show would have been a top 5 race of all time.

[@lukepyart9313]

Totally agree.

[@yorvikspirit]

“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 unlap themselves. Therefore the safety car period was a bit longer than what we would have normally expected” - Michael Masi, Eifel Grand Prix 2020

[@eddiel7635]

Yes there is

[@georgealex538]

If you want too understand the regulations you mast read all because it's soo many in a different way and it's to hard to deal with mercedes it's talking about regulations 48.13,12,11...but 39 regulations it's different one and it's having right too do what Michael done...the problem it's the regulations not him or merc or redbul...nothing clear on this regulations

[@tracyttr]

Masi under firing but that's not gonna change the outcome, what a shame to FIA.

[@vandalsgarage]

Lets not forget that both RB and Mercedes had stated pre-race that the race should finish under green if at all possible. Had Masi not sent the lapped cars, it would have given Hamilton a clean track and an unfair advantage. Had Masi drug out the SC period, he would have handed Lewis the trophy. Either way, it would have appeared that the FIA was intervening on behalf of Hamilton. The problem was created when they cleared Latifis car ultra slowly. SC periods are frequently 2 or 3 laps. There was no reason to expect the race would finish behind the SC. Toto helped that confusion when he pleaded with Masi to NOT send the mapped cars.

[@Georgeux]

The regulation states ANY not ALL lapped cars.

[@CynicAtLarge]

The kind of heavy hand used by the stewards in this race is exactly the type of manipulation that has ruined NASCAR in the US. F1 fueled controversy between the two drivers all season with a series of questionable rulings and have soiled the sport in doing so.

[@shmoejoedesy9449]

No NASCAR is no fun woooahhh you can turn left big deal anybody can do that. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@MB_X]

There are almost no driver in other laugue races that say that they would like to drive in Nascar 1 day. The skill gap is just to big for that. Just to make it clear, not saying that Nascar is easy, but comparing to Formule ~, rally, dakar, GT3 and etc it is not close.

[@Kartkid024]

That's not exactly true. Nascar goes out and makes rules to allow for more dramatic events to come naturally. That I can respect. F1 on the other hand was changing rules and making controversial calls in order to change the outcome of races. I think it's a big reason F1 just can't seem to gain the popularity in the US that it does outside of the US and why Nascar still remains more popular there.

[@kenobecks3359]

@@MB_X Am I missing a comment here? Looks like you're debating the comparison between formula 1 and NASCAR. But I see nobody making a comparison?

[@Abdallah_anas]

The problem going forward is that how are the teams supposed to know what happens under a safety car now? will the race director go by the rules or will he override them? how do you strategically plan for that?

[@KC1996LFC]

You try and guess what would make the best TV and go with that

[@ant4190]

I feel like it’s gonna have to get ironed out during the off-season. With Todt ending his term as FIA President, nows the time for a full shakeup of the system. The rules will need to be cleared up and made less grey, stewarding likely will need an overhaul, be it through increased training or through permanent placements, and Masi will surely have to be replaced. This whole season has been incredibly inconsistent in the way that the rules have been applied, particularly with the top 2 drivers, and they need to at least show that they’re taking steps to amend that. We can’t just enter the 2022 season with new cars and pretend this all didn’t happen.

[@mastermao8592]

Welcome to world wrestling I mean formula one lol or formula done

[@gamingforfun9000]

He did go by the rules, just didnt let all the cars past, since they weren't in the way of the fight. Most current rules are not clear cut and can be interpreted in few ways, its what it is, everyone should just get over it. Letting them race last lap was the best decision. maybe they could have red flagged, splash of fuel for two laps and no tire change, standing restart. You all are missing the point, rules need to be scrapped and re built. no race should end under caution. Merc should have pitted as for the back markers the ones that were in the way of the title fight were gone, why worry about few lap down Haas cars at the back. this will be forgotten by the end of the month. i'v seen bigger controversies since 90's. Forza Ferrari. Not fan of either team or driver but Max deserved it more than Lewis overall during the season. Also Lewis not giving position back, maybe end of the race was karma.

[@shaquonstraughn3221]

@@gamingforfun9000 stfu ... either way we look at this hamilton was clearly Robbed

[@crazycjk]

It was a thrilling season. I hope that next year sees 3 or maybe even 4 teams in regular contention for race wins, and a serious increase in standards of stewarding and applying the rules consistently.

[@jeffsteyn7174]

Thrilling if you like WWE bs.

[@jasondowtychristianmusic9401]

Yep. Better forgotten now. The whole season is not valid now.

[@pjr7661]

Quote from Masi after Eiffel GP 2020 "That one was the fact that we had to, there's a requirement in the sporting regulations, to wave all lapped cars past," Masi said

[@993mike]

If an appeal went through now and the FIA made a change to the standings it would create a shitstorm of biblical proportions.

[@cheesyriceo4]

If they can fire Masi and the regs really do make close racing, I’ll be back next year. But I’m here for racing not manufactured reality show drama.

[@JS-te2vj]

3:38 This is spot on. If Silverstone was the last race of the year, Lewis would've been disqualified. If Monza was the last race, Merc would be appealing too. Just so happened that Yas Marina was the last race. The title isn't decided by one race, but all the races of the year.

[@KwaddawK]

Lewis wasn't disqualified in the Silverstone race as far as I'm aware. Who or what the drivers are or their respective points position on the leaderboard plays no part whether a driver has made an error or illegal over taking move or whatever it may be. I believe Lewis got a 5 or 10 second penalty tho during the race. Who ended up winning that race and by how much?

[@LordViktorHun88]

@@KwaddawK it is not that simple. If Silverstone were the last race of the year, than Hamilton would have been rightfully accused of putting Verstappen into the wall to win the entire championship, not just that race. Same with Max in Monza. I don't think the circumstances, possible motives and consquences can be ignored when giving penalties, and just look at the act itself. No, even real life court procedures don't work that way.

[@gaz10182]

Your right m8

[@stuartmiller7419]

@@KwaddawK Jun wasn't saying that he was, but Lewis might have been disqualified if that had been the deciding race because of the importance of the effect the incident would have had on the championship result. That's the point being made. Lewis tagged Max, sending him to hospital (and cracking his engine - for which Max took a penalty). That was one of two races where Merc physically took Max out of a race (that's racing). Most people have very short, selective memories when it comes to what they think is fair in sport. On balance of the season as a whole, Max deserved to win. He did. All good karma, really.

[@SueMyChin]

Then what is the problem in finishing the race behind the safety car? If the last step is no more important than the first, why is it so important the last lap is under green flag conditions but the 5 before it can happily be behind the safety car. It's a direct contradiction.

[@RobertSmith-cd5nv]

I disagree - I don’t need a last lap pass I want the rules to be fairly applied - they weren’t. Masi had two choices either let all cars unlap themselves and finish under safety car or none and have a sprint lap - he choose the third option not in rule book - Max does not deserve it at all he was gifted it will not be watching again if results stays like this - no point in having rules if you don’t apply them. When if ever has some cars been allowed to un lap themselves. When if ever have cars been un lapping and the race restarted same lap

[@blacawi]

Had he acted faster all cars could have unlapped themselves and still had a racing lap at the end (which was always going to happen as a race has never ended behind SC after more than 3 laps). I see this as trying to make up for his initial slow decision by overriding normal procedures (Article 15.3) to ensure the sitiation is was as close to what it should have been.

[@BlackxLight]

I was very impressed and touched by Lewis's good sportsmanship after the race. And also his father. Class act.

[@sloppynyuszi]

I think so too. Seeing as things were in question they could have held off, but they were quick to congratulate and seemed sincere.

[@juicewilliss]

He certainly handled it better than I did at that moment. 🤣😂😥😭

[@dillon17]

Please dont take offense, but Why are you impressed.. Lewis is a good human, he always has been. people seem to think just cus hes a 7 time world champ, hes a dick, and has no soul.. yet its the complete opposite. XD

[@tonymontana597]

@@juicewilliss man… your comment is spot on LOL.

[@dillon17]

@Tyler Hagan that’s what I said.. I said Hamilton is a good person? I was saying the initial comment is wrong. You just said what I said. I said LEWIS IS A GOOD HUMAN. Not being agressive or mean, but maybe you should read before making a comment like that. Joking. Please read tho. I was defending Hamilton. 🙄🙄

[@richardweerasinghe3296]

I’m a bit surprised that none of the other teams are also complaining about this. Don’t forget that unlapping some cars affected the cars that can’t be unlapped.

[@raulponce9012]

Yes, if I were McLaren I would be upset, since they denied Norris from fighting Bottas or the two Alpha Tauris and Ricciardo from maybe entering into the Top 10, and then Ferrari who were not given the fair chance to maybe fight against max or even Lewis for the lead. It's so hypocritical of Massi to say to Toto "we went racing" because objectively only Max went racing, he gave him and only him of all the grid the privilege of actually racing with a clear open track while the others were not even given a fair shot. Massi ruining the sport an bending the rules to make he's silly little show instead of actually managing a sport as he should. He should just quit

[@psalmco2425]

The other drivers did somewhat complain in the post race interviews, they were all confused, Norris, Sainz, Vettel said they could have been racing in the last lap if given the same benefit as Max, I suspect they chose not to complain as they're not fighting for a title so they can let it go since its the last race already.

[@ThePopeProductions]

@@psalmco2425 I wonder how red bull would feel if this decision was the difference between them winning and losing the constructors championship?

