F1 grand prix

[Dunedin]

The new FIA President from Saudi Arabia has refused to rule out punishing Lewis Hamilton for not attending the awards ceremony. Both he and Toto Wolf were protesting by their non-attendance relating to the way the rules were changed from the standard rules which changed the enevertable result. 😡

[lmj52]

We appealed in the interest of sporting fairness, and we have since been in a constructive dialogue with the FIA and Formula 1 to create clarity for the future, so that all competitors know the rules under which they are racing, and how they will be enforced.

“Thus, we welcome the decision by the FIA to install a commission to thoroughly analyse what happened in Abu Dhabi and to improve the robustness of rules, governance and decision making in Formula 1. We also welcome that they have invited the teams and drivers to take part.”

Mercedes also offered congratulations to Verstappen and Red Bull in their statement, writing: “We would like to express our sincere respect for your achievements this season. You made this Formula 1 Championship title fight truly epic. Max, we congratulate you and your entire team. We look forward to taking the fight to you on the track next season.”

[Angleseyite]

After a meeting with those who make the decisions, Mercedes have agreed to drop their case on the promise that they and other teams will be included in all future rules and changes regarding the sport. The agreement has been accepted. 😎

As expected

[Dunedin]

After a meeting with those who make the decisions, Mercedes have agreed to drop their case on the promise that they and other teams will be included in all future rules and changes regarding the sport. The agreement has been accepted. 😎

[Angleseyite]

I don't think Sir Lewis will be overly upset over being robbed of the championship now

[Dunedin]

One another point. If the track was designed like most others, barrier sections can be removed whilst the safety car is out so the offending car can be removed, or excess from the other side of the barriers so the car can be lifted over he barrier like has been done many times in the past. The FIA should be considering the tracks future because of the lack of thought when it was designed. 😎

[lmj52]

Agreed, many teams and drivers want Masi to go. Inconsistent decisions.

Only once all cars unlap themselves is when the safety car can end, and it must do so on the following lap. ... Instead, the race restarted after the cars that separated Hamilton and Verstappen passed Hamilton, leading to the controversial end of the race.

The ruling of Michael Masi to allow selected lapped runners past the Safety Car in Abu Dhabi goes against a precedent he set in 2020.

The 2020 Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring drew complaints from the drivers when a Safety Car had been deployed for a lengthy period of time during the race, when there were worries that the McLaren of Lando Norris â€" who had suffered an engine failure â€" would catch fire, given the visible burns on the bodywork at the time with smoke also coming out of the car.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were the two front-running cars during that race as well, but they complained at the duration of the Safety Car period because of the negative effect of slower speeds on a cold track surface was having on their tyre temperatures.

[Dunedin]

Ross Brawn has said teams talking to stewards will not be allowed next year.
Apparently the end of the race was engineered all for the Netflix F1 show that paid millions for the behind the scenes coverage. Masi won’t be in the job for long.

If that's true, Hamilton was right when before the start of the last lap he stated over the radio "This has been engineered". This has caused immense damage to the reputation of F1 which for most part has run clean since the Renault saga which ended with the team manager being banned for life from all tracks and involment after ordering a driver leading the race to crash.

[lmj52]

Ross Brawn has said teams talking to stewards will not be allowed next year.
Apparently the end of the race was engineered all for the Netflix F1 show that paid millions for the behind the scenes coverage. Masi won’t be in the job for long.

[Dunedin]

Just listened to an interview with Eddie Jordan who said it's outrageous that teams are now allowed to talk to the race director during a race .
The director is supposed to be independent  but had two conversations during the race with red bull before reversing his decision on the lapped cars being allowed to stay between max an Hamilton.
All smells of a stitch up and mercedes are going to court it seems.
What a farce that race was from the first incident to the ending.
Everything bad this year involved Verstappen.

It is reported that they are talking with lawyers and Red Bull says they will defend the result. Its not Red Bulls fault. They should sue the one that made the decision.
This is what happens after many years of sticking to the rules until the Yanks got involved in the ownership. 😡😡

[Johnny73]

Just listened to an interview with Eddie Jordan who said it's outrageous that teams are now allowed to talk to the race director during a race .
The director is supposed to be independent  but had two conversations during the race with red bull before reversing his decision on the lapped cars being allowed to stay between max an Hamilton.
All smells of a stitch up and mercedes are going to court it seems.
What a farce that race was from the first incident to the ending.
Everything bad this year involved Verstappen.

[lmj52]

Mercedes protests have been dismissed

Max Verstappen is officially the 2021 F1 world champion.

This is despite the following....

But rules are rules, and stewards clearly circumvented procedures in the final laps of Sunday's race by deciding that the lapped traffic between Hamilton and Verstappen would be cleared and a late restart would occur. This doesn't discount what Verstappen accomplished, as he certainly earned the title, but Hamilton and Mercedes have every reason to be upset with the sequence of events and feel like the championship was taken from them.

[Angleseyite]

No indeed not Imj, I'd have loved Lewis to have done it, but its highly unlikely to be overturned, but as Dunders says we'll wait and see, but don't hold your breath.

