Max Champion, Lewis (still) brilliant - by Peter Windsor

It looked, for a while, that the finale would pan out into some sort of orderly, even predictable, ending: Lewis had been in charge of the race since the start. But then that 2021 X-factor settled upon the Yas Marina Circuit - a Safety Car with but five laps to run. Mercedes kept Lewis out on track; Max stopped for a fresh set of Pirelli softs. Given the accident mess - Nicholas Latifi's Williams had hit the wall - and the five lapped cars sitting between Lewis and Max - Lewis's win seemed assured. Then Michael Masi, the Race Director, obviously under pressure to ensure that this race (and championship) did not end behind a Safety Car, seemed to change the goal posts. First, he told the drivers of the five lapped cars that they needed to stay behind Lewis (and in front of Max). Although this is contrary to the regs, it is probably in the power of the Race Director to make this call. Either way, it still looked good for Lewis. Then, a few minutes later, realising that the accident debris had been cleared faster that at first thought, Masi made another call - this time for the five cars to unlap themselves. Crucially, though, Masi did not then instruct the other three lapped drivers in the race - Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Mick Schumacher - to do likewise, thus creating confusion up and down the pit lane. Out on the track, with one lap remaining, Lewis, on his old, hard Pirellis, was a sitting duck. Max won that last-lap sprint to the flag with consummate ease.
Because of these Safety Car inconsistencies, however, Mercedes at the time of video posting have issued a formal notice of protest. Given that this race was a championship decider, it's very unlikely that any verdict will affect the outcome. It means, though, that the 2021 World Championship - a 22-race marathon - has ended on a note of confusion and argument. Which, of course, is probably an appropriate summation of the feel of the year as a whole.
In this video Peter Windsor looks back at the race - at the first phase, led by Lewis Hamilton; at the Safety Car drama; and at Max Verstappen's championship win.
With thanks to Jetcraft, the world's largest buyer and seller of executive jets
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[@philhayhoe1]

"You cannot take the human element out of it" which seems obvious to say but at the end of the day, the machine is driven by the man, the team is a team, human desire for success and glory is immensely powerful. Thanks for a great season of analysis and astute commentary Peter.

[@abrasive_ideas]

That's why I personally would like to see roborace get more popular. I want the car manufacturers to battle it out with ai drivers, ai strategists, without the human element.

[@asianburritoo]

@@abrasive_ideas no. The human aspect is what makes the sport personal. The humans are what make this sport what it is. With robots you don’t get the Senna’s Schumachers or Hamilton… robo racing has none of that

[@BojF1]

Well you can when there are written rules to follow. The human element would be required in grey areas as judgment calls. This was a case of not following the rules to create a spectacle.

[@timmajor2682]

I second that on Peter. The best. As for the DWC outcome it was coming. The start of season high rake favouring floor chop, the 'let them race' excuses for dodgem car tactics, plus the flexi Safety Car rules conspired to defeat the best team with the best driver. I believe vested interest won the outcome.

[@Alan-wu3ry]

Without Max it would have been another boring Mercedes procession

[@rabidlenny7221]

I just want to give a shout out to Honda, winning it on their last year in F1, from GP2 engine to championship engine. They deserve to be acknowledged

[@saisibi6708]

Pity they are leaving. It'll be even more amazing to see what they can do with more races.

[@ROEDxTzaca]

Mercedes won the constructors/teams championship, Max won the driver championship Not Honda!

[@saisibi6708]

@@ROEDxTzaca Yeah, he couldnt have done with a shitty engine now, could he. Also, Max and Lewis both are here cause they are excellent drivers with excellent car packages

[@jammy_rex3038]

@@ROEDxTzaca Ridiculous comment. Max could not have won without a powerful and reliable power unit, which is exactly what Honda provided after years of hard work and patience, having started late to the party and developing their engine in public over those first few difficult years due to the lack of testing allowed. A huge well done to Honda and such a shame they are leaving.

[@ericmass7262]

@Jack Jackson :SD :D :D :D : D:D : D Toxic merc fans. Max max max super max max super super max is the world champion!!!!!!

[@waynefrecklington7207]

I just wanted to say how much i enjoy your commentary Peter - it's so well balanced and for me, it cuts through the noise rather than adding to it

[@jamiemb17]

That's the perfect way of summing these videos up.

[@jopvandam6820]

From a Max fan: Thank you Lewis for the amazing fight we’ve witnessed this year. You’re one of the greatest of all time and the real fans know this. (even those from the Netherlands ;) It’s honestly been an honour to watch this fight and I curse everyone who ever booed you, they simply know too little of the sport. I hope many hard but fair fights follow, and may the best win.

[@kreee1215]

Agree.

[@chrisbrinkley4688]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ❤️ 🇳🇱

[@geedee7632]

@B. Chan more aggressiveness reckless driving race 🏁 🏎 😳 from maximus.. to come..!.. hopefully more hammer 🔨 from the legendary 🙏 sir Lewis 🙏 🙌 👏.. blessed.

[@geedee7632]

SADLY 😥 LEWIS!. Made to loose!!.. IN SUCH MANNER.. BUT HE WAS ROB!. HOW MANY RACE 🏁 🏎 CARS AND THE AMOUNT OF SECONDS WAS BETWEEN LEWIS AND MAXIMUS.. 🤔 😳 BEFORE SAFTY! CAR.. WHICH US A QUESTION HAPPENED AS SOON AS MAX CHANGE HIS TYRES.. 👋 🤔 😕 😏 🙄 😐 👋 🤔?? TO FAST RED!!.. HELLO!!!. 👋 👋 👋!!.HMMM. WAS IT A. MIRACLE OR A SETUP!..HMMM..🤔 😳 ???

[@walterhartwellwhite6788]

Agree. That was his race and be it magical engine from Brazil or His perfect driving he deserved that win But again max also drove fantastic all season expect some overly agressive moments (it happens when you know every point counts which actually did) he absolutely deserved that championship. Also I was not liking Lewis in the start but yesterday I was impressed by how Lewis accepted that loss like a champ (idc about what he does outside of the race) both of them are phenomenal drivers in their own league huge respect to both of them.

[@neo6464]

As a Max fan surely i am over the moon with the championship. As a sportsman i very much feel sorry for Lewis for losing it like this. Immense season by both. So much respect for Lewis aswell

[@LionAndALamb]

As a Lewis fan since the junior categories, it's very painful to lose like this, but that's racing luck. You have to take the good with the bad.

[@neo6464]

@@LionAndALamb Very much true!

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

Imagine Aeneas conducting himself as Verstappen did throughout the year? No, neither can I. In this contest Dares won through over Entellus, due to powers of a different order intervening..and had to be content despite outboxing the young pretender.

[@Chyeahokay]

It was Mercedes team decision fault. Max was going on about his tires for ALOng time and the refused to put him. Even with his pace he still could have won if they pitted him during the first vsc. You can’t get mad for a safety car restart with the lapped cars passing. That’s normal. It would have been a farce if they restarted without letting the lapped cars go

[@pimvandergeer7179]

@@LionAndALamb Jup. If you only look at this race you would feel sorry for lewis, but if I think back on Imola, Monaco, Baku, Silverstone, Spa & Turkey Then it seems he's had more than his fair share of luck fall his way and also did not deliver as much as he could/should have. You win some, you lose some. Very happy for Max. I do feel he earned it more this YEAR (caps intended, just this race he did get half a gift from the racing gods today) On to 2022, where i hope we'll have more teams and drivers then ever in the mix! (pretty much all teams have at least one driver i can root for, well... except maybe williams and alfa romeo.. XD)

[@fabiomccaree9218]

thank you Peter, it was a privilege to follow u here on youtube for one of the most epic season of the hybrid era. you are top of the class.

[@yashchordiya]

I come back to this video every year after the season ends. There's definitely something wrong with me

[@davidmcleandamrecordings3673]

Max had the option of crashing into Lewis for the win. Which was quite clear in his driving style.

[@luciencubano]

From what I got out of today is that the “rules” are there only until a race director deems them too intrusive to the fans having a “race”.

[@gopr3117]

The whole thing is a disgrace. The stewards written response to Mercedes protests effectively confirms that the rules don’t mean anything and the race director can do whatever he wants with no unaccountably. Lewis won the championship today. Simple as that.

[@bardarians]

@@gopr3117 I hope Mercedes takes this to the highest sport courts. This is outrageous

[@bubgel-1480]

@@gopr3117 I think Mercedes lost it for Lewis. They didn't dare to go for the soft tyre. That lapped cars are allowed to overtake is normal.

