In the end i think back to vettel at Canada where we also see the radio politics changing results of races are we really shocked? What is happening now is politics and nothing but. Hamilton mysteriously gains massive speed and goes on a winning run in which verstappen is fairly consistently pinged by stewards for all sorts but Hamilton gets one dq for a clear basic rule violation and the insinuations start that it might because of a reason I shall not mention and all of a sudden the penalties on verstappens usual antics ramp up massively. It's all influencing and pressuring the officials constantly. One might conclude karma is a butch here, but its not over until this appeal is thrown out. Imo this is going to courts as one team might just threaten to cease engine supply to get its way fairly shortly.
I think F1 has a decision to make right now... Is it a sport, or is it simply entertainment. Because there is a distinct difference between the two. Over the course of this season, the sport has changed, and I'm not exactly sure where we stand right now. Even out of the gate, the hindering of lower rake cars was brought in to manufacturer competition, which I get, because it's been dull as dishwater... And it worked. But I feel we're in a weird place at the moment.
The race director will know the regulations of what happens when you allow lapped cars to pass the safety car, just like he will have known that Verstappen was on new soft tyres and Hamilton on 40lap hards. He also knew that under the regulations once he allowed lapped cars to pass racing would not have restarted He deliberately ignored and manipulated the regulations. It was as clear as day. As much as it is feels wrong to have Hamilton have to win the title under protest he legitimately won he race and title as the regulations are written.
I don't begrudge Max his title. He's earned it. He's been an absolute monster this season, and overall you could argue the better of the two. But the way that ended leaves me a bit sad. Not just because Hamilton missed out on #8, but it was just wrong. Congratulations to Max. It's a bit unfair on him too.
I've always said they should appoint a team of stewards for the season and that should be that rather than new faces every race. The race director should stay out of racing and direct safety etc. All access via radio and especially via marching up and down the pit should be removed from the thing. If the race director call you you do what you are told. Radio traffic should not be evidence in any steward call unless its an instruction not being followed. Political "he'd pushed me off" " he brake tested me" etc etc should be ignored Teams should have no access any more to say something non a radio then have the big boss ring up and get what they want. The onus should be on expert stewards to investigate and hand out penalties. If that means more stop go penalties to penalise people jamming cars down the inside and daring people to run off track of hit them then fine. This give the place back crap and telling cars to swap needs to end. A stop go penalty is a 25 second penalty. That a big big disincentive
He would be never have been in with a shot without an absolute **** show from Masi. I get it will sting but I really don't see it as taking anything away or unfair for Max if Lewis gets the title. He's never legally been entitled to it as the safety car shouldn't have come in and the race should have finished under the safety car.
Max has had some bad results that were out of his control. I know, that's racing, and it goes with the territory, but without those he would never have been in this spot, he'd have had it sewn up.
So that week long rubbish about it must be decided on track is throw out of the window as soon as a decision goes agaiasnt them. It's becoming a bit sad now, Mercedes need to take this on the chin and come back next year to try to win it.
It wasn't dull as dishwater this season though when they have still gone on to manufacture excitement. The dullness is all about lack of overtaking and being unable to follow in dirty air, rather than the same person winning over and over. Repetitiveness is only a problem when their is no competition. It can still be exciting and you just admire the brilliance of whoever you are lucky enough to see dominate. This year we had competition and they are still manufacturing TV moments and results. In one of the post race interviews somebody commented that if you gave the script of this F1 season to a Hollywood producer they would reject it as being too far fetched. That's not the problem we've got though. The problem we are seeing is Hollywood producers giving their scripts to F1 and Michael Masi saying 'OK'.
The rules are open to interpretation and frankly masi decided the cars interfering with racing were let go. It's not all cars it's any cars. So that's out imo. The safety car lights is another matter. Again masi decided it. The passing under safety car frankly is contentious as Hamilton was slowing up and while verstappen was trying to push Hamilton tighter on the key start he still hasn't sped up and jumped ahead, Hamilton has slowed up and done him up like a kipper Imo there was no time to clear that car and go racing under regs so masi made his own up given the situation. Same as driving about to get half points earlier or ringing red bull up and telling them to pull over etc
Don't see anything coming from the passing. It wasn't really a pass, more along side. That one is a real long shot for Merc.
Technically speaking it's the only thing merc can get red bull on. Anything else is down to FIA and as such red bull can nail them right back. Imo it's the only chance as attempting to rewrite history back to lap 53 or whatever is impossible
I don’t expect Mercedes to get anything out of the protest, I’m eagerly awaiting what cock and bull the FIA use to justify the decision.
I get that, but when you already know the outcome of a season a couple of races in, it does remove a lot of the excitement. But you're right about the problem with dirty air and difficulty when getting close to an opponent, it's been a problem for a long time, but hopefully addressed next season.