[@psalmco2425]

@@ThePopeProductions I had the same thing on my mind, if the roles were reversed and Merc had won in that way the world would go crazy and RB would protest all the same.

[@kevinilhamapriandy619]

@@raulponce9012 Norris is so far away from fighting Bottas. 'I don't think it should make a difference.

[@adityarai992]

Honestly speaking Live Sports cannot have descisions being taken for creating a creative influence to it. What FIA did was a way of trying to have a photo finish that the whole world will look and be in awe of. The word manipulate might sound dirty but it is what exactly FIA tried to do. If put on a trial in the court, the FIA will be torn to shreds based on this alone that how can you choose to give a creative influence to a sport that is so heavily guarded by rules. This is what FIA has tried to do throughout the year, the Spa drama, the Brazil defence. I don't blame Max or Lewis for what they did, any other driver would have gone and done the same. I feel max deservedly won his championship but I also feel that Lewis was cheated and manipulated out of this championship by FIA.

[@mafiousbj]

You could argue they started that trend in Bahrain when they decided to police track limits mid race...it was downhill from there in term of stewardship and "influencing races"

[@lehlabilekekana212]

Well said. Max deserved to be champion and Lewis also deserved to win this championship. But the FIA on the last minute saw it fit to rectify Red Bull's incompetency on the last race by giving them a championship on a silver platter. I feel if race control gave a message for lapped cars to pass early Mercedes would have pitted Lewis and we would have seen who was the real champion between Max and Lewis this season.

[@DevinEMILE]

@@lehlabilekekana212 their mistake? Lewis is in a rocket ship. Cut a whole slow speed corner and got nothing not even a slap on the wrist. Do I hate what happened yes. But max, and Lewis did nothing wrong. Not Max’s fault that the Governing body pretty much had a fuck it I do what I want rule with the safety car.

[@lehlabilekekana212]

@@DevinEMILE yeah even though he was in a rocket ship the odds was against Red Bull. Had the rules been followed there was not gonna be a racing lap. The accident happened on lap 54 that left 4 laps to the end of the race. It was cleared in about 2 and a half laps with the safety car going super slow for whatever reason. If all lapped cars were allowed to pass that was on lap 57 then lap 58 the safety car enters the pits. Game over. I think race control knew that. Going forward I believe they should ban managers speaking with race control. Horner influenced the FIA to getting his way.

[@JolyonSmith]

Hamilton was only in with a shout of the Championship in that race because the entire season had been manipulated to keep things close. By rights, Verstappen would have had the season wrapped up well before the end of the season,

[@lakshmiprasannam240]

Not the first time they screwed this but the way they did this is epic fail. I mean previously they disregarded the rules in favor of certain drivers in the past but this new intervention with inconsistent interpretation to create drama is plain BS. They're directly interfering with team strategies and taking inconsistent rulings to make it close as if this is a movie/show.

[@TheTraveller20081]

Now that Netflix are involved, it IS a tv show - and that's exactly why Masi manipulated a final 'racing' lap with the top two always in the same camera view.

[@raywright998]

Everyone knows they bent the rules including the nerd Dutch boy lol

[@Kyle-Russell]

The verdict is it was a shit show and the FIA are to blame

[@kingbass21]

Disagree with everything Edd has said there.

[@savchuktaras]

I think once the safety car comes out or even virtual safety car; the lap counter should stop.

[@Aceliious]

They can’t do that because of the limited fuel

[@kaross000]

A different perspective: The result WILL NOT be changed even if Masi followed the most optimal solution. Masi's first mistake is unlapping the cars at Lap 57 - should have done it at Lap 56 , which is the optimal solution. Note that the last marshal left the field when safety car is at at Turn 15 of Lap 56 - unlapping order should be issued right at that time (which means Masi had to make up the decision right before that). Then everything will be legetimate. He made the second mistake (unlapping only part of the cars without letting them get back to queue) to make it up for the first mistake, which became so controversial because people only focus on the second mistake alone.

[@Sam-fs8sx]

If Massi was going to rub his balls all over this race he should've red flagged it. That way both Lewis and Max have fresh tires, and battle to the death fair and square for 2 laps.

[@Hmkls]

@@Sam-fs8sx Hamilton had the chance to pit and get fresh tires, twice. He didn't come in during VSC on lap 36 nor the last SC. It's not the FIA's responsibility to fix the incompetence of Mercedes strategists.

[@charlesdelaparra5997]

@@Sam-fs8sx totally agree

[@K4lr0b]

Not only that, they put out a message to forbid lapped cars to pass the SC and they never do that. That alone says a lot.

[@K4lr0b]

@@Sam-fs8sx that is not fairness, that is just trying to give the advantage to your preferred driver for no reason at all. Fair is to accept Hamilton lost when his team decided not to pit laps before and took a chance that went wrong thanks to the crash.

[@adityaburli5351]

I think the poor standards of stewarding and inconsistency with the rules have been exposed and shown the limelight even more with a season like this. The title fight has ensured that a lot more attention is paid to the decisions being made, because the stakes are just that high. It just wasn't the case since, lets say 2016. I hope something comes out of this with the first being the termination letter sent to Masi.

[@xephanyoung8512]

True

[@cheesyriceo4]

Extremely exposed. First with Brazil, then Jeddah, and now Abu Dhabi

[@PuddinPie]

Inconsistency in the stewards for sure, don’t understand why Masi is coming under fire for steward decisions this year though.

[@renotanumber]

@@PuddinPie masi is the actual responsible for several of these polemics that are (and shouldn't be) attributed to stewards. Brazil clash is an example.

[@renotanumber]

Let alone the whole SPA fake racing crap

[@Goldsacs]

Something that seems to be missing from a lot of the analysis is that when letting that number of drivers unlap it was completely unfair to Carlos Sainz who could have been right up the tail of Max on the restart also forcing Max to perhaps need to defend so the notion that this was "to let them race" is bs since under other race conditions on a safety car restart the guy in second would have had someone in 3rd to worry about.

[@dahorn100011]

Exactly right. Either let all lapped cars pass (then by the rules we would've finished under the SC) or let none of them pass. The fact that only the cars between Lewis and Max were allowed to un-lap themselves stinks.

[@Lfilpo]

Sainz was not allowed because it allowed for more exiting race finish

[@macblack82]

Sainz was never going to trouble Max, you’re delusional if you think he had a chance at P2 or the win.

[@dahorn100011]

@@macblack82 he could've been a real threat going into the hairpin.

[@sveda22]

@@macblack82 Sainz could argue he could have been a threat to Lewis for P2. Ferrari and him needed every point. He also got robbed of the chance by this decision.

[@liamandxaviersrandomthings9084]

I'll say it again, things like this do NOT happen in sport. They happen in show making. In sport the rules are followed to a T

[@liamandxaviersrandomthings9084]

@@DP-sh3nk my kids basketball games. NFL and maybe basketball.

[@liamandxaviersrandomthings9084]

@@DP-sh3nk unfair doesn't mean ...against the rules. Literally the OPPOSITE of the rule was applied that is something that NEVER happens in American sport. Ever

[@liamandxaviersrandomthings9084]

@@DP-sh3nk in other words. The rules require that ref to make a decision and they do. Even if it's unfair or in the end, wrong. The rules required Masi to do.something he didn't do but by rule was required to do.

[@mmafan2223]

Lewis was cruising to a record 8 WDC's. Then they robbed him. How anyone can see it any other way is beyond me.

[@AZBCDE]

Cope your hero ROBBED MASSA

[@mmafan2223]

@@AZBCDE Renault Robbed Massa, not Lewis. Get it right at least.

[@BlackxLight]

Also Wolff messaged Max magnanimously after the race, telling him he “deserved” to win the championship after such a closely-fought battle, despite the ongoing legal wrangling over who actually won. So good sportsmanship is there.

[@evilformerlys4704]

Max isn't at fault though, Masi is the one who created the situation that Max took advantage of. FiA is the one on the hot seat for this nonsense.

[@rinzuala8758]

@@evilformerlys4704 sums it up...Masi's been making so many questionable decisions this season

[@mariomambo]

@Full of Mischief and Max has to be DQF cause breaktesting Lewis + Brazil 4th corner affair

[@EricW6800]

When the disappointment has sunk in it would also be fair to analyse decisions made during the whole season. Often misplaced and at least questionable. This reflected on both drivers and often caused a lot of unnecessary debates and protests. It would be a real disappointment when Mercedes targets for disqualification of Max Verstappen. It will hurt the sport and will be the worst marketing move to make for them.

[@quigglyz]

@@mariomambo 😂😂 sure bud

[@andrewcrysell142]

One of the reasons Mercedes need to appeal this is to get a ruling on whether this sets a precedent - that the race director can essentially ignore the rules if want. The point of rules in any sport is to ensure that the event is fair for the competitors, each and every one of them. That the rules were disapplied to the advantage of two of the drivers (numbers 44 and 33), ignoring car 55 that was in with a chance of finishing second had the rule been applied across all the cars, means that it cannot be denied that the race director's decision was wrong. Someone needs to clear up this confusion. In a future event, could a car deliberately crash to enable the car in second place 30, 60 seconds behind, close the gap for a one lap shoot out? Yes, it could happen. What would happen if the rule was applied differently to this race? Drivers would have no idea what was going on and that is why a rule needs to be set and stuck to. Rules are what make sport worth watching. Yesterday's debacle shows why making rules up on the fly is unacceptable.