[@luciencubano]

@@bubgel-1480ALL of the lapped cars should overtake AND the safety car is supposed to go around for them to complete a lap before exiting. That’s the rule. What happened wasnt “normal”.

[@thebrits4658]

@@luciencubano 🧂

[@danielhao5595]

How we all wished the race would just be straight forward without interfering yet life is always full of twists and turns. I’m in awe of how Lewis took it on the chin like a man and congratulated max and thanked the team. Respect.

[@wildmanmike100]

Because he's sick of the fucking fugazi and doesn't have any choice. He's been dealing with the BS all his life. The sport has now robbed him of 3 championship. At least in the Vettel era we knew their car was unracable.

[@basblijdorp6735]

Nice words it would be ever greater if Lewis his team boss and team would have some dignity. Their protests are a shame for the sport and the Mercedes brand

[@jamtalawah2231]

@@basblijdorp6735 Are you for real, Lewis and his Dad showed real dignity congratulating Max and his Dad. Unlike how Max behaved after the Saudi race.

[@truth4reel]

@@basblijdorp6735 Hamilton didn't lodge the protest. It's not about dignity either it's fairness. F1 has turned into a farce this year worst than 2008. Great season for sure but fia and race control?

[@mmead007]

So why wasn't Lewis participating in the post-race conference with the other two podium finishers?

[@skazztheterrible]

In the final analysis, I think you can make a really telling point. Max claimed he's the better driver beforehand. Well, Lewis had everything to lose (even a dual dnf would see him lose) and drove a flawless race in the cockpit. No mistakes, and ultimately only lost due to an incident outside his control. Max, on the other hand, lost the lead on the off, overcommitted lap 1 turn 7, and made a few other mistakes along the way, winning only because someone else crashed and the race director made a decision which had the effect of helping him. It shows how tough Lewis really is. Even someone as self assured as Max, with the advantage, made mistakes under the pressure, in comparison. Glad it ended reasonably well and I do think Max is a deserving winner. But Lewis is outstanding and showed it again here.

[@zomaardan]

He never will say something like that. He has huge respect for drivers.

[@a.b.c.d.e]

German Vettel supporter here - Lewis is an incredible sportsman and should have won this race. Mercedes team seems just too sterile an operation to gather much sympathy, and after seven championships many people were just cheering for the challenger. But it's been demonstrated again and again that Hamilton is not only the more complete driver, he's also as fair a driver as there has ever been at this level, and he's using the platform he has won for purposes more noble than himself. Hamilton is, on all accounts, the best driver this sport has ever seen.

[@quentinhirschfeld9382]

Incredible sportsman i don't think so, he for sure clean by today's standards, but in no way a fair racer or a humble dude. I also dislike the way he uses F1 as a platform for political shite he has no understanding of.

[@Shawn-ii5oy]

@@quentinhirschfeld9382 we dont care about your opinion

[@juniorbennett8219]

At least the FIA got the result they wanted, forget the appeals they ain’t changing the result 🙄

[@fdoublev]

Thanks for verbalising, then explaining how we've been feeling! Phenomenal race, Lewis, and feel so gutted for you. Huge congrats Max!

[@rjs1035]

I agree with the sentiments Peter expressed in this video. One thing is to win by out driving or using greater tactics than your opponents, but when you dominate a race only to loss a great yearlong battle, seemed anticlimactic and bittersweet, plus very inconsistent from the officiating stand point. F1 and FIA should learn from this season and objectively determine a consistent rules of engagement for the racers. A great season I'm my opinion, overshadowed by a last lap travesty due to the officiating.

[@12Tebza]

Thank you, Peter, sum(ed) all up nicely, much appreciated.

[@Mic986]

Carlos beat Charles in the standings. What a good drive by him this year especially for his first year at Ferrari

[@tycondero1647]

Yet, Carlos is supposed to be replaced by Mick Schumacher by 2023 according to Binotto. What a joke!

[@spotontheroad1]

Carlos jr is one of the classiest drivers in F1. I hope big success comes his way at some point.

[@angliscmight7168]

I agree, said it at the start he will consistently beat Leclerc every year at Ferrari.

[@georgythomas8451]

@@tycondero1647 I think he said that a few weeks after signing Carlos...before he knew how really good Carlos is.

[@overtime94]

Wonder why race control decided to keep the back markers Stroll and Ric between him and Max on the restart. Hmm

[@danielthompson803]

Such an honest opinion and review of the race, congrats to Max, I feel for Lewis. It's time we got the FIA more professional as the drivers and fans deserve more.

[@pietvanmeetelen4471]

a max fan i agree wholeheartedly

[@rodgerw3927]

get rid of Masi, a lot of people back in the Merc factory worked hard to be number 1 and because of Masi RB is spending a lot of ill gotten gains

[@miniboard1]

Windsor feeling down…and he is absolutely not biast😉…I’m feeling great.

[@pietvanmeetelen4471]

@@rodgerw3927 ahahaha and the people at red bull didnt work hard to be number 1? get your head out your arse

[@natashakuzmanoska9656]

So Peres was ridiculous with defending slow ?!? Bottas did similar previous race. Not a little bit of praise there.... Not very balanced this time.

[@GG-ng3ce]

peter i have really enjoyed all of your well thought out videos . its nice to see a balanced , unbiased analysis of the race, drivers and teams. keep up the great reporting .

[@GreyJedi17]

I love your take on this. Thank you for recording this.

[@pejko89]

I've never liked Lewis, since his debut in 2007., but now I feel for him and respect him more than ever. I was Max's supporter throughout this season, and today I am disappointed

[@TheBrass18]

Fully agreed, never rooted for Lewis, but had massive respect for his achievements and records. The way the FIA played dirty with rules especially in the last race, he didn’t deserve to lose like that, it all feels so wrong. And way Lewis acted and presented himself in all those trying times, as made me a fan of me. He just class and great human being in general. I shall be rooting for him to win his 8th championship next year. #StillIRise

[@FarmerTorque]

A very touching sum-up Peter...in a very silly situation...Well done 👍

[@ChetanSharma_727]

I had so much adrenaline rush that I couldn't sleep all night

[@garyeanes4747]

Max was gifted the championship in the end. He didn't deserve to win it this way. He's deserving of a championship, but NOT like this. NOT in a fabricated manner by Masi. F1 has lost ALL credibility...especially if they judge correctly that the regulations and rules were breached by the stewards....if (when) they likely rule that the result can't be changed. It's a shame really. Such a great and epic season concluded in such a shambolic way. How on earth could Mercedes have calculated that the rules would be broken by the stewards to allow Max to gain such a distinct advantage and be all but handed the title? Mercedes and Lewis dominated the last 4 grand prix...including Abu Dhabi. Max was holding on for dear life to get his title. Mercedes got absolutely screwed. This will go down as the single most contentious and unfair result in F1 history...and quite possibly all of sport. I guess we now know that rules and regs are subjective. Next year will be absolute chaos since no one can expect the rules to actually be applied. Remove Masi with immediate effect and never under any circumstance let him manage professional motorsport ever again.

[@hubertpierre9507]

I have a feeling that no matter what would have happened this last race: the Lewis fans would have never accepted Max being world champion. Already before the race, the Britisch media were accusing him of going to create an accident to knock Lewis out of the race, etc. Well, now you can’t accuse Max of any wrongdoing, so now the focus is on Redbull and FIA, or Michael Masi, ….

[@garyeanes4747]

@@hubertpierre9507 had Max won on the track, I would have accepted it. Had Lewis been forced to give back position on the lead lap, I would have been fine with that (and think that should have happened). If Max had gone on to win, I would have been happy and applauded him for a great season. But, to have the race engineered on the last lap by Masi means the title is worthless IMO. The rules are meaningless. Max is NOT the champ. We have NO champ for 2021 IMO. I'm actually sad for Max. He didn't deserve to have his first championship under such circumstances. He battled all year. But, in the end, his "championship" is tainted and will always have an asterisk IMO. Honestly, screw this sport. I stopped following cycling when I realized how corrupt it was. Cold turkey. Done. Never watched another pro cycling event again. F1 this season has shown its true colors and capped it off at the end with a decision that destroys the integrity of the sport.