[lmj52]

I haven’t heard the far lady singing yet.

[Dunedin]

It is over nothing will be changed, Max is and will remain World Champion for 2021.   

You may be right. But time will tell. 😎

[Angleseyite]

It is over nothing will be changed, Max is and will remain World Champion for 2021.   

[Dunedin]

Well done red bull but the new rules are a farce, the best driver on the day lost due to circumstances that he had no control over. Also dubious pitting strategy by mercedes.

Don't forget Hamilton went off the track whilst losing the lead only to come back on in front because he cut the corner. Was told he did not have to give place back. Max lost a lot of time at that point

Hamilton was forced off the track whether on purpose or because he entered the corner too fast with no time to brake and used all the corner leaving Hamilton with no place to go or crash.

I see it is not over yet as there is to be an equiry over the rules not having been followed. I can see lawyers getting involved if not sorted today. Even with Max having new soft tyres just fitted, with the big lead Lewis had there was no way Max would have caught him as there was only a couple of laps left to go.

[lmj52]

Well done Max Verstappen, the race stewards were a disgrace.
Louis Hamilton again behaved as a gentleman.

[felipe]

Well done red bull but the new rules are a farce, the best driver on the day lost due to circumstances that he had no control over. Also dubious pitting strategy by mercedes.

Don't forget Hamilton went off the track whilst losing the lead only to come back on in front because he cut the corner. Was told he did not have to give place back. Max lost a lot of time at that point

[Dunedin]

Well done red bull but the new rules are a farce, the best driver on the day lost due to circumstances that he had no control over. Also dubious pitting strategy by mercedes.

I wonder if Mercedes will consult the lawyers as the rules were not followed. 😡

[Johnny73]

Well done red bull but the new rules are a farce, the best driver on the day lost due to circumstances that he had no control over. Also dubious pitting strategy by mercedes.

[Angleseyite]

Great race really enjoyed it. 
Commiserations to Lewis, well done Max.

[Dunedin]

Safety car with only 5 laps to go. Vestappen comes in for soft tyres. Will the apprentice have his day or will the master hold on. 😄

What a mess of rule changes. Reminds me of when Alonso's team mate was told to crash his car on the last lap so Alonso could win the Championship. 😂😂

[lmj52]

You can’t win a race at the first corner, however you can lose it!
I hope Verstappen remembers that..

[Dunedin]

Red bull tactics were brilliant with the sling shot to get pole but they will be at a disadvantage with softs as they will probably have to stop or lose grip in latter stages of race. Max  will of course take Lewis out if he doesn't think he can stay ahead.
The start should be a cracker.

The stewards will be watching Max like a hawk and there is no point crossing the finishing line in first only to be disqualified later 😀

[Johnny73]

Red bull tactics were brilliant with the sling shot to get pole but they will be at a disadvantage with softs as they will probably have to stop or lose grip in latter stages of race. Max  will of course take Lewis out if he doesn't think he can stay ahead.
The start should be a cracker.

[Dunedin]

In final practice today Hamilton quickest with Vestappen 2 tenths behind followed by Bottas.

[Dunedin]

Verstappen quickest in first practice followed by Bottas then Hamilton.

Verstappen has made an earlier statement in which he says that he is treated differently to other drivers when it comes to the rules in racing as he gets penalties when others do the same thing and they get away with it.
(Is that what is called throwing your dolls out of the pram.) 😅😅

In second practice Hamilton was quickest ahead of Bottas,followed by Ocon with Verstappen in 4th and Perez in 5th.

[Dunedin]

Verstappen quickest in first practice followed by Bottas then Hamilton.

Verstappen has made an earlier statement in which he says that he is treated differently to other drivers when it comes to the rules in racing as he gets penalties when others do the same thing and they get away with it.
(Is that what is called throwing your dolls out of the pram.) 😅😅

[Dunedin]

For those interested, Channel 4 will be covering this weekends final GP live after a deal struck with Sky. 😄

[Dunedin]

Whoever designed this track needs to take a backseat on future tracks. This weekend in both F1 and F2 races proves its too dangerous. Also no facilities to remove crashed cars during a safety car employed. Maybe scrap it and start again. 😎 The old rules were that a track should have at least one third more width on the bends, which this doesn't have.

[Johnny73]

The stewards seem really biased and Verstappen will do serious damage or worse if he is not dealt with now.

[lmj52]

Half way through the season I thought it would be good for the sport if Verstappen wins the driver’s title, after his petulant display today I hope he doesn’t.
Further I hope he gets heavily penalised after his driving today.great drive by  Bottas too

[Angleseyite]

Now clear that Verstappen will take out Hamilton in this race and the next if it keeps his lead and stewards seem happy to allow that.
Is money talsking here somewhere. ??

Still under investigation, Max will be lucky to not get punished further. Great win by Hammy...

[Johnny73]

Now clear that Verstappen will take out Hamilton in this race and the next if it keeps his lead and stewards seem happy to allow that.
Is money talking here somewhere. ??