[@Kevinschart]

exactly...something good has to come of this for the fans and the drivers... i refuse to pretend this is actual sport until they make the rules clear.

[@Mububban23]

Exactly, teams base strategy at several points in any sporting event based on THE RULES AND REGULATIONS. Imagine changing the time out rules in the dying seconds of the gold medal basketball match at the Olympics. Or changing the rules in the closing moments of the football (soccer) World Cup. It just wouldn’t happen. How could teams, players and coaches make proper plans if the rules change?

[@sebster6031]

in my opinion, Toto threw in their own glass as we say in the Netherlands. His derogatory comments to Michael Masi was just way too much, you can hear it when Masi says ''We went racing''. He's just so done with that pathetic moaning. Besides that, he probably realised it was time to favour RB for once.

[@mxawill]

@@sebster6031 So you agree Masi favored RB? And that makes the decision ok? It's pathetic from Masi and please don't ignore that Horner moans constantly too!

[@stoo8441]

@@sebster6031 You can’t possibly sit there and say Toto was the only one to constantly moan to Masi. Did you hear the FIA radio from Red Bull to him once the original “lapped cars can’t overtake” message was put through?! Horner was all over him, and judging by Masi’s annoyed response at the time, it can easily be argued Horner influenced his change of decision with the moaning. Then there’s the RB radio to him about the Lap 1 incident. And don’t even get me started on the constant bickering from both, to Masi, in Saudi Arabia and Brazil. They were both as bad as each other in trying to influence Masi’s decision making, all in the heat of an incredibly intense title fight.

[@demainesolomons6007]

The end of the race felt like an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians…..a joke!

[@damiankimmins3880]

Lord the sentiment to finish under race conditions is ridiculous! If a race needs to finish under a safety car then it should!

[@210gremlin]

The FIA had 5 Safety Car laps to figure out how to resume the race and still managed to mess it up. It’s just a shame that the rules and procedures took a back seat to entertainment

[@Kevinschart]

my guess is they had already prepared for this scenario. they probably lawyered up to so that they could lean on certain rules, and creative interpretation. Step 1. clean track as fast as possible. don't reshuffle cars as this will cost time. Step 2. if track is clear attempt to reshuffle all cars. step 2a. if not enough time to reshuffle all cars, reshuffle as many as you can. step 3. do not allow the safety car to complete the customary additional lap. end the safety car immediately. step 4. let max and lewis race. the only problem is they didn't factor in that one guy would be on fresh softs and the other on old hards.

[@TorpedoStudios]

@@Kevinschart exactly and that tire scandal is on mercedes not on red bull or the FIA

[@MrRawnerves]

Is just like the Netflix director was telling Masi what to do to spike the ratings

[@MrBrostin]

@@TorpedoStudios they prepared for what was written in the rules, if they pitted, Max would have gained the position and, would the rules be applied, win. Their call was totally right, why should they pit, when there is no need and especially a threat of being overtaken in the pit?

[@vineshnaidoo9402]

Exactly mate

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

'Sometimes that's just what happens in sport', Is it? Are there other sports where they change the rules in the last 2 minutes of the game to give the losing side an easy victory? I can't think of any, unless you count pro wrestling.

[@tepske2309]

The rules haven't been changed.. read part of the sporting code and there is indeed a rule that the race director has a say in the procedure of the safety cars. It may feel wrong, I get that. But there are no rules changed. Before the race, all Teams agreed that, where possible, they would want to end the race under a so-called green flag. You can read it in the protests. That is why Masi chose to accelerate the SC ending and the rules say the race director can make that kind of decision. It may have not been in favour of Hamilton, but has it been the other way around, it would not have been in favour of Max. Had Hamilton pitted as well, they would have been equal and if Hamilton had pitted, Max didn't and the race would have ended under a SC some people would have wanted Masi to accelerate the SC ending.

[@justinmontero5442]

@@tepske2309 Tess gets it, smart person. At the end of the day max got lucky, just like any other time he could have been unlucky. To script an ending like that is impossible. It was in the starts for max to win, and it happens all the time sports. Luck

[@zzgaming29]

@@tepske2309 that’s incorrect. The stewards weren’t even correct in their explanation of why they were right. They were wrong in that the race director does not have full control of the safety car, as they claimed. 48.13 is the following step for 48.12, meaning once the lapped cars have been let through and the “following lap” has been completed, then Masi can decided what to do with the SC. They’ve essentially tried to justify their action by saying that Masi can basically ignore all the regulations and do whatever he wants, which is frankly ridiculous.

[@flavious27]

@@tepske2309 the rules are that the race director could deploy the safety car when there is a danger and need, with the race director also being able to have the safer car come back in when the need is not there and it is dangerous for an extended safety car period. The rules do not allow the race director to make decisions on lapped cars that is counter to regulations. The race director can not let some lapped cars to unlap themselves.

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

@@tepske2309 The implications for that are troubling though. Merc made the correct strategic call for the situation because by the rules and by years and years of precedent, that race should not have restarted. But then the decision was suddenly wrong because the referee decided to ignore the rules in the last 2 minutes of the match and play by a different set of rules he'd just made up? The safety car rules are there for, well, safety. It's insane to suggest that the race director can just ignore them if he wants to, especially for a reason as spurious as 'improving the show'. I get the notion that it would have been a bit disappointing for the fans if the race had finished behind the safety car, but if the only way to go green-flag racing was to massively penalise the guy who'd dominated the race and won it handily, and instead hand it gift-wrapped to the guy in second who'd already been beaten., is that right? I disagree with doing things 'for the show', that's straying too far into pro-wrestling territory for me, but even if we accept that was a consideration, then the race should have been red-flagged and restarted after both cars had had a chance to put on fresh rubber. Or, to restart the race with the five cars still between Hamilton and Verstappen - neutralising Max's massive tyre advantage by making him clear the backmarkers before he had a chance to attack Lewis. What happened instead was that they engineered a 'shoot out' where one of the participants was blindfolded and had all the bullets taken out of his gun to 'make it more exciting'. Please note, I'm not blaming Max. He can only play the cards he's dealt and he did what he had to do, even if it was artificially made stupidly easy for him that's not his fault. The people at fault are the FIA and Michael Masi who appear to think that the job of the race director is to engineer an exciting finish to the race at the expense of all logic and reason.

[@Olivyay]

"it's not race control's job to have an equal one lap shootout because then you might as well have a one lap shootout and not bother with the other 50 odd laps we've had before." But it's not race control's job either to ensure an *unequal* lap shootout either, which they effectively did by cherry-pick which parts of the rules to apply or not *after* teams had already made their strategy decisions based on how the rules should have been applied. By doing what they did in the way they did, they effectively tipped the balance towards Red Bull, and it's not the job of race control to do that.

[@Belfon1987]

Merc never pitted Lewis because of track position. Redbull boxed max twice under safety car and virtual safety car, so yeh if they would of boxed redbull would of left max out maybe for track position and Lewis would of had fresh tyres. I'm a neutral so either result was fine with me, I can see both sides but you can't say max didn't deserve it over the season. Him and Lewis in a different league.

[@ChristyKrohne]

@@Belfon1987 Unfortunately you can prove that Max earned an unfair advantage in the last race. This isn't a debate. This isn't about the interpretation of incidents and penalties over the year or about favoring a driver. The issue was the race director gave one team and one driver an advantage NO one else was given. This is factually and objectively an UNFAIR advantage and sport doesn't work if it isn't fair because all competition is then undermined. Subjective decisions about the severity of punishments or offenses can be subjective and judged unfair but they can't be proven such. After the adaptation to the safety car ending rule, only Max in second could attack the first place. No other car was given the opportunity to remove the barrier between them and the car ahead of them. Sainz in third was not afforded the opportunity to go for a second or even an improbable race win for example. This is the issue and proves the restart was unfair for everyone, not just Hamilton. If the crash occurs two laps earlier, everyone unlaps, and good luck to Max who has only the fair advantage gained by the good fortune of the timing...only it didn't happen then and so we saw the race director "manufacture" a scenario that undermines the essence of sport. Imagine a football game and one team is 2 nil up. At the last minute, there is a penalty given to the losing side. No issue there. Then just before they take the penalty, the referee says "next goal wins"... Doesn't work does it?

[@dinantjimmink702]

@@ChristyKrohne blablablabla

[@csontiMEGAhimihumi]

​@@ChristyKrohne The Silverstone incident and the penalty there was fair? In F1 there are unfair rules to maintain safety, someone will benefit from it, someone will be hindered. Throughout the year, 22 races, both sides had advantages and disadvantages due to the ruling, don't just hammer this one single case, if you want to make a point, highlight all of them.

[@WorlTramp]

Mmmmm …. in case you have not noticed, there was a safety car out. Blame Mercedes for not changing tyres

[@tsk_rl1499]

Think about this tho, any other race would’ve finished under safety car, so why should be finale be different even tho it’s just as important as every other race over the course of the year

[@TheFatmer]

The ultimate “hold my beer” moment Race fans:- Masi has made some awful calls this year, very inconsistent Masi:- you aint seen nothing “Hold my beer”

[@AdastraRecordings]

Michael Masi turns out to be Jim Jeffries in disguise, then it all makes sense.

[@GS-vb3zn]

ummm… nah. He let them race. I like racing. It would’ve been more disappointing to see a safety car leading a parade across the finish line crowning the champion. BTW, I have no dog in this fight, I’m a McLaren fan.