[@Barturion1]

Peter, again a very sincere sum up of this last race. I'm watching F1 since the 80's and this was a great season. Yes I'm a Max fan but feel for Hamilton this race. He made no mistake and the race was his to win after a great start. He's a great sportsman congratulating Max with the win. What a season. I hope next year the same suspense and less FIA interuptions.

[@kreee1215]

Yes, well said.

[@officialWWM]

His sum up was mostly nonsense and butt hurt over his pommy mate losing!

[@krvideo8185]

Lewis has dignity....I honestly don't know if I would've done the same with so much emotion going on...Lewis is a great human being...I bet max wouldn't have congratulated him if Lewis had won in these circumstances...max won but lewis is the champion

[@toomuchdebt5669]

FIA stole this championship. Safety car violation.

[@elmeroosterhout4029]

@@krvideo8185 Max has said this weekend that if Hamilton would win fair and square, he would congratulate him. So don't make any assumptions. And he's not the bad person British media and Mercedes/Wolff tried to make him to be.

[@d.b.cooper1]

Don’t mind Max & he deserves the championship. But frankly just worried about what F1 has become & the future is worrying. More a tv reality show than a sport now with how decisions are made.

[@kevincoxe4356]

I don't say this lightly but it will be like this until someone dies. And if there's one thing I know about this younger F1 generation compared to the old, is that they won't be prepared for the consequences of such an event. But with today's accepted driving standards, it's inevitable.

[@2005StangMan]

He deserves a championship, and will have multiple of them I'm sure of it, but not this championship. It was an outright gift after Lewis dominated him down the stretch in the races that mattered.

[@hanskuijsten2380]

@@kevincoxe4356 Don't be silly. F1 cars have never been more safe. A crash like Max experienced at Silverstone would have killed him 15-20 years ago, as would have Grosjeans in 2020.

[@ab8jeh]

@@hanskuijsten2380 I think you underestimate the risk. We have Jeddah again in March and that is a huge aircraft style accident waiting to happen.

[@dabz3432]

Liberty Media...

[@kwamepoku2298]

You should be the race director because of your honesty. Peace

[@FruitFlyKilla]

'Anything can happen in Formula 1, and it usually does!' Never has Murray's catchphrase been more apt!

[@sandylumanauw50]

Imagine Silverstone

[@luxmoto7344]

Again a fair look. I'm dutch, like the fact somebody else then mercedes (Lewis) finishes on top (Max), but I think this outcome was bullshit. Lewis had this race in the bag, he was faster every lap this race, and only the decisions made behind the green table made the outcome of this race. In my opinion the FIA should have a hard think this winter about how they are going to implement rules the next season. Too much bad decisions made this season.

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

Whatba noble and dignified comment. Thank you.

[@hanskuijsten2380]

What I would love to see is an absolute ban on team principals (both Horner and Wolff in particular), contacting the race leader during the race. Al this whining, running to the stewards with bloody drawings etc. etc. has gone too far.

[@richarddornford]

Isn't there a report that Lewis asked Toto to drop the protests?

[@jimsmith8233]

Sad and ridiculous ending to a great season. The FIA scripts the ending for Netflix. Remember the only reason it was tied going in was because of another horrible FIA decision to gift Max a race win for following a pace car around in the rain for 3 laps. Peter you are infinitely more knowledgeable than I on all of these topics be Michael Masi has taken way too much control of the title outcome. Max thinks every pass is a divebomb down the inside and to hell with who ever is on the outside. When someone does it to him, he whines about not being left any room! Whinger Spice, Helmet and Max have repeated insulted Adrian and his crew by saying that Max would already have won this title if they had Lewis' car! I would take that very personally. Sad state of affairs. Lewis deserved that win and title.

[@enuclear]

I’m sad too at the end of what should have been a Federer v Nadal moment. Instead, we are left with Massi rule bending for the show. And if that is the F1 sport of the future, I’m out.

[@NS2589]

I'm not quite finished with F1, but I feel myself going this direction. With everything Liberty and the FIA are doing, it seems less and less like a racing sport that I would want to follow. The whole situation has some vibes of NASCAR from the mid 2000s, when they made a bunch of changes that alienated their core fan base.

[@paulmartin7104]

Another great summing up from Peter. Never been a fan of any particular driver or team, have just loved watching F1 since the 70's. Both drivers have shown how incredibly talented they are throughout the season and either one deserved to win the Championship, Today, nothing against Max and RB but Lewis outpaced Max throughout the race, not withstanding the early incident, and with out the safety car would have presumabely wonbarring any mechanical issues, although Max was catching there was to much of a gap to catch and pass before the flag. However I dont think the decisions made yesterday have done the sport any favours. The end seemed a blatently manufactured result. I also feel that if the position of the drivers had been reversed it would have finished under the safety car still giving Max the win. Now whether this was done for commercial or other reasons we'll never know or ever find out. Conversely if it had been Lewis that had been given this decision RB would also now be going through the appeals process. As to repercutions not sure, If Massi goes or not is down to the ruling authorities in the FIA. However a shake up seems to be warranted whether that means the same stewards at every race to promote consistancy then so be it. Depending how all this goes I could also see the potential posibility of Mercedes taking the ultimate desision and just walking away from the sport, hopefully that will not be the case.

[@marksutherlandjr.2121]

They showed up with Lawyers specifically for this race, was there ever any doubt that if it didn't go there way that they weren't going to fight like hell? That's why we have the appeal process. In a sport thats so dynamic and fluid it has its place. Interesting point of view for someone so neutral. I would have thought you just want to see the closest racing possible. Being a pure fan of speed. It's interesting that so many people feel the integrity of the race was so damaged with this decision that even the on our feet action for a whole season down to the last race, last lap, isn't enough to change your prospective. Thanks for sharing Paul.

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

@@marksutherlandjr.2121 @Mark Sutherland, Jr. If you think 'the closest racing possible' involves 35 lap worn 'hard' rubber pitted against fresh softs, your 'neutrality' must be found wanting. By the time 'the closest possible racing' became an event within an event beginning with the closest possible racing; Hamilton's race craft had engineered his doom, courtesy a race director getting brow-beaten by Christian Horner, precisely at that point Hamilton could not change worn tyres, ensuring the exact opposite of 'the closest racing possible'. You got given something you felt able to stand up for, presumably at the expense of 53 laps of stultifying boredom. Verstappen got given a WDC, for a race he wasn't able to win unassisted; and the world got given a farce. Both teams brought along legal parties just in case the finesse of 50+ laps of F1 racing at its finest, gave away to subterfuge, vomit and beer. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@marksutherlandjr.2121]

@@andersonarmstrong2650 my comment hasn't aged well, I think k I'm going to publicly reverse my position. I learned a red flag immediately would have given both drivers there position, AND both fresh tires. I think that would be the most neutral play. AND they have the ability to amend the rules which they showed us, so Masi should have done that in hindsite. Your point is well stated and hasn't fallen in def ears man.

[@MrSaintRaptor]

Without a big adjustment for the way race control and Stewards are working I don‘t think big car companies will have any interest in F1. Mercedes won‘t stay and VW will never join.

[@darrenowen3338]

@@marksutherlandjr.2121 Very gracious comment Mark, it reflects well on you.

[@thiaguinhooitodois2211]

Best season in a long long time. This is what F1 needs, real competition.

[@johnlittau8630]

A battle between a proven champion and a bully.

[@fego2361]

@@johnlittau8630 Yes, Sir Lewis is a bully and Max a proven champ now .

[@SkywhiteChannel]

I’ve been watching F1 for over 30 years. This was probably the tightest and hardest season I recall. An amazing season. I wish it wasn’t decided by a controversial FIA decision but ultimately both guys deserved it yet there can only be one champion.

[@jbarber1016]

It Hamilton drove like verstappen they would crash every race. Max doesn’t deserve it. Checo as raced Hamilton a few times this year and all 3 were very hard fought and all better than any of Verstappens shenanigans.

[@PeterM2309]

We've seen two champions this year. Over the whole season, I think Max deserved it a bit more. Today it was Lewis who won, but Mercedes lost it for him with a bad strategy. How Lewis got back on these older tyres was also remarkable. After the race, he (and his dad) behaved like real sportsmen towards the Verstappen family.

[@uihcmoht]

@@jbarber1016 I guess that’s F1 for gen-z. The last few races would have been much more enjoyable if Max can pull off moves like Checo. Instead we get this mess.

