Grand Prix thread ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2021

Think they're both impossible. Like somebody said, take it on the chin, come back next season and sort it out there.

 

Not playing at all!

 

We haven't had that many seasons where it has been tied up early. The problem for lots of people is that despite having championship battles it was the same person who won nearly all of them.

 

So they’ve rejected the no overtaking behind the safety car, which I think was Mercedes only realistic chance of getting a time penalty for Max.

 

I can't see any outcome where Max isn't champ. This is all PR for Mercedes for next season, and hopefully to clean out the race control department.

There's no question that the FIA have decided the champion here by ignoring their own rules, safety rules at that, but that's not Max or Red Bulls fault.

 

It applies to all cars that have been lapped by the leader upto that lap not just some.

you don’t need to rewrite history back to lap 53. You just look at the regulations to know that once unlapped cars were allowed to pass the safety car then the race would have ended under the safety car. Just because it’s not how we all wanted the race to end, it’s exactly how it should have ended. Once you start ignoring and manipulating safety regulations you get the bullshit ending that occurred.

 

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No, but most have been fairly straightforward for the most part, or just Merc drivers going for it, this following RBRs great run. Certainly not like what we have see this season. I'm sure viewing figures have been through the roof, which leaves more incentive to just let things slide for the show.

 

I think rightly so, as Lewis was braking to try and get the jump on the start - which he is entitled to do. So it was his actions that caused Max to put his nose in front.
So I think that was the sensible conclusion, but then again rules are rules so maybe by sticking to the letter of the rules Max should have a penalty - maybe 1 second

 

One day common sense will prevail and the rules will be changed so lapped cars drop to the back of the pack under SC rather than unlap themselves.

 

I seem to remember that the sporting regs were due an update next year but due to covid that has been delayed.
Maybe that is the FIA get out i.e. FIA will rewrite the sporting regs to ensure this doesn't happen in future and understeering to push your opponent off is no longer an acceptable option, amongst other things...

 

Yeah I appreciate I am playing Devil's advocate a bit. I do think some overplay the needing new winner card though, rather than wanting to see the best driver win - not saying that's what you are doing - just a conversation i regularly have with others.

 

How about under a safety car we leave positions exactly as they are, none of this car passing the safety car to unlap themselves. A safety car / virtual safety car is to neutralise the race so positions on track should stay as they are behind the leader, unless you pit during it. If on the safety car restart you have to get past lapped cars so be it, you would have had to pass them on track before the safety car anyway.

 

RBR now on the way to the stewards to personally receive the verdict on Merc's 2nd protest.

Edit - Merc also summoned. (I thought it might be significant only RBR were summoned but maybe not xD).

 

Allowing lapped cars go round is fine by me as it puts them back of the pack, helps their own race and gets rid of back markers unless the safety car is very early.

Edit, meaning no blue flags and easier life all round.

Nothing wrong with the rules there bar sticking in something about late safety cars

 

I do feel the sport felt like it needed a new winner, not necessarily neutral fans as such. They just want great racing. Personally, I really wanted Hamilton to take #8, but wanted a close competition in the process. Got half of my wish list at least.

 

There was a race recently where they let lapped cars past but they took too long to get to the back so they called the safety car in early and got on with it.

 

I don't think the result should be changed as that would be horrific.

But as things stand unless there are repercussions for what has happened today I feel like I'm going to struggle to motivate myself to watch next season. I already feel miffed that I've basically wasted half my weekends this year watching something that has just been decided by the governing body instead.

I dread to think how any sky subscribers feel, couple of hundred down the drain also?

 

Imo there's no case to change authentication declared result now and the FIA have to just shrug and say they did it and own it.

Do the opposite and this goes to court as stripping verstappen of a world title now would potentially cost him millions in image rights.

The max no 1 hats and shirts are being made as we speak lol.

 

I pay sky for more than f1 but pay it so others can watch. F1 is a very small part of the show, 60quid probably as a value over 12 months and I probably got that value in entertainment.

Would I pay BT for wwe? No. And that kind of sums up my thoughts on past two races (not just this)

 

I think that's my issue too. Doesn't matter who won really, just so much time invested to see it decided in a calamity.

Had some bitter ending over the years. Mansell '86 still hurts., But that's just stuff that can happen. This was just downright apauling race direction.