[@jeevangill2041]

@@GS-vb3zn I agree, all the upset Hamilton fanboys should take their aggrevances up with Latifi.

[@metro3313]

@@GS-vb3zn He broke the rules, simple as that, there is nothing to argue.

[@overtime94]

@@GS-vb3zn LOL No He didn't "Let them race" Tell that to Carlos Sainz who had 2 lapped cars between him and Verstappen. He let Verstappen and Lewis race only. Rules weren't followed, it was a mess.

[@csx42]

Exactly my thoughts. It both deserved to end under a green flag but didn’t deserve those specific green flag conditions.

[@AmsterdamHeavy]

So whats the practical option then, other than getting the cars not relevant to the championship out of the way and ending under a green flag? Lets stay in the realm of the real, and consider the actual time that was available to think and react for Masi.

[@mysticilluc1an591]

@@AmsterdamHeavy an obvious option was a red flag, which would be the definition of a fair last laps showdown, as both wouldve swapped for soft tyres.

[@danielo7985]

@@mysticilluc1an591 Why materialise a Red Flag out of nowhere, the 2012 season finished under the safety car, why should this year have been anything different?

[@megafilmshow]

@@danielo7985 if possible though why not avoid that?

[@syreemills1553]

@@mysticilluc1an591 they have a race time limit so a red flag was out of the question that late in the race it was a fair showdown yall and the british media are just mad that lewis didnt pit the two chances he had and mercedes didnt take their chances max and rebull didnt cause the safety car so in reality it was tough luck and bad strategy also lewis left the door open on the last lap at turn 6 his own fault for not defending

[@francojoeulm.florin3545]

Protip: Don't sort the comments to latest

[@KwaddawK]

The only clear solution at this point to try and regain the illusion of impartialness again within the FIA would be to sack Masi publicly.

[@gabrielshartinelli]

Can't sack him without admitting he was wrong; can't really admit he was wrong without stripping Max of the title.

[@baclava69]

This is absurd. He has unfortunately favoured merc for an age, this is much bigger than Max getting a deserved win, although under strange conditions.

[@matthewbird1067]

@@gabrielshartinelli if you wipe the results of that race Max still gets the WC 🤷‍♂️ that's one way to admit fault without changing the outcome at the top

[@dansegelov305]

Masi won't get sacked. He will get a raise! Don't forget that F1 is owned by a massive media company and all this controversy has dramatically increased viewing figures and therefore profit. Masi's ineptitude is worth millions of dollars to Liberty Media this year! Why would Liberty care about the integrity of our beloved sport when they can get even richer off of the spectacle of this f***ing soap opera!

[@timjohnun4297]

@@dansegelov305 100%, couldn't have said it better myself. Masi was simply trying to achieve exactly what Liberty F1 wanted, a sprint to the end, with the 2 main competitors nose to tail. Everyone wants to throw him under the bus , but he did exactly what his employer wanted him to do. I think they should ban team owners/principles from contacting race control, too, trying to pressure them

[@RichardGDBaker]

Bottom line guys is the 2021 season will always have this controversy shadowing it. Wether Max is worthy or not (and I believe he is) the fact is that FIA intervened significantly enough to completely alter the race. That wont be going away.

[@driax4297]

Yes I feel bad especially for Max, his WDC will always be shrouded in controversy

[@nathanstretch]

@@driax4297 Fortunately I expect (and hope) he gets a few more to go with it! (I do hope Lewis manages his eighth before he retires as well. Would love to see another close fight next season with Lewis eeking out a victory, and ideally George in the mix too. But who knows with the new cars!)

[@N75911_]

@@driax4297 He has many more to win, leading 652 laps, which is more than the next 10 drivers combined, he's got the right stuff.

[@williamcraig9271]

@Driax, this WDC does not belong to Max. He's a good racer, but this race/championship victory does not belong to him. And...if they wanted to make it a fair final lap, then Hamilton should have been given new soft tires also! BOOOOOO!!! MICHAEL MASI, STEWARDS AND FIA!!!

[@coachster]

@@williamcraig9271 agreed. If they are going to change the rules, they should have leveled the playing field for that last lap shootout by getting Lewis fresh tires.

[@albrechtjohnj]

You had a good suggestion to red flag, remove LAT's car, and have a 2 lap standing start race (with equal tyres). That would have been awesome!

[@StreetWarrior24]

Thus allowing all the back markers (not just the ones between Lewis and Max) to overtake

[@Joelo26]

One lap shoot out one equal tires, would have been a Hamilton win.

[@franklinniesterjr3812]

But they didnt have EQUAL tires. RB had a set of fresh softs and all Lewis had was a set of scuffed hards, as you remember they started on the medium because Lewis didnt have anymore softs, and both sets of hards were scuffed during practices.

[@TheMschelsea91]

@@Joelo26 of course but Merc chose not to change his tyres, didn't they?

[@trappenweisseguy27]

And of course your guy gets a free tire change after his team hangs him out to dry for 50 laps. Seems fair to me 🙄. He had the lead on the last lap with DRS disabled. He would have signed up for that pre race in a heartbeat.

[@mountainman6172]

4:22 "sometimes that's just what happens in sport..." What sort of sport have you been watching mate? This is F1, pinnacle of motorsport - not darts!

[@enemyofthedeepstate5978]

Sometimes the pace car hurts you, sometimes it helps you. Controversial decisions helps the sport no end.

[@Meyymun]

I agree with almost everything. I cannot agree ever, that not following rules set out by the regulations for the purpose of making the end more interesting is correct. Especially when it changed the result of the race and championship.

[@default123default2]

That's not what happened. F1 isn't a Constitutional republic. The director has dictatorial powers on things like the safety car. You are damaging the sport with your utterances. Michael Masi isn't

[@IrishDougal]

Was going to post something similar however you’ve expressed my sentiments exactly

[@yinshah3303]

@@default123default2 What you said about a dictatorial masi makes this not a SPORT. Why is there a rule book if we have a dictorial structure to F1. When sport is not sporting then it isn’t a competition anymore. It’s WWE.

[@Meyymun]

@@default123default2 that power should be used for safety, not to change the way the race ends. How did it not change the end when if the safety car was allowed to continue as it should have the race would've ended under the safety car?

[@marksibley4546]

It’s Car racing they wanted the season to end on a race Mercedes have been beat all year by Red Bull on Strategy that’s what happened … 22 races that was not the only factor that cost them I feel bad for Lewis he deserved the victory but there are more factors in F1 then driving a fast car that what makes it Awesome … if you dont like it watch NASCAR all kind of rules all the same cars go watch that

[@williamshaneblyth]

The fia and masi are a mess. Please clean your rules and execution out for next year it's been a mess all year and it's not been 1 sided for team or a driver.

[@BadAssEngineering]

It really hasnt, they just hand penalties and such in random fashion

[@mikemoggerson6651]

Actually it has been...in favour of Mercedes and Hamilton UNTIL the last lap of the last race.

[@daemon10101]

Get rid of Masi, his handling of this year has not been acceptable.

[@williamshaneblyth]

@@mikemoggerson6651 actually it has been all over the place all year just about every team. You seem to imply they are biased towards Mercedes but then on the last day suddenly they aren't. That makes zero sense doesn't it go back and look at the decisions everyone agrees it's been a mess if poor decisions.

[@ChukkieB0Y]

It was not a coin toss… a coin toss is fair this wasn’t

[@konzekuenze]

The question is: Did Michael Masi already resign? Does he even have conditions to stay in F1 after the complete mess he did?

[@albertot3873]

The real question is, do you know all the responsibilities Michael Masi has in FIA? I believe you don't.

[@43ten43]

I think to get an objective thought out this you have to ask yourself, if the circumstances were reversed, how would it feel? If Max was leading the whole race, Latifi crashes, Lewis puts on new softs and files past Max to win his 8th WDC, would it feel good or seem fair? Wouldn't it seem like a "sham" or "maFIA" or whatever? It's not fair either way. Max didn't deserve this nor did Lewis. Masi should be ashamed to ruin and taint a season as good as this.

[@krsslim]

No, it wouldn't have been right either way & that's the real point.

[@aditya4622]

Exactly. Agreed that the fight was neck and neck till the last race so if you go by the merits of the last race then Hamilton was robbed of his 8th WDC by Massi and his maFIA.

[@raulponce9012]

Massi borderline is ruining the sport. If I was an investor with the means to fund a new F1 team and saw this race I would ran the other way. Because imagine how the people who created the rulebook break and bend their own rules for giving a show and then calling it "racing". Massi has forgeten he is not a Netflix director or a Liberty Media producer, he is a race director, he's job is not to make a show, is to manage the sport to make it fair and square.

[@leenglishman1605]

@walkwithme You could argue that Merc made the wrong tyre call anyway in this race anyway as they assumed no further incidents. He should have been pitted under the VSC to cover Red Bull and put pressure on Max, as Max would most probably have stayed out for position. It then woiuld have been exactly the other way around and regardless of the incident, LH would have hunted him down and passed him. Merc have made some really complacent / weird strategy calls this season and this was definately one of them. For me, part of the reason they are so annoyed is that they KNOW they made the wrong call and gave him no cover.