[@J5L5M6]

@@PeterM2309 I don't know if we could say that Mercedes executed a poor strategy. It's not as thought they knew that Massi would interpret the Safety Car restart in a fashion never done prior. Having said that, I agree with you generally. A bit disappointed to see it end as it did, a fabricated shoot-out lap, but concluding under SC could have been just as underwhelming.

[@SniperElite_UK]

@@jbarber1016 cry baby.. Mercedes showed no balls at the safety car, Red Bull’s showed his Bull balls. Max did the rest, his first world championship. Pressure is gone for max, youngest world champion ever !!!

[@fsi2210]

The more time I had to think about what happened, the less happy I am. This was a farce. I guess, it’s the new F1, but this season was more WWE. I guess it may be time for me to check out of F1. Congratulations to Max, he was immense, Commiserations to Lewis, man’s a phenomenon.

[@MrElpajita]

Is like saying what happened in Turkey, or what happened in Portugal, those were lucky shots for Lewis, today, it played the other way around.

[@JK-Visions]

Yes but i feel Lewis had more luck until now...they need less rules!

[@blakebarone1809]

I totally understand man. I do. I’m a Max fan, but I feel for you.

[@Koen030NL]

People shouldnt be angry with redbull or mercedes but the FIA is just a joke. The last lap with the safety car was just a joke, i understand the frustration with mercedes. But the way max was driven off the track by lewis at silverstone without any penalty being given was complete bs aswell. And there are so many examples of vague decisions by the officials that dont make sense that are frustrating. Wether you are a max or lewis fan the FIA is jsut frustrating as hell.

[@allanevans7508]

they do this to make fans happy, its great for the show but its distasteful because its artificial. its good for fans but it makes Max look less worthy of this race win

[@mvcchief4787]

Peter, we all need to acknowledge that F1 has a serious problem that needs to be corrected post haste. How can we have regulations that are cherry picked how and when they’ll be applied all in the name of “creating a good show”? How can we trust in a steward system that should be impartial but clearly isn’t? I think those who have been watching all season clearly see that had Lewis pitted and Max was the one who stayed out, it’s guaranteed the race would have ended behind the safety car. Simply because what we now have is what they have been trying to manufacture all season. F1 will continue to loose true, diehard fans if this kind of thing continues to happen. This is not a Red Bull nor a Mercedes issue… it’s a F1 problem. I pray Mercedes doesn’t give up but take this to the highest level to have it justly and properly adjudicated. Not just for Lewis but for the good of the sport (F1)

[@timeacott]

Well said. This is not about Max vs Lewis - it is for the integrity of F1. Is it a sport or a high speed soap opera?

[@dappadixful]

So true. LH44 sacrificed. MV the entitled one. Horner needed a miracle. Enter Latifi. Enter the safety car. The miracle achieved. Stinks to high heaven! Poor MV. He didn't deserve to win like that after all his great efforts this season. The irony. They know!

[@JoseMendoza-ps4vt]

Nice ending to your analysis, poetic! Many thanks have become a fan of yours.

[@coolio33388]

Today was basically everyone watching Lewis win the title until he didn't.

[@Waeliousss]

Lewis can win a race or two by cheating rear wings , but he cannot win a whole season that way !!

[@SwaggySimon20]

@@Waeliousss bro u chatting rn

[@ia303]

@@Waeliousss smoothbrain comment

[@mfpresident8150]

These guys where given the championship that's why they are still talking ish. Otherwise they wouldn't have anything to say.

[@JK-Visions]

And that was the best race since Michael Schumacher beat Senna. Luckily no one died.

[@therealistsays144]

Kudos to PW for the spot-on, heartfelt analysis. Every F1 Fan KNEW when Masi made the call to put Max, on brand new softs, right behind Lewis with 1 lap to go that Max would win. Unfortunately for MV his WDC may well be forever tarnished by the fact that Masi gifted him the race. As you say Lewis will be disappointed because he drove superbly and deserved to win, but he'll be back and stronger than ever before. Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent....

[@dirkjanligtenberg9264]

🤣

[@seanhunt7750]

Max fans don't care how he wins.

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

@@seanhunt7750 True. They only want Hamilton to lose. If not Verstappen then someone else. They're not F1 fans, they are race director fans..

[@hanskuijsten2380]

I'm sorry, but how is Masi in a position to put any driver on new rubber? It was RB's decision to do that and Merc's to not to.

[@therealistsays144]

@@hanskuijsten2380 You should be sorry coz u have misread what i have written. Masi, broke the rules bcoz he should have unlapped all lapped cars instead of only those between MV & LH! Hence the protest. As i said before every F1 Fan KNEW that by putting MV, who was on NEW softs, right behind LH with 1 lap to go, that MV would easily win. So the result was fixed by Masi...

[@Let-sGetWicked]

ANY lapped cars doesn’t mean ALL cars

[@James-js2tr]

Pete, speaking as someone who has worked in Arab countries, there's an obvious reason why Hamilton would be booed, and it's the thing that distinguishes him from the other drivers on the grid.

[@seemymobot4987]

Rainbow helmet or Blackness? Asking for a friend

[@andrelabadie371]

@@seemymobot4987 a bit of both I recon. In the weird caste system that prevails across the region being a black Muslim would have you at the bottom of the totem poll.

[@ReneAppelman]

Thx Peter, I always love your analysis and for this one I waited 2 days. You recorded it just after the race and emotions were still running high. You blame Max, his dad Jos, Nelson Piqiet, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko. Thanks for showing emotions Peter, I enjoyed it.

[@dpredator5201]

He blames all of those for what? For winning? Even if they were really handed the championship so he blames them for what? For taking it? Come on just grow some pair and move on.

[@Reemsjen]

Peter, most of the times I enjoy your not so coloured point of view. This time I feel you should have waited a bit longer to comment on this race. Cheers!

[@williamobrien6380]

Great video Peter, love to hear your perspective. I have been an F1 fan for 50 odd years and I think this last race ended like a NASCAR race. No disrespect to NASCAR, it’s a different type of racing and I don’t expect F1 to finish like that. I’m very disappointed!

[@tsheponcamane2018]

You nailed with the entire Red Bull toxicity, it bad bad and nasty

[@noomade]

It is just hard to be happy with the fact that we were sold the idea of the "the final showdown" where we expected that the driver who drove better would win and deserve to win. and to see Lewis outdrive everyone for 95% of the race to then have the race director make decisions that contradict the sporting regulations, and hand the race (and the title) to the driver who was nowhere to be seen for most of the race. and yes Adrian is amazing!

[@johnlord5687]

Peter, have you read this. Well said Newmaidumosa

[@waylon6241]

But it’s never like that. The driver that deserves to win is the one who did the best job in all those 22 races combined. And if you look at the bad luck I think this was the first time this season where Hamilton actually had some bad luck. Bad timing, but overall max totally deserves it in my opinion.

[@2005StangMan]

@@waylon6241 if you're just looking at drivers though, Lewis did the better job. The RB has been the best car overall this season, as evidenced by Max's wins, poles, and commanding lead on laps led. The fact that Lewis even stayed close is impressive. Had Checo been more comfortable in the car, RB would have nicked the WCC as well.

[@patatouf]

Exactly this. It's not hard to address the elephant in the room unless one doesn't want to. Pretending this is normal and fine is a cowardly stance imho

[@waylon6241]

@@2005StangMan I think Red bull definitely had the best car the first half of the season, but the second half was definitely for Mercedes’. You also forget that Lewis actually made quite some mistakes in the first half of the season. This in combination with a flat tire and the crash from Verstappen with Bottas and Hamilton I feel like Verstappen was definitely the better driver overall. In the second half of the season they have both driven phenomenal.

[@freelookmode9837]

I'm happy for Max, I wanted him to win. But we need a complete overhaul of the stewards and race director. The wanker of the season has been the stewarding, whether an individual decision benefited one or the other team.

[@2005StangMan]

100% this. Masi needs to go, and the rules need to be reworked. Calls all season have been atrocious and have turned the true sport into shambles.

[@way_no6810]

I don't know how you just did what you did. But your knowledge and wisdom in dealing with the personal side is quiet evident. Great job and enjoy your vacation Pete. Thank you and be safe.

[@redburoc]

Most people don't like Lewis and Mercedes simply because they are succesful. These "fans" don't have a competitive or sportive mindset at all. They get "bored" seeing the same guy win and have no appreciation for the beautiful work done to win a championship. But it is not boredom, it is simply jealousy and bitterness at the ground of this mentality. I congratulate Max, he drove a solid race and got the job done with the one and only chance he was given.

