F1 2021: Abu Dhabi GP - Yas Marina (Dec 12)

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by Onesie

In your mind, then, the right call was for Lewis to pit, end up behind Max, and sit behind the safety car waiting for the restart to regain the position?

Agreed, the outcome would have been very different.

[kyrix1st]

Looks like Redbull is unhappy with whatever decisions stewards came up with. Merc apparently came with a QC.

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

“Noooo Mikey nooooooo” lol.

I can’t tell which was more miraculous for redbull - the Checo hold up or the safety car shenanigans….

That is a “familiarity” and domineering interaction that should not exist between a TP and Race Director. Bizarre.

Toto will reflect after the dust settles to appreciate how cringeworthy he sounds.

[SonnyJack]

i think the 2nd protest from MB is that MV briefly actually passed LH in the lead up to the restart. What exactly is the reg with that? I recall them always being single file, or close to it.

How about those half dozen weaves from MV after making the last lap pass? Slightly against the regs I believe, but very much a MV tactic.

[Killed by Death]

In all honest I thought the FIA, Massi & the stewards cucked that race up from beginning to end. When LAT crashed I just knew the race would end under yellow behind the safety car. I thought to myself, "This is bull$hit" and they should red flag the race so the last few laps could be run. HAM probably would have won under that situation but so be it.

Super happy VER won but F1 needs to address this in the future. Nobody wants to see a race end under caution. IMHO, crashes bringing out a safety car somewhere between 5 to 10 laps to go should be red flagged.

[forza1976]

Protest 1: Stewards throw out Merc claim about Verstappen overtaking Hamilton behind Safety Car
We have a first verdict from the stewards, concerning that incident at the end of the penultimate lap when Mercedes said Verstappen overtook Hamilton under the SC.

Protest deemed inadmissible by the stewards.

We still await the second wider and more significant one about the protocol behind the Safety Car.

Red Bull argued that Car 44 was not “overtaken” by Car 33, that both cars were “on and off the throttle” and that there were “a million precedents” under Safety Car where cars had pulled alongside then moved back behind the Car that was in front.

Conclusions of the Stewards : The Stewards consider that the protest is admissible. Having considered the various statements made by the parties. The Stewards determine that although Car 33 did at one stage, for a very short period of time, move slightly in front of Car 44, at a time when both cars where accelerating and braking, it moved back behind Car 44 and it was not in front when the Safety Car period ended (i.e. at the line).

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by SonnyJack

i think the 2nd protest from MB is that MV briefly actually passed LH in the lead up to the restart. What exactly is the reg with that? I recall them always being single file, or close to it.

How about those half dozen weaves from MV after making the last lap pass? Slightly against the regs I believe, but very much a MV tactic.

Side by side a 30 kmh 1st gear, anti stall was kicking in. Unlikely this will amount to anything. I’m not sure the RBR can go any slower without going into neutral.
Clever from Hammy though.

[M5Rick]

Just saw news flash that first appeal has been thrown out and the second one is unlikely to succeed.

[forza1976]

Update:

"We are expecting a decision on that second more significant protest at 6.45pm UK time," reports Craig Slater.

"Red Bull will head to the stewards in person to receive it."

[E34nication]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

Max had fresh Softs, merc still had great straight line pace.

RB actually had greater straight line pace this weekend … they ran considerably less downforce.

[Bartledoo]

To all that think that they should not have let the lapped cars between ham and ver (the only two drivers “in the race”) through, or should’ve ended under safety car…you suck . Ham will get another, and this will make it more valuable in the end.

Ham also kept the advantage of going off track at the beginning, which two of three WDC on the mic disagreed with. The only one who didn’t was Rosberg, who very clearly presents an artificial impartiality (and by impartiality I mean he tries so hard to appear objective that the opposite comes through) to Lewis imo.

So, in the old words of Horner, “it’s six to one and a half dozen to the other” lol.

[Killed by Death]

Thanks Kimi, "The Peoples Champ!!!"

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Thanks Kimi, "The Peoples Champ!!!"

Three cheers for Kimi!

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

To all that think that they should not have let the lapped cars between ham and ver (the only two drivers “in the race”) through, or should’ve ended under safety car…you suck . Ham will get another, and this will make it more valuable in the end.

Ham also kept the advantage of going off track at the beginning, which two of three WDC on the mic disagreed with. The only one who didn’t was Rosberg, who very clearly presents an artificial impartiality (and by impartiality I mean he tries so hard to appear objective that the opposite comes through) to Lewis imo.

Max fully sent it in that corner, finished braking at the outer curb and Lewis wasn't having it. It's debatable whether Lewis should have been off-throttle or not but he would have lost several positions if that happened.

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Max fully sent it in that corner, finished braking at the outer curb and Lewis wasn't having it. It's debatable whether Lewis should have been off-throttle or not but he would have lost several positions if that happened.

Left the door wide open Former WDC and drivers agreed. Can’t say you guys have better opinions than them, can you?

I’m one here who doesn’t favor one of the drivers over the other. My heart sank for Lewis just as it would’ve for Max. You can guys know better than the real deal though.

Edit: just to be clear I think Hamilton made the genius move by cutting the track. Just another example of how high his race IQ is. Second to none currently imo.

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by Onesie

Now you know. Ever since it was bought by Americans, it was about that. They just took it too far to NASCAR/WWE levels

Says the person who has probably never even driven on a racetrack. Stick to sports ball or hockey.

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

Left the door wide open Former WDC and drivers agreed. Can’t say you guys have better opinions than them, can you?

I’m one here who doesn’t favor one of the drivers over the other. My heart sank for Lewis just as it would’ve for Max. You can guys know better than the real deal though.

Edit: just to be clear I think Hamilton made the genius move by cutting the track. Just another example of how high his race IQ is. Second to none currently imo.

I can understand Lewis. He's both trying to play cautious, not crash out with Max and shove his elbows out enough so that Max doesn't try more reckless moves against him. His driving today despite all odds was masterclass.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

I’m one here who doesn’t favor one of the drivers over the other. My heart sank for Lewis just as it would’ve for Max. You can guys know better than the real deal though.

Edit: just to be clear I think Hamilton made the genius move by cutting the track. Just another example of how high his race IQ is. Second to none currently imo.

Same, and agreed, HAM instincts for boundaries are second to none.

In that split second understanding that the argument could be made he was pushed off track, so a full throttle corner cut was in the offering. And he was right.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by Onesie

Now you know. Ever since it was bought by Americans, it was about that. They just took it too far to NASCAR/WWE levels

Yikes. This goes on for a few more pages I suspect everyone's true cards will be on the table.

Man was this season good for F1 and motorsport.

[Blindside_137]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

In all honest I thought the FIA, Massi & the stewards cucked that race up from beginning to end. When LAT crashed I just knew the race would end under yellow behind the safety car. I thought to myself, "This is bull$hit" and they should red flag the race so the last few laps could be run. HAM probably would have won under that situation but so be it.

Super happy VER won but F1 needs to address this in the future. Nobody wants to see a race end under caution. IMHO, crashes bringing out a safety car somewhere between 5 to 10 laps to go should be red flagged.

I like this idea

[forza1976]

Another update:

"I am hearing Mercedes' protest has not been upheld.." reports Craig Slater... "We are still waiting for official confirmation.

"If that's the case, Max Verstappen is world champion."

[Humdizzle]

i really wonder what would happen if max and lewis were both put in mercedes on same tires. ham's car most definitely seems to have the faster pace.