[@tonysunny8927]

Exactly well said

[@davemieze9021]

These “one off” Fia decisions should not be deciding championships

[@DDD-qt8bw]

There were dozens of decisions throughout the season that gave or took points away from various drivers. If you want to go there, lets go moment by moment over every race and really get it right. But then it would shine the light on the fact Mercedes should have lost this championship 7 races ago. In the balance of crap calls, they have NOTHING to complain about for the past decade.

[@stktriz]

It was crazy in jeddah how he said I'm going to make you an offer like wtf that all about

[@randomman57]

“wE wErE maNIpUlAtED mAN” lol

[@alexlamas6324]

The race was almost decided by "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe"!

[@SubaruLove]

I like the red flag idea. The previous 48 laps would still matter, because they determined the order for the last two laps.

[@purwantiallan5089]

No. Not even better for me.

[@milgoharda80]

Red flag idea would be more fair. Massi has no bias towards any team or driver, his job is to get the race completed as safe as possible. We always think of how it could have been done better at the end and Massi did a phenomenal job with the circumstances and minimal time.

[@simedinson984]

@@milgoharda80 out of a safety perspective ending under safety car is probably safer thou

[@waynec3563]

A red flag would have been the best way to ensure a finish under green flag. Though slightly unfair as Hamilton would have been able to change tyres, having declined to do so under the VSC and safety car (likely would have been called for a lap before the red flag). The Latiffi crash happened a similar number of laps from the end as Verstappen's in Azerbaijan. The latter was red flagged because there was no way to clear the track under the safety car.

[@benbakker625]

@@milgoharda80 Red flag for what ???? Track was already cleared, You all are Crybabys !!!

[@RickAnderson19]

Scott gets it!!! He said the same thing I tweeted after reading the FiA dismissal of the protest. They said, yes, we violated the rule, but we validated that violation by applying this rule. Then they went on to say, rule 15, whatever, gives the Dir the authority to deploy or withdraw the safety car. 😌 NO ONE IS QUESTIONING THAT. This is no longer about Max v. Lewis it’s about integrity. That vehement, emotional comment at the end by the commentator on Max retaining the title exposes his bias. The thought that this is about the two drivers is narrow thinking at this point. I think even the FiA understands that. I believe they want F1 to be seen as a sport not a contrived event. In the end, I think the FiA will possibly recompense Merc with 💴, admit no guilt, change the rules, and show Masi the door. It’s not about Max…anymore.

[@aiitop1036]

I mean I will truly want to see them go public and say we fucked up sorry. It shouldn't been this way. And mercedes and Luis I believe that they will not seek anything more like to get the trophy from max. Max deserved it but definitely not by this outcome

[@aiitop1036]

@@truecrimejungle well as a fan of the sport I can say to you that this is like referees in the NBA. They want to show the power they have and not following the rules and make ridiculous calls just because. Well like the NBA that supposedly have rules, f1 has too. Like in jeddah massi was like asking the principles of the team if they liked the call he made-or pleased . Like are we Sirius.

[@flavious27]

The justification used by the stewards is so asinine that Masi, every stewards, and the Liberty Media executives involved need to have a lifetime ban. What they did was to remove the sport from f1, while of course ignoring the regulations that they themselves put into place.

[@881Gino]

This season has seen some brilliant racing by arguably the best two talents racing has seen, but has undoubtedly been marred by inept decisions made by Race director Michael Masi.

[@mokaPCP]

The championship win is obviously tainted. The argument about Max deserving it doesnt hold any weight because Hamilton did also deserve it and was going to win it until the FIA put their greasy hands all over it. Lewis outperformed Max during the entire race without question and got the win taken away from him. I don't know how that even is a debate.

[@Roeland666]

Forgot about hungary and silverstone already? Max had bad luck all season long, it was about time he got lucky once.

[@dinantjimmink702]

Yes colorful. Very orange.

[@c-teamtrading9690]

Btw ,red flag would not have worked as any distance after 2 thirds of race distance considers the race as over. The situation did not contain any aspects to warrant a red flag (competitor trapped in car ,fire etc )

[@johnonions1906]

So going by that, you must also consider when Schumacher binned it at Jeddah that it too did not warrant a red flag. Double standards are what has made this season such a cluster fuck, and the stewards are guilty of denying the fans from a legitimate champion, whether that be Max or Lewis.

[@petitcon.6276]

Sure, but Masi was breaking rules anyway, so it would have been better to break it to insure a show in a fair way, than to do it to give the championship to someone.

[@77Raffi77]

Baku was red flagged and restarted way after 2 thirds of race distance as well, so they could have done that

[@c-teamtrading9690]

@@johnonions1906 WRONG ! Lap 13 is not close to two thirds of the race or last lap. The car had broken into pieces and they had to repair the safety barrier .A gain referring to NO 1 the goal is to RACE not trundle along behind a safety car. Once Race Director heard they needed time to repair the barrier he red flagged the race .Race was restarted and RACING resumed! Funny you mentioned that incident as the standing start favored the more powerful Mercedes. Hamilton has won many races on the back of a safety car advantage. On this day it swung to Max's advantage. Listen to Hamilton's radio and you will realize that he new this was going to favor Max. Mercedes denied him the option for new tires, rather opting for track position. Mistake and Lewis called it ! It is only after he is out braked that the whining starts !

[@c-teamtrading9690]

@@petitcon.6276 Masi applied the rules correctly .Restart the race ASAP one the safety had been established. Max lining up behind Lewis would have happened in any normal safety car deployment and favored Max as he went for new tires. So what you are saying is Masi should have cheated by allowing the race to finish under safety car (against the rules ) if racing is possible Or race with the lapped cars in between (not safety car procedure) . Lewis won many races off the advantage of a safety car. What makes this one different ? Only luck swung max's way and now your pissed. Listen to Lewis's radio broadcast . He knew what was coming and was denied new tires! Blame Mercedes!!!!

[@Juventinos]

as it happened it should of ended under a safety car. best solution imo was red flag. 5 lap sprint.

[@Duschbag]

With all cars on their choice of NEW RUBBER.

[@warrenbooysen]

Retrospect is a wonderful thing.

[@camh9800]

This would have been the ideal ending. Red flag was the right call but we can only say that after the finish.

[@Pibikhen]

The crash wasn't worthy of a red flag. It was a simple enough clean up. The correct procedure should have been followed and the race should have ended under the safety car. Anything else places entertainment over integrity.

[@camh9800]

@@Pibikhen The way I see it is Max was the better driver all year, Lewis had many lucky breaks all year and this was the break that Max hadn’t gotten all year. Ending this season with a safety car would have been extremely sad. Again wish Lewis was on softs but I think Max gets it done regardless

[@johanterbeek7864]

denial. anger. bargaining. depression. acceptance.

[@petertully3202]

Like he said at the end, the only logical thing the FIA could do is just void that last race and go from the championship standings from before the race.

[@meFatuations]

Hamilton handled this extremely well. He is a champion with a high level of morals. He is my champion.

[@aussieaussie4848]

May be yours but he isnt the real one

[@Kaitler_Motorsport_Engineering]

Well he’s definitely the champion of choosing the right car/team. Mercedes won the constructors championship and with there engineering superiority they certainly are F1 car building champions. Drivers champion definitely Max Verstappen.

[@nathanstretch]

Agreed; he showed a lot of class after the race. Opening his interview by congratulating Max and then thanking his team, spraying champagne on the podium, all that. Must have been gutted, but showed excellent sportsmanship.

[@aditya4622]

@@nathanstretch you can expect that CLASS from a 7 time WDC..I would have loved to see crybaby Max's reaction if it was him leading the entire race and Hamilton passing him on last lap with gift from FIA... 😂😂

[@nathanstretch]

@@aditya4622 bashing Max isn't called for either. We can enjoy the sport and even cheer for one driver without that kind of thing.

[@KeldonA]

One outcome that benefits all teams is clarity and consistency in the rules, and fewer controversial decisions made on a whim from 2022 onwards (maybe even replace Masi)

[@neloangelo7454]

Dude, next season is gonna be a joke. They’re still figuring out the rules and regulations with the new cars. Get ready for more random calls

[@tlwn5196]

If Merc had the balls to switch tires we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[@idek_man]

Very well explained. Extremely professional. Great video!

[@Juventinos]

this was the equivalent of a judge giving a directed verdict in a jury trial.

[@stepparentingmadeeasy]

I believe that the answer to all questions will be if Michael Masi still had a job next year.

[@aussieaussie4848]

He will. FIA can't admit a mistake

[@gsopoagmle]

Masi will keep the job easily. Thanks to Masi decision the world got this epic end to the absolutely delight of the American owner. For them this kind of epic end will deliver a huge commercial success. Trust me Masi will get his salary doubled.

[@rabindra1990]

He need to resign for sure, him in F1 for 2022 same position not good for F1 at all👎

[@diegovillavicencio3172]

@@gsopoagmle says the dutch

[@dco1019]

Masi did okay since race direction is historically inconsistent. Naturally the final inconsistency will favour one or the other but over the season it all equals out.

[@bhavikshah5016]

Its called a Motor Race, we went car racing - Masi, Michael - 2021

[@FilthyFaux]

Funny how many have claimed that Mercedes dominance has hurt the sport and will continue to deter fans yet the resulting outcome this season has done more to hurt the sport than perhaps anything else ever in the sports history

[@Nicolas.440]

They probably thought “any publicity is good publicity”. These days with social media, it seems to be the case…

[@FilthyFaux]

@@Nicolas.440 seriously man, hope the sport can recover and change for the better.