[@steez8902]

Sad day for F1, no longer a sport. Contrived reality sports show, designed for entertainment and nothing else.

[@johnkijkt2713]

The championship is not won or lost on the last day...it seems that way but it is not in fact...

[@steez8902]

@@johnkijkt2713 when the sports abandons it’s own rules to ‘let them race’ for the spectacle, to decide a championship, it’s no longer genuine sport. Best man and car was robbed today. I don’t have a problem with max being champion, either we’re deserving winners. But today, the real winner was robbed my friend. Games and sports work,on rules and consistency and F1 has lost the plot.

[@xxJizltonNamikazexx]

Max just understeers other drivers off the track and people say its "aggressive driving". Whatever happened to the leave a cars width rule so heavily policed in Austria. Absolute joke from the officials

[@allanlitten5061]

There is a big part missing from the comments so far - when does the race director get to decide who of the drivers can race and who can not. By only clearing the cars between Lewis and Max, the race director stopped any challenge from other drivers for the race win! Could have Carlos or one of the other drivers challenged Max and Lewis for the race win if they were directly behind Max? But they were not given the chance by the decision that was made. by the race director. This is a big wrong - Max and Lewis are not the only drivers or teams in the race so it has to be the same rules for everyone no matter who they are. If the same rules were applied, then all the lap cars would have to be cleared or none of the laps cars! If this is the case - the results would have been different - fair for one, fair for all.

[@darrellglover4301]

Thank you!!!

[@TheRonwinder]

That is the part that has been overlooked , the fate of the untapped drivers, they were as wronged as Lewis. Well said

[@yashchordiya]

I come back to this video every year after the season ends. There's definitely something wrong with me.

[@nickisrael9922]

I think exactly the same. My thoughts exactly Peter. Huge hugs from Colombia

[@MalcomMcLeod]

Lewis didn't lose to Max he lost to the FIA.

[@icebear003]

Max nr 1!!!!

[@JCRule69]

It would have been a fairer ending if both Max and Lewis were on fresh soft tires for that last lap. The ending left a sour taste.

[@yogishnn1945]

Nobody stopped Lewis from changing to Softs, Merc and Lewis didn't have the courage to do that LOL

[@Music4lifezz]

@@yogishnn1945 I wouldn't blame it on lack of courage. It would be idiotic gamble to pit race leader and lose track position, when calculations show that race is going to end behind the safety car. (At least according to rules and normal procedures). It was just unfortunate for Merc that race director could override the rules. Red bull had nothing to lose so it was easier for them to gamble. As a Max fan i'm glad for the victory, even though Lewis was the faster driver at Abu Dhabi.

[@mickmckpng3153]

What we saw this year is what happens when your Race Director has a diploma in Marketing and is not an Engineer....

[@elessar0009]

That clean jab right at the end of the video will hurt.

[@samsmithbr]

You summed it up perfectly,,, that inside feeling, the lump in the throat, regards Lewis having driven so brilliantly well, and to have the race taken away from him, in that way! Max is obviously an extremely good driver and will win, many championships,,, but this race win, was given to him on a plate! Goes to show that "Good luck" also has an important role in our lives!

[@yousefaslan4247]

Mercedes did also fail on strategy this race though, played it too safe

[@ReDProductionz786]

@@yousefaslan4247 they had to, Red Bull were always going to do the opposite. In the first VSC if Lewis pitted Max would’ve stayed out. That would’ve been a sacrifice of track position and if there was no second safety car max would’ve likely gone on to win. Second safety car same thing was likely to happen and even if not, Mercedes’ assumed the rules would be followed, meaning there was not enough time for the race to be continued as under the rules of the FIA the lapped cars must unlap themselves and the safety car follows in the FOLLOWING lap. Not only that but when the safety car started the race director told all teams that the lapped cars would not be allowed to unlap themselves (which is basically a no brainier for Mercedes not to pit) but then changed his mind in the penultimate lap when it was too late for Mercedes’ to pit. It was a complete and utter joke all the way around but nothing will be done as the FIA has too much prejudice.

[@Bambeakz]

Pure karma and Lewis knew it. Finaly the Ham luck found a new champion. Max was simply the best overall this season. Easy to forget because Ham was better in the second half.

[@marcholmes284]

That wasn't good luck at all...it was taken away

[@TheMrakic]

You don't need luck, you need liberty media pushing on race director for content rather than sporting

[@mr4nder50n7]

For the first time in my life i feel symphaty towards Lewis. He did everything right in this race. Maybe this is a jing jang situation where Lewis has been on the lucky side more often.

[@frankstocker5475]

Staying out on worn tires was not doing everything right. The team kept him out.

[@uihcmoht]

@@frankstocker5475 did you watch the video?

[@stevenschuster]

Totally agree. Ive said it a million times. Lewis is the luckiest F1 pilot ive seen in 25 years of fallowing F1.

[@devonledgister3997]

@@frankstocker5475 right call FIA bias .the race should be finished under a safety car.

[@natashakuzmanoska9656]

Are you sure? You did not feel woowed after Brazil.

[@jonnoMoto]

I thought Lewis wouldn't win due to something not of his fault, but never like that. I wonder if liberty media were shouting in masi's ear in the last few laps.

[@josephjulien3617]

This was a great and heartfelt review cheers keep up the great work 👊🏿🙏🏿

[@ginocidron6454]

Wow, 😯. Today, Lewis was head and shoulders above everyone. Both RedBull drivers couldn’t get to him. This was highway robbery! They both deserve a championship, but today Lewis was the superior driver.

[@koosgijsman]

To finish first, first you got to finish.. it’s not that Lewis hasn’t had his fair share of luck.. this championship has been decided by Red Bulls pitstop strategy as they have done consistently this season.. congratulations Max 33

[@ginocidron6454]

@@koosgijsman I like Max, but that was ridiculous. If Lewis would have won in that way, I will say the same thing. Masi, should have called a red flag it. Let them have a real battle. New soft tires against 23 lap old hard tires, NO contest.

[@inflatable2]

Today yes, and it the last 4 races for sure.. But over the whole season I think Max deserved it more.. Without his bad luck in Baku, Silverstone and Budapest Max would already have been champion before this last race.. Lewis was lucky he was still in with a chance before these last few races.. Like Peter said, they didn't lose it in this last race, they lost it earlier in the season when Red Bull and Max clearly had the upper hand.. A championship is never just 1 race, it's over a whole season..

[@abuphonmanitip7899]

@@ginocidron6454 There was no reason for a red flag. Hamilton could have gone inside to get new tires as well. I understand why he didn't, but you can't blame Masi for it.

[@ginocidron6454]

@@inflatable2 Yes. The season was up and down. But, Masi literally gave Redbull this championship. They rush a decision at the last seconds to only put Max behind Lewis because straight up the redbull team couldn’t touch Mercedes today. Even with the medium tires against the soft tires at the start of the GP, Lewis out drove both RedBull drivers.

[@jameshisself9324]

My gripe is that it wasn't decided with a sporting conclusion, but instead by procedural machinations. Hard to believe we would have seen this under Charlie Whiting.. The fastest car over the complete race distance was well in front. Someone needs to tell Michael Masi that THAT is motor racing.

[@Chuck59ish]

But we have past the Charlie Whiting era as well as the Bernie Eccolestone era, so we have to look to the future, not the past. But Lewis wasn't the fastest, Max was and he won, Mercedes screwed up not pitting Lewis for soft compound tire with Latifi went off and brought the safety car.

[@sandman1347]

Just tell Masi to follow the rules. That was a completely ridiculous restart.

[@TCV12]

Whiting wasn't a saint either. He made many mistakes however, it doesn't seem like he made any because all of the errors were spread out over 21 years.

[@shaggydoggs]

@@Chuck59ish Why would they pit for new tyres when under the rules and the precedent set in previous races would have seen the race finish under the safety car?

[@kyam3331]

If Mercedes had pitted guaranteed race would have finished under the safety car 🚗 🙄

[@mohdrafikv924]

That was the mistake 44 didn't bring in to change tyres... They FEAR...

