F1 2021

[tonupkid]

Looking for a positive here but al least we won't be subjected to more whining from Horner et al

[tc4332]

How much did Latifi receive from Red Bull?

[Adrian E]

Originally Posted by tc4332

How much did Latifi receive from Red Bull?

He certainly won't be on Merc's, or Lewis's, Xmas card list after that - bloody typical that it's a Merc customer team that manage to interfere in the championship result

I was surprised by the stewards not telling Lewis to give the place back to Max on lap 1 (Lewis left the door wide open, so although Max's move was a total divebomb that needed Lewis's cooperation to not cause a crash, Max did for once manage to stay within the painted lines whilst completing the move, unlike Brazil!)

Merc were completely stuffed whatever they did when the SC came out - if they pit Lewis, Max gets track position, then if what you'd expect to happen from race control had happened, they'd have gifted Max the win.

[tintin]

It's difficult to take this sport seriously when you see it being run like this.

[B@fink]

Apparently the stewards have okayed the outcome (how else could they do it? Strip a title? Not likely) so I suspect there will be further arguments to come regarding rule books and interpretation therein.

[HPsauce]

It was a terrible way to end the season.

Safety Cars happen and almost always end up giving an "unfair" advantage to someone. In this case both the VSC and full SC each gave a significant advantage to the second-place (at the time) car which was Verstappen. After that it was very likely he would win.
There will no doubt be arguments about that, but it's been the same all season - and longer. Ripe for review?
Another area that will probably be looked at before next year is what work can be done during a "Red Flag" break in track action.

The decision to unlap the cars that Hamilton had already passed but Verstappen hadn't and "let them race" for just one lap at the very end seems more perverse; not sure that's consistent with previous practice but it's been upheld (for now anyway) despite its inevitable outcome.

The lap 1 incident, as I see it, Verstappen only stayed on track by coming to almost a complete stop and turning sharply at low speed. So he lost a lot of time due to his "lunge/dive" or whatever you call it.
Hamilton also lost time due to being forced off track and going across the runoff area, he almost certainly didn't get through the corner faster than "normal".
So both drivers had a sub-optimal corner and lost time, but Verstappen lost more. He was never going to get round the corner normally anyway, so the "no action" decision seems sensible, given it was him that created the situation.
The net result was that they were still in the same order, both lost time, cars behind were closer and the driver who created the situation was relatively slightly worse off.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

The decision to unlap the cars that Hamilton had already passed but Verstappen hadn't and "let them race" for just one lap at the very end seems more perverse

Especially as, something I hadn't realised at the time, ONLY the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were "released". Those further back were still there. I don't recall that ever happening before.
I do remember situations where the "back markers" were not yet catching up with the "pack" before the safety car came in, but not a situation where only those between the front 2 cars were moved out of the way.

[sarg]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

The decision to unlap the cars that Hamilton had already passed but Verstappen hadn't and "let them race" for just one lap at the very end seems more perverse; not sure that's consistent with previous practice but it's been upheld (for now anyway) despite its inevitable outcome.

Nobody seems to have mentioned that the lapped car behind MV, Ricciardo, separating him from Sainz chasing in 3rd, was not asked to unlap himself, so MV also had no worries about being attacked from behind.

Something stinks

[tc4332]

Earlier this year I cancelled my Sky F1 channel.
Now I have given up, no more F1 for me.
I'll make do with the Golden Flash on the M6!

[RICKY D]

Two days later and I’m still incensed by how that ended.

After nearly 30 years following the sport I think I’m done with F1. I can’t explain it, but the actions from Sunday have extinguished the flame for me. Maybe I will feel differently when the new season begins?

Right now, I would love for Hamilton to retire and walk away from the sport. I have a feeling this may have killed his love for the sport that he has given so much to.