F1 2021

[bluelife]

Not really. It was just bad luck. If the race director had done his job properly and let all of the lapped cars unlap themselves the lap after the crash there wouldn't have been the same controversy. But he dithered around, then said he wouldn't let lapped cars unlap themselves and then said some could. He made a right pig's ear of it

They can’t let cars unlap themselves until the track is safe. As soon as the last marshal was off the track they gave the order to unlap and ended safety car before they could all unlap. Just made the rules up as they went along to entirely manufacture a Red Bull win in the name of entertainment - that’s being robbed for me

 

[bluelife]

Mercedes made the call to stay out as they couldn’t see a world in which the incident is cleared and all cars are unlapped before the final lap. They made the correct call, but the rules were changed which made it the wrong call. Laughable really,

 

[hallamblue]

They can’t let cars unlap themselves until the track is safe. As soon as the last marshal was off the track they gave the order to unlap and ended safety car before they could all unlap. Just made the rules up as they went along to entirely manufacture a Red Bull win in the name of entertainment - that’s being robbed for me

The vast majority of the track was fine,they could have unlapped them after the crash site, they just didn't think it through.

 

[jazzy]

Was he robbed then…..

Yes

 

[Jeff Jones]

The protests won't change much I don't think, you cant penalise Verstappen as he did nothing wrong.

True, but having thought I knew one rule, the one where you have to slow down and maintain the distance behind the car in front of you. I don't. It's to do with Safety car or Virtual safety car I think, but whatever, it unfairly worked against Hamilton.

The problem I have with it is that Hamilton was 12 seconds in front when the safety car came in with four laps to go.

Verstappen had an option not practically available to Hamilton - to pit for a change to soft tyres in case the race resumed.

And he was then enabled to resume the race right behind Hamilton who was on worn out tyres.

That can't be right, or am I missing something?

 

[hallamblue]

True, but having thought I knew one rule, the one where you have to slow down and maintain the distance behind the car in front of you. I don't. It's to do with Safety car or Virtual safety car I think, but whatever, it unfairly worked against Hamilton.

The problem I have with it is that Hamilton was 12 seconds in front when the safety car came in with four laps to go.

Verstappen had an option not practically available to Hamilton - to pit for a change to soft tyres in case the race resumed.

And he was then enabled to resume the race right behind Hamilton who was on worn out tyres.

That can't be right, or am I missing something?

That's how Safety cars work. If you're in the lead you're disadvantaged. There's been good and bad luck both ways this season, it's just a shame this happened in the final race

 

[The binman chronicles]

That's how Safety cars work. If you're in the lead you're disadvantaged. There's been good and bad luck both ways this season, it's just a shame this happened in the final race

It can still be okay for the lead car, had Verstappen not had been given his free pit stop under the VSC, then the gap would have been 20 odd seconds ahead and Hamilton could have pitted and remained in the lead.

 

[Dylan]

The FIA were never going to upheld the Mercedes appeals as they would be admitting Masi got it wrong, which he undoubtedly did by not following the rules. The FIA statement suggested they didn’t want a shortened race, with Mercedes wanting the last lap discarded as it didn’t follow the regulations. However this is double standards, as at Spa we didn’t have a race at all, but two laps behind a safety car that constituted a win for verstappen and 25 points. Like him or loathe him, Hamilton and the Mercedes team did nothing wrong today in his driving or tactics. Hamilton was 11 seconds clear of Verstappen at the time of the crash. Mercedes followed the rule book with their strategy. Thinking either the race would end under a safety car (as it should have done) or have been red flagged and all cars would have had the opportunity to change tyres and we have a 4 lap shootout to decide the title which would have been a far fairer way to end the race. The sport has been tarnished today in its handling of the final lap. You can bet we won’t have heard the last of it, as Mercedes will have a team of lawyers on it as they lodge their second appeal. The title shouldn’t be decided off track, but the actions of Masi have given Mercedes little option to do anything else.

Only awarded half points. Thats why Max and Lewis both have xxx.5 totals

 

[jonesey10]

What cheating, it sound to me like a bunch of Hamilton and Mercedes fans crying foul. I don't really care for Verstappen, but i appreciate that this was first F1 season in years and years worth watching. Everyone was dead tired of Mercedes snooze fest, and at least Verstappen got some charisma unlike Hamilton and Vettel before him

What's that now? he's the most boring Dutchman in history... and he's got a lot of competition too.

 

[AdamEFC]

Mad how Merc had the lawyer who City used for their FFP ready and waiting at the track.

 

[Jeff Jones]

I remember Schumacher deliberately crashing into Damon Hill years ago. Hill would've won the race otherwise and been champion.

How did Schumacher get away with that, I've forgotten?

 

[The binman chronicles]

Mad how Merc had the lawyer who City used for their FFP ready and waiting at the track.

That was put in place in likely case Verstappen collided with Hamilton. Which may have happened had they both pitted and been on softs at the end.

 

[The binman chronicles]

I remember Schumacher deliberately crashing into Damon Hill years ago. Hill would've won the race otherwise and been champion.

How did Schumacher get away with that, I've forgotten?

Racing incident, he claims he was just getting back on track and didn't see Hill. As it was a first they let it go but when he tried the same thing with Villeneuve in 97 the pattern of behaviour could be seen for all and he was thrown out of the championship.

 

[bluelife]

That was put in place in likely case Verstappen collided with Hamilton. Which may have happened had they both pitted and been on softs at the end.

Was thinking if Hamilton did pit and they were both on softs racing the last lap, there would have almost certainly been a huge collision as Hamilton had the pace to cruise past but Verstappen wouldn't have let that happen. Kind of grateful it didn't work out that way.

 

[Jeff Jones]

Racing incident, he claims he was just getting back on track and didn't see Hill. As it was a first they let it go but when he tried the same thing with Villeneuve in 97 the pattern of behaviour could be seen for all and he was thrown out of the championship.

Amazing, it was blatant. So, F1 officiating hasn't improve, then.