[@the_fleeing_dutchman]

Have enjoyed your videos all year round Peter, excellent insights and meaningful analyses. Look forward to your 2022 winter testing videos already! Great respect for Lewis on how he behaved after the race and very much ashamed of Dutch fans (??) booing at the end of the race, but of course over the moon with having our first F1 World Champion in Max. I think it is exciting for F1 to have a new Champion, and Lewis I am sure will be 200% motivated to finally clinch that 8th tittle in 2022. I just hope that there is a balance in strengths between the teams, or at least that someone will be able to challenge Mercedes again next year, because I think that yet again, they will be a force to reckon with in 2022. Hope that we will get even more hard fought battles and clear rules in 2022. To all the true race fans, seasons greetings and see you in 2022!!

[@uihcmoht]

I need Peter to talk for 4 more hours to calm me down. I am still pissed.

[@DirtyJokesFan]

There is ‘domination fatigue’ when it comes to Lewis/Mercedes and we saw similar when Vettel/Red Bull were dominating years ago.

[@number1Schumacherfan]

Not only that, but I find that Lewis is quite the unlikeable character. Say what you will about Vettel but people mostly enjoy him and his character. I can’t say that for Lewis.

[@georgythomas8451]

@@number1Schumacherfan They hated Seb too when he was dominating. I'm sure everyone will start loving Lewis again. People always like the Underdog/Challenger especially when going against almost unchallenged domination especially In the past few years.

[@DirtyJokesFan]

@@georgythomas8451 Yes exactly. Remember the podium interview where Martin Brundle politely tore the crowd a new one for booing Vettel?

[@brabaakrishnan6950]

Gutted. Absolutely gutted for the mess created by Massi!

[@nistb2123]

There is strong competition for Lewis and Mercedes, and that is great for fans...

[@mstar011]

People will forget how great Lewis drove today. lewis pace and tyre management was top notch. Lewis was great today. Shame.

[@bosmans1978]

Lost on tactics....

[@Waeliousss]

I don’t know whats great about driving the fastest car on the grid without dirty air even , what are you talking about mate !!!!!!! Max thrashed him with the slower car !!!

[@exs88]

I'm a Max fan but damn Lewis was insane today, incredible performance.

[@mstar011]

@@bosmans1978 Yep not on driving, no fault of lewis's driving today.

[@mstar011]

@@Waeliousss but when max is on pole its Max. when lewis is on pole its the car? When max wins the race its max. When Lewis is winning or wins a race its the car?

[@crazyawakening]

Thanks Peter, around minute nine you really summed up how I felt at the end of the race which I was trying to express to a newbie that was rooting for Max. Of course he saw it differently. Yes Max is an amazing driver and also very aggressive. But then again that’s what partially makes him a great driver. I thought Lewis handled the loss with great dignity. I’ll continue to watch your analysis next year, thanks. And yes that’s my real birth given name and was born on the same day just two years later, crazy I know.

[@J5L5M6]

Cool take and cool name (obviously! haha)

[@Cloxxki]

Lewis must have gotten the message that his antics are no longer flying. He might as well buy a jet again and just be a racing rapper. Stop pretending, stop pandering, stop trying to be a misplaced disciple of Karl Marx and his BLM.

[@Y2Si]

@@Cloxxki yeah... That's why he receive so much hate from people like you... A poor black child, coming from nowhere, killing everything in a white sport, bringing his culture and what it represents, bringing difficult questions to the table.. And making more money than everyone else and still giving back to his roots....i know you would preferred someone more shy, shutting his mouth and thanking everyone frome this sport world for the chance that he had..like it or not, Sir Lewis Hamilton has done more to this sport than any other driver in history, and today he showed his class again, even in a very unfair defeat, his dignity is bigger.

[@deejeemadrox1866]

Max never took lewis out on full throtte,lewis did. So who is more dangerous?

[@jaymartin4418]

@@deejeemadrox1866 you are because you are blind an will never see truth.

[@gulmeenay]

Wise words Peter. You made a devastated Lewis fan feel better

[@paulsipos4715]

Amazing commentary. Spot on and thoroughly entertaining.

[@saphroygould9705]

Tough loss to digest for Lewis man, very hard and questionable decisions from FIA that has be inconsistent all year. They robbed Lewis of the race man, hands down the guys was in no trouble for the entire race!

[@irishRocker1]

Nah i dont think so. They resumed the race, which you cant blame them for. Letting only some cars pass was strange alright but when the safety car ended Lewis was left on a worse tyre strategy which isn't really Masi' fault. I think lewis would have kept the gap to max till the end on 45lap old tyres but they were really relying on not having any safety cars. If a safety car came out that was always going to be the outcome.

[@TheCorrectionist1984]

Just consider it karma for Bottas playing billiards in Hungary. I wanted Lewis to win after Saudi Arabia where I finally realized that Max has either crashed or gone off track more than he has ever let anyone pass in fair and square in a corner. That was the last straw for me. And obviously Lewis is a better human being.

[@adithyanaren519]

How about you congratulate Max for winning in a slower car

[@soostdijk]

Lewis “deserved” the race, if such a thing exists in motorracing but Max “deserved” the championship. Both according the numbers.

[@goodiesify]

The first lap Hamilton should have given the place back to max. BUT the difference is Hamilton could fight back. The last lap Hamilton was totally defenceless. Fia said back markers could not passed then change their mind. By then Hamilton was passed the pits. Sitting duck.

[@tashinganyandoro6924]

a video i have been waiting for from this great content creator

[@johnashley2160]

People are cheering for Max because he is very aggressive, talented, and people are tired of seeing Lewis and Mercedes dominate F1 the past decade.

[@JJ-iv4ze]

Best video to date(on this matter). Thank you Peter. I haven't noticed bias in your comments as others mention. Anyone can divebomb into a corner, that's not racing. If you are not biased, you cannot argue that Lewis won this race. He was just better than Max.

[@shackwalcott7737]

Imagine Dominating a Race, taking the lead on the first lap, survived a reckless dive on the inside, then surviving two Red Bulls chasing and slowing you down then after all of that still dominate the race on older tires... All that for it to be taken because of a last min decision by the FIA. Lewis is hurt and no one can understand his pain

[@frankstocker5475]

Max felt the pain when Bottas took out the two RB cars.

[@jesselund360]

Max won because he never gave up and fought the whole time.

[@natashakuzmanoska9656]

I thought that Max 2nd corner is valid overtake ?? what is with the rules ?? If you are the car on inside and you are in front of the other car and you do not get out of the track, you are ok. Luis would have done the same. I was totally puzzled that Peter W. comments. Places should have been switched after. It was not going to be a problem for Luis to overtake Max again.

[@KHGuitarFreak1988]

@@natashakuzmanoska9656 I think the rule generally would be that an overtake should not cause your competitor to have to run off the track. But then again, the stewarding hasn't been consistent this year

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

Lewis is nobody's victim. I feel pity for a driver awarded a WDC under such circumstances. Whereby his own and his teammate's efforts, he was unable to outdrive a driver whom he'd out qualified, having secured pole, with tyres carrying more grip. Having his ass handed to him this way, Verstappen and Red Bull are indebted to a mere backmarker, and weak officialdom, enabling him to leave the contest, refrest and rejoin. He did this knowing had his rival done likewise, the officials were entitled to stand by their rules, enabling him to finish the race behind a safety car. A weasel win. Indeed Hamilton showed how to win in defeat as equally as how to lose in victory. What's not to like!?

[@edwarddutoit6505]

Peter, it was contraversally unfair-The end was Messy and filthy due to M Masi

[@geniferteal4178]

People say formula 1 is a joke now. Having the same team win 8 times in a row (deserved or not), it was beginning to feel that way already.

[@fleemwings207]

Peter, first of all thanks for your commentaries throughout this season - they were factual and enlightening at times and without the fanboyism that we see on social media. Its a shame that we must have 1 world champion unlike in cricket, where draws are possible. In my eyes, both Lewis and Max are world champions in 2021. They drove beautifully on the limit and the FIA tried its best to spoil the fight. I am now looking forward to 2022 and I do sincerly hope that the indecisive Massi is replaced by a better race director who knows the rules at the top of his head and applies them without fear or favour. I dare say that that I will not be watching F1 next year if the race director (whoever he/she is) does what was done this year.

[@Biggdirt1]

WTF was that crap . Making up rules on the fly is not cool. Too bad this will end up in Court

[@dworkin7110]

The stewards gifted this race to Max and Red Bull. I was watching with my son.. explained that if they didn't allow the cars to pass.. well Lewis would win.. If they did then the race would finish under a yellow flag and Lewis would still win. I didn't for one second think that Masi would decide to let JUST 5 lapped cars unlap themselves who just happened to be all of the cars between Lewis and Max. It is truly laughable. As soon as I saw it was happening I though it would take a miracle for a driver in a car on 30 lap old hard tyres to beat a driver on brand new softs. Sorry, this was a joke. I am unsure whether they really should overturn the result, unsure whether Mercedes should pursue this in the court. Lewis was in the better car on the day and should have won, would have won. However, Max, despite being far too aggressive is a great driver and deserved a FAIR win just as much as Lewis. I'm sure Max is happy with the current results.. but it leaves an unpleasant taste for me at least.