[@yoJuicy]

0:32 hits the nail on the head. I believe the Stewards did everything to "let them race" because for RB, Merc, McLaren, Ferrari they were all battling for positions. They just missed the timing of unlapping the cars...Safety car needed to hold them up on the straight or something.

[@vedranb87]

The problem is that SC can't move too slow thus letting everyone's tires cool down. In that scenario Max would have had even more of an advantage because soft tires heat up to the temperature much quicker. I don't even want to think how much grip would cold 44 lap old hards would have. Or would we have another "magic button" incident... :D There's so many things to keep in mind when trying to decide what to do in that situation.

[@bubgel-1480]

I have the feeling the intention of Masi was good, but with the clearing the track, manage the safety car and manage he pushing teambosses. He just had to much to do in to little time.

[@PuddinPie]

I think what most Merc/ham fans are mad about is finishing under racing conditions didn’t work the Mercedes’ gamble to leave Hamilton out

[@gp-oi5nt]

@@PuddinPie No, it’s Masi skirting the rules for the sake of a spectacle.. Merc strategy was bad tho ngl

[@PuddinPie]

@@gp-oi5nt it was for the sake of finishing one of the best F1 seasons under racing conditions

[@eden5260]

FIA: p2 should get the chance to race for p1 FIA: p3 shouldn't get the chance to race for p2 amm interesting !!

[@karliebellatrixyoung6359]

only answer to fix this going forward is to make red flags mandatory for incidents that significantly disrupt safe racing conditions within the last 15% of the race

[@derrickfarrar5736]

You wont see Mercedes passing up a free tyre change moving forward lol

[@kityhawk2000]

Can anyone imagine if the last 6 laps of this race happened in Jeddah? I would say there would be absolutely no chance of the race being restarted in that case because the FIA would lose their equal points headlines and the last race would be nowhere near as dramatic because Max would only need 2nd.

[@lauriedepaurie]

Jeddah was all about keeping Mercedes penalty free. Both couldn't get a time penalty if they asked for it... I still think the first call 'lapped cars may not overtake' was a similar attempt at giving Lewis an advantage.

[@illyausef]

@@lauriedepaurie Lapped cars can't over take call was there cause stewards were on the track.

[@ramborigs]

@@lauriedepaurie Right, everything is about helping mercedes....Even when you just watched the FIA hand it to RB

[@ajsgaming8003]

@@ramborigs and if the fia told lewis to give the place bk after skipping the corner and gaining an advantage then all this at the end may not have happend and if the shoe was on the other foot you would be calling RB Sore losers

[@MrRawnerves]

I’m tired of the argument that the championship deserve to end on a green flag rather than on a safety. But to change the rules from what is the normal just to give it a better finish that is not F1.

[@travisfubu9053]

yeah it's like for the sake of Max winning or more drama it's ok to change the rule s last min

[@Juggler4071]

Especially as there was a way to stick to the rules and finish on a green flag, which was to re-start the race without clearing the lapped cars. The decision to clear SOME of the lapped cars to give Max a shot at Hamilton, but not clear all of them (a decision which almost cost Sainz his podium) was the problem, and clearly showed that their motives weren't JUST to finish under race conditions, but also to artificially engineer an exciting final lap. They were applying the regs inconsistently. in order to get the finish they wanted.

[@evilformerlys4704]

This is what's pissing me off, all these so called fans of F1 are praising Max as if he literally had to fight his way through back markers to win the championship, nope because of FiA intervention he was gifted position and on top of that with fresher tires still proceeded to dive bomb to get past Hamilton who still prefers to not take contact unecessarily. Thing is if he crashed on that, they both go out, Max would have gotten a penalty and Hamilton would win but he wouldn't liked winning that way because it was avoidable. Notice how Max fans will take the win no matter how unearned it was and this was 100% unearned. There was no fairness here, just the sanctioning body literally stacking chips in favor of one driver. Let's not forget Red Bulls Horner calling on Masi to clear the way for Verstappen and he did so while preventing he cars behind Verstappen from unlapping and then hurriedly calls in the safety car. Bruh, if FiA international doesn't do something, F1 is going to have a hard time trying to convince actual fans they are bound to rules and not favoring a specific team. I mean this looks so bad it doesn't even make sense that no one would not be disgusted. There were folks watching and they said that was unfair, even their own rules prohibit what happened. Race stolen before millions and one team is literally livid because calls made were not following protocol set years in advance, so this last lap let us change the rules to favor the guy with fresh tires. Some champion we got here, literally going into the final lap with the deck stacked and still couldn't pass without dive bombing his way, which would cause contact if Hamilton wasn't looking out for this constantly dive bombing driver.

[@Leviathan_2460]

They started and finished Spa 2021 under a precession.

[@Kevinschart]

same. especially with the tire scenario. as much as i don't like the breaking of protocol, it was made much worse by the fact lewis had zero chance of winning that final lap.

[@cosmikyogi2514]

They should add a clause "if a crash happens needing a safety car with 6 laps remaining, it will be an automatic red flag. Any other time, SC should allow all lapped cars to overtake, remove "MAY BE ALLOWED TO OVERTAKE" to "WILL BE ALLOWED TO OVERTAKE" from the regulations. These things happen because the regulation is too complicated in wordings leaving to individual interpretation, there should be no ambiguity at all....it should be tight.

[@GatorWinup]

The problem with this proposal is that, why 6? Why not 5? Why not 7? Assume the last x laps would have an automatic red flag, should x depend on the particular track? weather? the number of race in the season? remaining fuel? I think the idea is good, but a lot more needs to be done before feasible.

[@kingragnar423]

I would like to see a co-shared title between Max and Lewis. I think that would settle things, they both deserve it.

[@pierrojules]

Max Verstappen was totally dominated by Lewis Hamilton on Sunday. He could not keep up with Lewis's pace. Crooked FIA race director, Michael Masi, ended up robbing Lewis of his 8th championship and gave it to Max. Max Verstappen = Fake F1 champion.

[@courtneymcgowan9561]

I keep hearing on Reddit, TV, this channel and comments on various threads and KZbin videos that a red flag restart would have been acceptable and that's a super frustrating refrain. I just can't disagree enough. I don't see how it's any better at all to red flag a race for the sole purpose of providing a contrived finish to the race than letting cars in between Max and Lewis unlap themselves and bringing in the safety car early...also for the sole purpose of artificially generating a contrived finish to the race? I need someone to explain it to me! If we didn't need a red flag, why call it?? Maybe it's slightly fairer to LH44 if he can fit "new" tires on his car during the red flag and before the 2 lap shootout, but calling an unnecessary red flag in order to satisfy our need for drama and a tidy ending is just Massi's decision making process with slightly better optics. The rules should have been followed by precedent and the rulebook itself, not by a special set of circumstances that allowed for us to craft an exciting but hollow finale.

[@MattTaylor24]

Bingo! The red flag idea is completely bogus, a safety car was all the situation called for. IMO, despite the FIA cocking up their timing, the result we got is actually the one we should have gotten. Lapped cars should have been allowed to overtake earlier and Lewis had already missed the pits when the SC period started so having 1. HAM, 2. VER with the soft tyres, and a restart is exactly what should have happened. The rules were broken, no doubt, and that matters for future races and the FIA’s credibility, but I’m not so sure it matters for the WDC.

[@flavious27]

Exactly. Anyone calling for a red flag just to have a two lap sprint race is not a long-term f1 fan. Also just last week letting drivers change tires under a red flag was being advocated to be banned.

[@matusow]

Both teams agreed to not finish the race in SC. Red flag would be suited in this case.

[@someoneunseen5168]

@@matusow its only used for safety reasons, not sporting reasons. They dont use a safety car if VSC is enough and they dont use red flag if safety car is enough. End of conversation.

[@user-ww9pd2rz4e]

@@someoneunseen5168 Michael Masi told Jenson Button before the weekend started that if a crash happens at turn 13 and 14 it will be a safety car and not a red flag

[@Raamsheld]

The best remedy to this mess at the end of the race, if there is one, is to fire the Race Director while letting the results stand. It’s not the drivers’ fault on how the race was handled. It was Massy who contravened the rules to have his race ending. He has shown consistently throughout the year that he was making egregious errors and erratic decisions. His responses to issues are petulant and too personal. He doesn’t have the emotional stability and integrity and consistency required for the the F1 Race Director. He should be fired and replaced.

[@PaulKovac]

Nor the intellect

[@mydogdodge1054]

100%

[@roldany1301]

True 👍

[@pierrojules]

Max Verstappen = Fake F1 champion.

[@AndrewDRSWilliamson]

The biggest problem is that all cars weren't given the chance to unlap themselves. Others drivers like Carlos Sainz didn't get the chance to fight for the win 😒

[@jorgecarai]

what nobody has explained to me, until today, is since the race director was so interested in having a race finish, why not issue a red flag, which he did so many times when Verstappen was in front, why not a red flag instead of a desperate safety car withdrawal so that Max could attack Hamilton.

[@Humblebeginningsfarmstead]

As a Max Fan i have to say it does, It does because detract.... no one can say it was a clear victory, Mercedes and Lewis were dominant and got robbed. Sadly Mercedes was planning a strategy in accordance with the set standard rules and then those rules weren't followed by Masi and his cronies

[@23desdfe345r2fd23f23]

Redbull was also planning a strategy in accordance with the set standard rules. It turned into a strategy gamble, as F1 the team sport often does.

