2021 F1 Season......

[4Vman]

Masi completely rooted the last SC, basically handed Max a free pit stop.

[HSE2]

So that happened.

I think the cars ahead would have got out of the way myself so not convinced what ended up happening wouldn't have anyway.

Vettel may have put up a fight and there is no doubt a win it or bin it approach would have been Max's to use with nothing to lose.

The roles seemingly allow for discretion on if cars are allowed to unlap.

It follows I guess that that extends to allowing a partial unlap to rid congestion of cars that are in the way of the points positions.

That it's never occurred previously doesn't mean it can't.

Had the tyre condition been the same the intention would have been applauded. A true fighting last lap.

So does a team decision that was effectively made banking on a safety car last lap get rewarded?

What ever that lead car did the car following would have done the opposite. Its a no win situation which brings into question the pitting under safety argument.

Maybe that argument shifts to no pitting under safety car with in the last 7 laps or so.

Or in this case in the last few laps of a race those laps under safety car don't count. Problems with both.

Ultimately it appears the intention by race control was to apply the bulk of what's allowed for under the rules. A hybrid decision that appears to have been influenced by coercion from the teams.

One team asking for the cars to be moved without realising it would have ended the race right there and then.

Could all lapped cars had been instructed to pass earlier in parts of the track that were safe? Yes but it's not usually done.

In the end I'm not sure I would want a title I never won. Max wasn't going to win that race. He wasn't beating Hamilton unless the team or the car let Hamilton down.

This is a rough and tough one.

[Elks]

Where to start. ......

There are certainly from the beginning with Hamilton absolutely gaining an advantage by Max running him off the track it probably didn't need to give the position back, but probably shouldn't have had a six-car lead after the incident. Maybe should have been asked to back it back to a one-second lead or something. But that divebombing win-it or bin-it been Max's signature move for most of his career. The main difference now is it's only Hamilton that is close to him. Over the years everyone else's learned to get out of the way. It might be a Red-Bull thing because of the same sort of move that SVG and Whincup, have been practising for years. Using the doors of other teams as part of the braking system. It is just a little bit more problematic and open-wheeler. I think that set the tone for most of the rest of the race.

Strategically mid Mercedes should have come in got tyres under the virtual safety car, and whilst there was an opportunity for Red Bull to have jumped at that point they would have run out of tyres and Lewis would have got past. But the Mercedes were wary of having to get past Max as he is still very likely to either run you off the road or crash into you. So they were trying to keep their distance.

And that plan would have worked if it wasn't for the late safety car. The fact that the FIA did not follow its own rules effectively gifted Max the world championship. For someone as entitled as Max to be gifted something so hard-fought is indeed the ultimate spoiling of a brat. It will be interesting to see how Mercedes goes with the legal challenges.

Mercedes was appealing on two grounds.

1. That Max overtook during the safety car, and the video clearly showed he actually did but it was for a fraction of a second, and no real advantage was made. although rules are rules yada yada yada. I think letting that go was probably a good decision. It didn't affect the outcome of the race,

2. The rules also state that the race director can at his discretion allow cars to un-lap themselves, but they obviously didn't let all the cars on themselves, and the rules also state that safety-car must complete one more lap month that's been done. There were seven or eight cars in that situation, they only let the five between Hamilton and Max go. Letting them race as they were in formation behind the safety car or let all of the lapped cars un-lap themselves. I don't think panicking when half the jobs done is actually one of the rules.

And much as I dislike Red Bull. I dislike that goes all the way back to how they treated Mark Webber, this mess was not of Red Bull's doing. Indeed there never-say-die attitude got them to be in a position that enabled them to take the lead in the last lap.

Anyway, that's F1 for 2021. Verstakken has been crowned world champion and even though legal challenges don't expect to see that overturned. The FIA cannot admit publicly that they just messed up the most important round of the year.

In fact on looking forward to saying goodbye to the Turbo hybrid era. In the eight years of Turbo hybrid, Mercedes's dominance has been immense. Taking out eight constructors Championships and seven drivers Championships. And is really only the race directors cock up that denied Hamilton another world championship.

Bring on 2022 I say. I'm looking forward to seeing the possibility of Ferrari and McLaren taking the fight to Mercedes and Red Bull. Or even George Russell giving Hamilton a bit of a shakeup

[4Vman]

Not pitting Lewis cost them, but pitting may have cost him too.

Which either way you cut it the SC shouldn't determine the outcome, and Masi basically handed Max a free pitstop.

It's time motorsport in general had a rethink and pitting under SC's.

[4Vman]

https://streamable.com/8s7ox1?fbclid...SuECRO25FA6W9Q

[4Vman]

If anyone in the top 3 pits during a SC they shouldn't wave lapped traffic through.

[Elks]

https://streamable.com/8s7ox1?fbclid...SuECRO25FA6W9Q

Imagine being Toto in spending $400 million only to have the championship taken away by stuff up. I'd be cranky too.

[4Vman]

Imagine being Toto in spending $400 million only to have the championship taken away by stuff up. I'd be cranky too.

Yep, as i said, if you pit, you should forfeit your right to have lapped traffic removed from in front of you.

[HSE2]

Yep, as i said, if you pit, you should forfeit your right to have lapped traffic removed from in front of you.

Thats not currently in the rules

Removing lapped cars from.point positions isn't just benefiting 2 drivers

These lapped cars faced blue flags. They are in apostion they should nt be in.

If we are saying because you decided to remove some lapped cars you should have removed all lapped cars, its a natural conclusion to say the title was going to end under safety.

Those cars were obligated to move out of the way.

[HSE2]

I lol at elks panicking with half a job done is not in the rules.

If only that was universally applied.