[@overtime94]

Completely agree. I'm a Vettel fan and just wanted to see a fair race. This was ridiculous. Watching LH's onboard after the race with the fireworks going felt very strange. Sad ending to a great season.

[@TheTraveller20081]

spot on - Race Director manufactured a situation to have the top two race to the line for the sake of TV appearances. Once they'd said 'no unlapping permitted' they could have brought the SC in in time to have a race, but without the manufactured advantage to Max. Lewis had earned a lead fair and square; RB put Max behind the lapped cars by choosing to pit for softs (a fair gamble, they had nothing to lose) but for the RD then to deliberately move the road-blocks out of the way rewarded the gamble directly rather than letting it play out. The only fair finish would have been to let them race with the backmarkers between them; or to have followed the 'unlapping' rule properly to make all of the lapped cars go by. The RD didn't do that as it would have taken too long, into the final lap and the SC would have been out at the finish. Far better would have been to Red Flag the race instead of the SC, tyre changes either for anyone or no-one while stationary - then race the final 5 or 6 laps or whatever it was from a rolling start. A great season, a great race - a bureaucratic finish that leaves a bad taste.

[@slowerandolder]

I think this will be the end for me & F1. I always liked the silliness of huge sums and efforts spent over nothing of consequence and the soap opera that every season became, the ingenuity involved throughout this circus. Either driver is a worthy champion. But commentators now defend "lunge down the inside & force your victim off the track", while Liberty is cosy-ing up to dictators who cause real harm in the world. Making up a new rule about safety car restarts, on the fly, is a convenient place to call it quits.

[@overtime94]

@@slowerandolder It's quite remarkable how the "lunge down the inside" and forcing your opponent off track is now an acceptable maneuver. They have gotten so used to other drivers (mainly LH) taking evasive action to avoid collisions that it's now the norm.

[@Tracertme]

I agree with your sentiment but I am so happy with the result because I prefer Max driving style and raw competitive nature, plus his general personality which has little to do with driving capability I know. This was pretty much the first year I have seen a real context for 20 years the sport has become so PC. At least hopefully we will see another 2 years with Max and Lewis to see who is really the best and fastest driver in the world. Now that will keep me subscribed to F1 ….

[@dutchmerchant4763]

Peter, I do not always agree with you but you do a nice job, thank you. There was good and bad luck in both camps and there was some questionable driving by both teams. I was particularly impressed that LH showed his best side by immediately congratulating MV after what must have been a heart breaking experience cause he had the race in the bag. LH's father also showed much grace and good manners by congratulating Mr. Verstappen. The Hamiltons can hold their head high. Max drove like no other and did a great job. The FIA can stand some serious improvements; that last crash should have been red flagged so that both teams could have gone to the pit!

[@donsolis12]

The level of delusion in the people still claiming Max is in the same league as Hamilton after that race is quite alarming. Max was on the faster tyre at the start and on Pole proving that Lewis' car is no faster than Max's. Hamilton was on the medium's and he absolutely battered that boy to the first corner, and pulled a 14 second lead on him on Mediums . Checo got Max back within 2 seconds with a new set of Mediums, behind Hamilton who was on 30 lap older mediums and he still pulled away to 12 second lead. You won't find a better example of a man against a boy at that level of any sport as that for me.

[@williamgrounds6911]

My thoughts exactly Peter. As much as this is great for Max, I just had this empty feeling after the race. Toto's quote "not like this" pretty much sums it up.

[@catherinemorgan7836]

Verstappen received: ▪︎ 🎁 from LATIFI ▪︎ 🎁🏆🎁 from MASSI

[@lamrof]

Lewis was breathtaking the entire race, so they had to handicap him to make him lose. F1 is a shit show.

[@4777hamza]

@@lamrof Merc handicapped him by not pitting - (fear of loosing track position)... Laffiti was the nail & Massi the hammer but MERC was the gasket

[@lamrof]

@@4777hamza I agree on this. The Mercedes race strategy team was a deer in a floodlight. They were paralyzed in using the dynamics, or at least anticipate what could happen and come up with an action plan. Their best was calling Lewis and telling him stats, GTFOH! Lewis was the only one there fighting. Fighting Max and his teammate, and a criminal organization called FIA. They all ganged up to bring him down. This win is tainted for ever against Max who is otherwise an unbelievable race driver.

[@wedoarc]

Toto was at that moment a crying baby. He knew it was all lost if it was going to end when racing. Masi was not consistent this year but always said and agreed if possible we will finish under green flag. The rest is history. Let’s move on. Iam a frobtrunner for clear rules and and to simpelfy the rulebook as well.

[@LambdaHDvideo]

one thing im really confused by is how Peter thinks stuff like the Brazil incident are fine and good racing but Max's overtake on lap one is too much? for me its literally the opposite, brazil was way too much but there was nothing wrong with today's move

[@johnbruce9367]

I found that odd too. Today, Max stayed on the track, so nothing wrong with it, IMO

[@canicetang8837]

@@johnbruce9367 That banzai divebomb on Lap 1, Turn 5. Lewis has the position before the apex and braked late. Max braked even later and lost control of the car. He pushed Lewis off the track to prevent him from turning in even though the Red Bull was still clearly on the track. So who was at fault in the case? Therefore, why the hell would Red Bull so asinine to say, "I was ahead and give me the position back as the leader." This is Wheatley and Horner being slime balls trying to overrule FIA to curtailing favours. Yes, Wolff does that as well, but not as often as Red Bull. Being racing hard and fair is one thing, over the line and condoning breaking rules is quite another. Watch that incident again frame by frame and you will see it completely differently. Max never attempted to turn the wheel until he was nearly on the edge of the corner. Come on now. People can't be that blind. Facts are facts. Dirty driving should never be allowed.

[@LambdaHDvideo]

@@canicetang8837 we get it you are emotional cause you lost the championship, but the point im making is not that, but that if someone thinks brazil was ok, then how was this one not (or vice versa)

[@tommyspijkersnl]

@@canicetang8837 Lost control? Stayed perfectly on the track. 2 Wheels within the white line. It's called racing, not heading into a breaking zone first and then nobody can pass. Didn't turn his steering wheel early enough? Early enough for what? He stayed on the track! What about last week in SA? When Lewis did leave the track, forcing himself and Max off? Was that dirty? Almost the exact same outcome, however today Max DID stay on the track. You cannot have it both ways.

[@abuphonmanitip7899]

@@tommyspijkersnl Verstappen blocked the whole road. It was amazing how he could make the turn, but I thought it was a dive bomb and the stewards handled it right. These discussions will continue with the way Verstappen is driving. I love his style, for too long most drivers have been too scared to try anything.

[@Drrolfski]

Max was lucky today, that's for sure. But considering a whole season, luck was finally on his side. And looking at the statistics, he simply performed better and more consistently over the whole year (wins, poles, laps led, etc.) compared to Lewis.

[@jesselund360]

Easily driver of the year, even if he didn't win today.

[@haroldasraz]

Exactly, when you look at stats he was better. And fortune favours the brave. All of the RB team had to be brave and they had to gamble to win, becaus W12 was a slightly better package. And first Hondas win since what 1991?

[@SsamF1]

lewis only caught up because of silverstone, hungry and merc end of year rocket ship.

[@Funkybassuk]

It wasn’t luck. I wouldn’t have a problem with it if it was down to a bit of good luck. He had more bad luck than Lewis over the course of the year. The problem was Masi deferring to Christian Horner on decisions he’d already made and communicated to all the teams. I don’t blame Max at all - or even Christian.

[@Drrolfski]

@@Funkybassuk A safety car dropping a few laps before the end when otherwise Lewis would 100% have won that race is nothing short but luck. Heck, it was actually more of a miracle for Max/Red Bull.

[@whyflyhigh]

If one thing I think we can all agree with is that there is no doubt that Max and Lewis were a full notch above everyone else this season.