[@m.g7408]

I applaud you, not making shit up to justify what happened and calling it what it is. Cuz the amounts of people incapable or unwilling to to comprehend what happened is just astonishing.

[@jusavinalookguy5841]

No one can say that Lewis was dominant and got robbed.... well that is what is called a tell tail sign of the subconscious talking loud...Of course he was completely dominating the final race and of course he got robbed

[@mikemoggerson6651]

The reality is that it’s after what happened in Baku, Silverstone, and Hungary, it’s clear that Hamilton was fortunate and lucky to even be in the conversation. Even during the race, Hamilton was quite lucky to get away with what he did on lap 1. And then the Mercedes feeder team pay driver crashes out and it results in Hamilton losing a championship he never deserved in the first place 😂😂 talk about poetic justice. Maybe if Hamilton defended like Perez did on him he wouldn’t be sitting here stuck on #7...because let’s be real #8 is unlikely. He’s only getting older and his car isn’t going to get more dominant with the rule changes. Oh and he has a younger, faster teammate than before...best of luck to Ham 😂

[@audettere]

Right on

[@gionnbharra]

I hope “the season didn’t deserve to end under safety car” isn’t an actual criticism

[@davelangford2439]

Is an opinion not a criticism.

[@caio5987]

Exactly 2012 ended behind a safety car and no one talks about it anymore It’s a red herring

[@jsingh265]

Over the race Hamilton deserved to win

[@gionnbharra]

@@caio5987 2012 the season that is considered one of he greatest of all times

[@Jojo21453]

@@jsingh265 Perhaps he did, but Mercedes strategy did not. It was a gamble to leave LH out on completely shot hards. Forst for a VSC and then for a late SC. Merc bet everything on black and the ball landed on red in the end. Had he pitted, he would‘ve won the race. Perhaps Massi was a little late with his call for certain cars to unlap themselves, but they should‘ve already unlapped themselves earlier and the rest of the pack was simply too far behind to play any part in one remaining lap. It would‘ve been following the rules ad absurdum and fabrication of a race win to let them pass the two aswell. I fully agree with Massi‘s decision in that respect. LH still had the chance to fight Max off, like checo did to him, despite LH having DRS. In that respect snd regarding the pace advantage of the Mercedes in the race, it was not a given for Max to win the race. At the end of the day he deserves the win with the most wins and the most laps lead.

[@yourboysgottem202]

If Masi had let cars unlap themselves a lap before then there would be no controversy at all. Masi was just way too slow to react and IMO he should be dropped and replaced. Either way if Masi followed the hand book and used every power available to him, Max would have won. People make it sound like there was no time at all to let lapped cars unlap themselves while excluding the fact that Masi has the power to dicate what the safety car does.

[@SuperMike591]

Stewards were still on the track on lap 56 though. If the regulation was followed unlapped cars could only unlap on 57 and safety car would come in at the end of lap 58, which is the end of the race.

[@pierrojules]

If corrupt FIA race director, Michael Masi, had followed rule $48.12 as stipulated, the race would have ended behind the safety car and Lewis Hamilton would have rightfully won the race that he resoundingly dominated. You don't know what you are talking about. Max Verstappen = Fake F1 champion.

[@dinantjimmink702]

@@pierrojules well said by a fan of the most fake driver on the grid.

[@abhijitdeo1800]

It looked like FIA was in a hush hush to handover championship to max.

[@krisl3228]

If Masi had let the lapped cars to go around at the first call, there would have been no controversy

[@Chvdd]

And the outcome would've been the same . Max would win

[@jeffsteyn7174]

Yes. But not just that if he let every lapped car unlap themselves. But he actively only allowed those between Lewis and max to unlap themselves. F1 now looks like WWE.

[@SmashGhost]

This is exactly correct.

[@chrisc475]

Agreeing to let the cars through only after Horner had a word wasn't a good look either. Initially, the cars were told to stay in position and not unlap themselves.

[@krisl3228]

@@chrisc475 isn't it a fairly typical procedure after an extended safety car period to let lapped cars through. maybe if Masi have phased it slightly better to "stay put for now" it would have helped

[@thomaspeltz8577]

I know the world is not as familiar with NASCAR, but their rules for flags, conditions, starts, and finishes are MUCH more clear cut than a Race Director's opinion. They should look into that.

[@liamandxaviersrandomthings9084]

Edd straw is completely wrong. This like that don't happen in sport. They happen in show making. In sport the rules are followed first

[@BlackxLight]

People complaining that Horner said 'we just need one more lap" as trying to influence Masi, forget that earlier Wolf radioed Masi saying, do not bring out a safety car, which IMO is a worse call, as it is to do with risking peoples lives.

[@marcopeel]

Both can be wrong…what’s your point?

[@BlackxLight]

@@marcopeel Point is no one is talking that both were wrong. So biased reporting.

[@evilformerlys4704]

Which one of those actually was followed through on is what will be spoken of. I don't think you understand how intention and execution works. Regardless of them making requests to Masi, fact is Masi does what he's going to do. Was there a safety car, yes then you STFU. This one lap nonsense, dunno about that but the things like rushing the safety car in on the same lap after moving back markers who were ahead of Verstappen sure looks like he took, we need one more lap into his decision making. Regardless of what was said, things is what was followed through on. Both were wrong period, but what Masib did will undoubtedly tie together with Horner asking for one more lap, especially if the time was just before the decisions were made by Masi. Good thing you brought this up, as it what we call evidence and you basically are not someone who anyone will do a crime with. 🤣😂

[@aditya4622]

@@BlackxLight Well that seemed sarcastic from Toto...tbh.....and a request from Horner "We just need 1 lap" ... And Massi obliged and changed his mind from not allowing the back markers to pass (Hamilton winning his 8th WDC) TO letting only some back markers pass and not all + bringing in the SC in the same lap instead of the following Lap as per the regulations (Max winning his 1st WDC)....f..king maFIA!!!

[@bunarski]

@@evilformerlys4704 Lmao wrong! Wolf asked masi not to bring out the safety car earlier in the race during the vsc. The safety car never came out. He DID follow through with Mercedes’ request as well. So good thing you typed all that out of ur butt 😂😂

[@tomhutcheson9134]

to allow all races to finish under race conditions, the rule should be that if a SC or VSC is needed at or within the last 5 laps of a race, the race is automatically red flagged and restarts with 5 laps remaining (even if originally you only had 1, 2, 3, 4 laps to go). Clean and simple. and cut and dry. black and white. and no room for "interpretation" or gray area.

[@fanaticvandal472]

one comment here that I agree with, this is what should happen, also all the comments complaining that a one lap shoot out was not a fair competition because Hamilton had old tyres is BS, Mercedes left him out and didn't bring him into pit, that's on them and they should man up and take responsibility for their mistakes instead of being such whiney babies.

[@oConshien]

Sure, but if Masi has complete control, what's to say that the Race Director can't just decide NOT to follow this last 5 lap red flag rule? I think that's a bigger part of the issue, since the existing safety car rules weren't gray to begin with

[@o0oStillWeRiseo0o]

Great idea!

[@Juggler4071]

@@fanaticvandal472 It wasn't a mistake for Merc to keep Hamilton out. He pits and loses track position, or he stays out and builds an unassailable lead that only a combination of INCREDIBLY bad luck and dodgy officiating managed to overturn. No strategy will ever be 100%, but Merc had the right strategy and hit the one combination of events that derailed it. 95% of the time, Hamilton wins that race with that strategy. Claiming strategy is the problem is like going to the casino, playing roulette, putting everything on 17, winning when 17 comes up and claiming it was strategy. No... it was luck. And for Merc it wasn't bad strategy, it was bad luck.

[@WillCamx]

@@Juggler4071 If the proper rules are followed Hamilton wins that race 100% of the time. Masi's intervention is the only reason he lost

[@Adrellias]

Stop claiming your sponsor is secure, without understanding what it means 😂🤣

[@huracanmedia1661]

It's F1 and 100% predictable there would be some kind of wild ending RB fully expected it and played their hand perfectly Merc chose conservative track position over tires and speed even Lewis knew the second he saw the yellow flag they screwed themselves could have gone either way-its racing. Merc did not help their own by toto giving masi an earful in the middle of it who was clearly pissed off at toto

[@jameslane976]

Mercedes made no mistakes. Under the rules the race was gonna finish behind SC or with backmarkers in the way. Their only mistake was believing the rules would be obeyed

[@christopherbland5774]

Amazing to see the Fans know the Rules but not the Officials

[@cosmicgibber8142]

🤣 What I love about this season is…. every interviewer worldwide asking Max, Dad, Marko and Horner if they legitimately won it. This will haunt them and their fans for the rest of their lives and they are trying hard to convince them and will do for the rest of their lives. 🤭😆

[@gh-ev9vi]

If you look at the entire season as a whole you would be absolutely delusional to think that max didn’t deserve it atleast a tiny bit more. Besides that, stop malding

[@callumduffy6295]

Max won more races, lead more laps and out qualified Hamilton... The wrong person won the race but the right person won the championship

[@supaahflyy]

@@gh-ev9vi when it counted, he was losing 4 in a row. You can't hide behind his first half of the season displays and not recognise he got completely outdriven and the team got out developed by Mercedes in the second half Look at the whole

[@flavious27]

@@callumduffy6295 max had more wins because of Masi and the FIA. Take away spa and this race, even split.