[@onlytrue5169]

Max has been good all season, but this last race is a gift, if he could have overtaken Hamilton and won honestly, I would say every honor is a championship win, this is a shame for Formula 1

[@MrRikko951]

he overtook lewis two times.....

[@4777hamza]

well Merc decided to keep track position & refused to pit.... can't blame Massi for RB's gamble.... blame Toto if anything 🥦

[@Harley-ir4er]

@@MrRikko951 And Pitted 3 times, something Mercedes could have done but decided to play safe and lost.

[@onlytrue5169]

@@4777hamza I'm just saying that he didn't win fairly, why wasn't Code Red like in Baku, the situation is completely similar, another thing when SC was introduced and it was said that cars can't pass SC and the leader, after a few seconds Red Bull calls the race director and asks him that the cars pass the SC and the leader because he needs 1 lap race, immediately after that the decision is made by the race director, isn't that a manipulation?

[@gabb05]

latifi had one job lol keep the car together....feel for lewis, but he's once again shown he's an amazing driver and champion. Hope he comes back next year for another fight...congrats to max, well deserved too, though I generally dislike his skewed driving

[@Techo1329]

Hamilton got his first title with Glock spinning off the final corner, win one, lose one, evens out.

[@2005StangMan]

Yep, that moron fighting a losing battle for last place cost Lewis his title.

[@2005StangMan]

@@Techo1329 That's completely not what happened. Glock didn't spin, and his tires were so worn out that someone else behind Lewis even passed him between final corner and finish line IIRC

[@Techo1329]

@@2005StangMan Are you real? Glock didn't drop it on the last corner? Nothing stronger than fan boy bias.

[@joshd171294]

@@Techo1329 in a season where he was robbed of another victory in spa. There was no way in hell Massa deserved it that year

[@waylon6241]

For me it’s simple. Red bull had the best car first half of the season. Mercedes the second half. I feel like Hamilton made also quite some mistakes in that first half of the season which many people seem to have forgotten. This in combination with a flat tire from max at Baku and the crash with Bottas and Hamilton in which he lost a lot of points I think overall I feel like he definitely was the best driver this year. And about “the we were robbed sort of thing” I definitely feel like that was happening both ways throughout the season.

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

Of today not a word.

[@waylon6241]

@@andersonarmstrong2650 Not much to say about today. Hamilton had a better start, was faster and had some bad luck in the end. I would say very bad timing to have some bad luck, but in the end it’s just one race out of 22. Overall I think Max had more bad luck this year which costed him a lot more points. Mercedes didn’t lose it today, but in that first half of the season.

[@warrengibson3317]

Max did not beat anything , he was given the race by one call. to say someone deserve when on track he did not and could not catch Lewis which was 11 sec ahead.

[@robertlozano6646]

Everybody (team principals and disgruntled fans) needs to “chill”. Race Director (Masi) did not orchestrate a championship for Verstappen. He made a brave decision (in the face of meddling team principals and public opinion) to let them “race” rather than endure a Safety Car procession to a championship outcome. It was an awesome last lap. It was what I and millions of viewers tuned in to watch. I certainly did not care about how Masi’s decision might have affected the finishing order of any other driver or team other than Lewis and Max and Red Bull and Mercedes. This was a season long epic battle of two drivers and two teams not long seen since the days of Schumacher-Hakkinen, Prost-Senna, Mansell-Piquet, and Lauda-Hunt. I was so entertained by F1 2021 after so many years of one team dominance and processional boredom. F1 2022… bring it on!!!

[@cryptout]

Best season I’ve seen and I’ve been watching for many years. I always look forward to your analysis and I hope you continue next year!

[@zigzagjames3112]

Max deserved the championship but so did Lewis. They were both phenomenal this entire season. It's just a shame that it was decided like that. You can't take the title from Max because he did nothing wrong but the FIA seriously need to revise how stewarding is done and what decisions a race director can and cannot make. Consistency from the stewards has been a massive issue that has helped shape this championship even before this race. That ending was embarassing and it should never happen again

[@johnbruce9367]

I wish I could upvote you 100 times

[@matpk]

@@johnbruce9367 Lewis should race in Indycar👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2XGpHiKgp6MmbM

[@yayayaya931]

You say you don't know how you feel about Lewis losing it without making any mistakes, but the same can be said about a lot of the races this season. Notably, Max in Hungary, Baku, and arguably Silverstone for example, or perhaps Lewis in Monza. I think it only feels bitter because it happened on the last race. All in all, decisions and luck went both ways this season, it was undeniably amazing and way better than much of the recent championships. Don't spoil it for yourself because of recency bias. The FIA kinda dropped the ball this race, but my point is they've been dropping the ball throughout the whole season, they just never felt as consequential as they did today, even tho they all mattered in the end. If there's any take away, both drivers deserved it, and the FIA need to clamp down on their inconsistencies.

[@haroldasraz]

Exactly. Max won 10 races and probably should have been 11 or 12. Whilst, Lewis won 8. Arguably Lewis had a better car for better part of the year. Hence, better racer won. What I would agree that FIA decision making has been all over the place. Though, the do have a tough job and it is easy to have 20/20 vision when you look back.

[@donsolis12]

They didn't go both ways when Lewis had a competitive car at Brazil and up to the end. That's when it mattered. Only a fool would try and refuse that. All you need to do is tally up each major issue and every one of them favored max.

[@whyflyhigh]

Agree. Everytime something happened, tire blow outs, Silverstone, etc. We hear about how it is a total of all the races. Now it is this one instance that cost Lewis the title. want to point at one thing that cost Lewis the title. If it doesn't happen he wins the title. Brake Magic. This was completely in his control. No Ruling, no guesswork, just straight up a mistake he made.

[@yayayaya931]

@@donsolis12 Ah yes, let's conveniently disregard the first half of the season, because it didn't matter before? And then for good measure, call everyone that doesn't think in your twisted way a "Fool". Also, thank you for a perfect example of recency bias. Not even a dictionary could have explained it better.

[@donsolis12]

The level of delusion in the people still claiming Max is in the same league as Hamilton after that race is quite alarming. Max was on the faster tyre at the start and on Pole proving that Lewis' car is no faster than Max's. Hamilton was on the medium's and he absolutely battered that boy to the first corner, and pulled a 14 second lead on him on Mediums . Checo got Max back within 2 seconds with a new set of Mediums, behind Hamilton who was on 30 lap older mediums and he still pulled away to 12 second lead. You won't find a better example of a man against a boy at that level of any sport as that for me.

[@elufo2321]

Your words are more empty today then your last analysis. My eye don't lie as well as numbers. Thanks

[@WipeoutFPV]

The FIA ignoring their own rules and intervening is akin to fixing the race, and the championship. It's such a sour ending to a great championship. The tragic state of the stewarding this year is making it very hard to love the sport

[@robinj1052]

I am a Verstappen-fan, but I am feeling odd as well. Hamilton did drive a perfect race. And normally, he should have won. But I do think RB was better strategy-wise, taken into account they had more possibilities driving on spot 2. Looking at overall results over the year, I think in itself Verstappen being champion is deserved, but Hamilton had an excellent second half of the year. Either way, a season to be remembered for a long time, incredibly exciting.

[@martincday007]

I can't see where Mercedes had any option to take a different strategy, Red Bull had nothing to lose but pit, Mercedes had everything to lose to pit under the safety and virtual safety car. Red Bull didn't win by having the best car, best driver or best strategy, they won by stewards who rewrote the rules, wanted a racing finish, but effectively gifted Red Bull the win.

[@TheCorrectionist1984]

I'm a fan of both. Just consider it a balance from Bottas playing billiards in Hungary like Brundle said. LOL

[@ozzieking8270]

You will die of lying

[@robinj1052]

@@martincday007 I do agree that MB had very little chance. But I think they focussed too much on following Max' strategy and track position rather than taking their own strengths as base for their strategy. Yeah, the stewards wanted a racing finish and I can't blame them. MB could have made the choice to go for red tires as well, with the car and form of Lewis today, they should have been able to retake the lead. And I think that this was in accordance with regulation 15.3 of the Sporting Regulations.

[@princen13]

@@martincday007 Mercedes made 3 wrong choices. They got lucky Them self not giving postion back, after gainning of track. Yes redbull got lucky, they made no wrong choices this race. Mercedes got allot of lucky moments this year, have this in mind.

[@KenSerpico5450]

This guy is all over the place.

[@naixv3737]

Great Great summary! Really balanced, honest, fair, and pleasure to hear! Coming from an LH fan!