[@callumduffy6295]

@@flavious27 Ok even split... still lead over 300 more laps to Hamilton and out qualified him too Silverstone is very important too because Hamilton only got a 10 second penalty for hitting Verstappen and destroying his car. Hungarian GP Bottas hitting Norris into Verstappen which ruined his race... Season would've already been decided before the final race if Verstappen wasn't unlucky.

[@mauriciomesa7466]

This should be thoroughly investigated by international courts, just as FIFA was investigated and corruption was found.

[@gregcampbell970]

Verstappen is a worthy champion, but to call it a "coin toss", suggests both parties had an equal chance of winning. That's not what happened. Once Masi let only the cars between Verstappen and Hamilton pass and brought the safety car in a lap early, it moved it beyond the usual luck that comes with a safety car and gave Verstappen a huge and unearned advantage.

[@pinkypromises714]

Just like the corner cutting without giving back the position. Double standards

[@mago97615]

Thank you that's exactly it, and with FRESH SOFT TIRES Vs 40+ laps in Medium. That's SCANDALOUS

[@patatouf]

Why would you say that? It was exactly like a coin toss: Heads Max wins, tails Lewis loses.

[@mecidon]

@@mago97615 It was 40+ hards but I agree with you, It was very clear who they wanted to win

[@kwl189]

@@mago97615 you say that as if MB didn’t have the right to pit and put on fresh tyres on LH car. And by the way he was on hards not mediums. If you’re going to fanboi then at least do it right

[@TheWOOFinator1337]

"The FIA clearly got it wrong, but they will do everything they can to ensure that nothing changes the result of the driver's championship." Pretty much exactly what I thought would happen too, I'm surprised they even admitted they ignored the rules (even though they then said "haha but don't worry these other rules override those rules."), but there's no way they're actually going to do anything about it now. They fucked up, but doing anything about their fuck up will make everything even more controversial than it already is, so they're essentially just going to try and brush it under the rug.

[@gamingforfun9000]

You all are missing the point, rules need to be scrapped and re built. no race should end under caution. Merc should have pitted as for the back markers the ones that were in the way of the title fight were gone, why worry about few lap down Haas cars at the back. this will be forgotten by the end of the month. i'v seen bigger controversies since 90's. Forza Ferrari. Not fan of either team or driver but Max deserved it more than Lewis overall during the season. Also Lewis not giving position back, maybe end of the race was karma.

[@thetransponder7186]

@@gamingforfun9000 the FIA did let max cut across 4 times in Saudi Arabia.

[@Kawabongahlive]

The race director can take up the initiative regardless of some rules like the ones hamilton fans keep complaining about. It's also part of the rules. Safety cars aren't fair or unfair, they are deployed when there is a situation like latifi's, and parked when the track is clear.

[@gamingforfun9000]

@@Kawabongahlive They will cool off by the end of the week, im already looking forward to testing...C'mon Ferrari haha

[@gamingforfun9000]

@@thetransponder7186 What, Mercedes never got away with anything this season or last 6 years :) Mikeeeeyyyy pleeeeease, someone stole my lolly pop hahaha Didnt he get a penalty and tried to give position back but wtf was Lewis doing, napping. You got to be ready, its others driver choice to give you position back at any time, had plenty of spaces on the left....his excuse not to cross drs line first, i'd give him or anyone else 10 second penalty just for saying that ridiculous stuff.

[@tintop550]

Why was it ok to a have 2 lap SC 'race' @ Spa, & award 1/2 points, but not OK to finish under the SC @ Abu Dhabi? Particularly when the rules required 1 more SC lap before a start. Massi screwed up big time many times this season, he must go.

[@defenda1]

Because ending the championship under SC would be terrible?

[@flavious27]

Same thought. Having that safety car rain parade count was a joke and showed that Masi doesn't care about the sport or the fans.

[@furstfr]

@@defenda1 it would have been terrible but at least it would have been fair

[@C0DW1TH5ANDEL5]

@@furstfr Would it really be? Giving the WDC to not the best driver?

[@marioplaz]

If it's important that a race end under racing conditions, and I agree it is, it seems to me that laps completed behind the safety car shouldn't count towards the total race laps. Is it feasible for the FIA to just revoke that rule going forward?

[@darrenbryant8811]

That is a great idea but the teams "short fuel" the cars anyway so would probably run out of fuel before the race could finish.

[@TurinTuramber]

The max laps is not negotiable.

[@ajimaster287]

Why dont we have a similar system to football, any yellow flagged laps to be added to the end of the race, or dont count yellow flag laps to the total laps.

[@g.g.baxter4868]

Sporting integrity should be the second most important thing in F1, only ever behind safety. Forget the top 2, there was zero reason why Stroll and Riccardo couldnt unlap to leave Sainz in 3rd directly behind Max and Lewis. This was entirely about Masi covering his own arse as hed made a mistake saying lapped cars couldnt unlap, realised too late to get them all out of they way. So he fudged the rules, then hid behind the, im the overload i can do what i want rule. He screwed Sainz out of any fair opportunity to fight for the lead. F1 is bigger than any one driver, any one team, any one race director. He has to resign or we might as well just call it WWF-1 and get Netflix to write a script each year.

[@jkraemo]

@@Ruefus Yes but it was still the wrong decision to unlap only some cars, that just fueled the controversy too. Restarting was fair game though

[@camh9800]

Let the two title contenders duel it out in the end. I would have liked to see Lewis on softs but I truly think that Max was going to make that move after the Safety Car regardless of Lewis tires and after a season like that a finish under safety car would have been the most anticlimactic finish to such an amazing and competitive season.

[@Jojo21453]

Letting the ones between the leaders unlap themselves sounds like the best way of damage limitation them, according to your comment, no?

[@jamesfelstead4096]

They can’t annul the race, as this would penalise other teams/drivers. A red flag scenario would have been inappropriate, as there was no injury to the driver, Latifi’s car could be removed, and no damage to the barriers - a SC was the norm for such an incident.

[@abhishekab1]

Yep. Nothing would change. It's done and dusted.

[@debbieallen7799]

The FIA showed us they could care less about what is normal. If the goal was to not finish under yellow a red flag scenario was the only fair option. No one has mentioned Carlos in all of this but why did he have to race lapped cars? He was third and who knows how that might have ended? The fix was in and Lewis was a sitting duck for making decisions based on rules that were never followed.

[@mariusindrie7670]

@@debbieallen7799 you are totally right. Carlos' 5th position in the championship isn't taken into consideration with all the BS going around

[@Felyxx]

but you agree that a red flag and a standing restart would have not generated this much controversy. Whoever won at that point, after they both changed for new tires, nobody would've complained about the decision.

[@rolef6084]

@@debbieallen7799 mate imagine sainz hitting lewis or max off after the restart, that wouldve created even more discussion, seeing as he probably had to push against the cars behind him.

[@mrronan2007]

I'll need therapy to come off the high from seeing max win

[@gamerageandhobbyrcdu]

Honestly hope the they hand it in and don’t even get out of the building before being called to say it’s dismissed

[@Workmusic1988]

Having been an big F1 fan over the last 15 years, seeing this lack of consistency, throughout the season, regardless of winner, makes it feel too artificial. Guess feelings could change but right now I’m put off from paying to watch next year. The other result is that Masi has to go.

[@shanieboi86]

I feel foolish watching this sport now. It's just WWE in cars.

[@spauldingjones5763]

I've seen tons of Masi must go comments, and I get it, but I haven't seen one person suggest who should replace him. Sure there's a bunch of joke comments saying Sebastian Vettel or Fernando Alonso. My concern is he's replaced with someone even worse. I could be wrong, but it also seems like Masi isn't the only person responsible for the crazy inconsistent rules decisions this year.

[@CorneliusVick]

I am in your camp. I was planing to go watch the next years race in Miami. Not only will I not be going to that race I will not be tuning to watch on TV unless the governing body does what is right regardless how PAINFUL it may be.

[@raulponce9012]

@@spauldingjones5763 The FIA should re write the rules and then change race director. Also I don't know if it is possible but Ross Brown would probably be a good one.

[@AP_Sim]

I canceled my f1tv app too

[@tbz1551]

As a lifelong McLaren fan I have very little skin in this game. I can’t imagine anyone, aside from Max/RB fans, feels that was an appropriate way to end that epic season.

[@samsam18200]

bri'ish "person" spotted

[@gistrobaguette7566]

If i had to choose between having the race end behind a safety car, or having it end under green flag i will always choose the 2nd option. Fun fact is that Masi had a tough discussion with the stewards about this mid-race and they all agreed this was the best decision. They were even afraid that the marshals were slowing down the cleaning of the track on purpose because they wanted Mercedes to win. So in my opinion, this was the correct decision to end the championship final, eventhough it meant using the exceptions to the rules…. Lewis drove brilliantly and fully deserved the win, but you dont always get what you deserve.

[@Hempujonsito]

What do you mean? The good guy won in the end, it was an appropriate way to end the season tbf

[@raulponce9012]

@@Hempujonsito There are no good guys in sports, or in real life.

[@furstfr]

@@Hempujonsito you called one a good guy implying one was bad. You have a bias therefore your point is invalid. This is what Masi did. He let the people’s champ win over the one who was supposed to win. Entertainment over integrity

[@dave_nz]

In the finale the FIA have danced over the grave of sportsmanship after bludgeoning it to death all season. Now all we have left is a bad reality TV show.

[@andresilvasophisma]

Is that a 80's Williams race suit? Looks like the ones Mansell used.