It's been just a surreal season overall and there are so many things that had to fall into place for it to end this way. If Hamilton gets knocked out at Silverstone, it's likely over. If it merely resulted in a yellow (forcing him into the pits to repair without a red) it's likely over. If Spa doesn't happen at all, Hamilton goes into this race with the lead; if Spa actually had a full race, given Verstappen's dominance at that time he probably ends up with a nearly unassailable lead. If Hamilton doesn't get a penalty in Sao Paolo qualifying, they probably wait a race to change engines (if at all) and he might not catch up. Or if Hamilton got DQ'd from the sprint race (which was a possibility) he likely doesn't win and Verstappen cruises. Handily the strangest season I've ever seen and likely will ever see.
I’d suggest “put them off” if it becomes apparent how contrived and against the rules this was. I’m not convinced casuals would be in for a sport that does something like that at such a vital time But it might just be me
Have to say, that if they've completely made that up and set a precedent based on 'the show' then I can understand Merc's grievance. Sure it'll all come out.
Regardless of the rights and wrongs, there's no denying that the way Michael Masi speaks to the team principles does not help any of the contumacious situations . He's very provocative the way he goes about it
One of the protests is about apparent overtaking under the safety car. 5 seconds is the penalty apparently but looking at it that would be ridiculously harsh.
Looks like Verstappen very marginally overtook Hamilton under the safety car. Imagine the chaos if they applied a 5 second penalty for that!
I do think if anything is going to succeed for Mercedes, it will be the overtaking under the safety car protest. At the end of the day, if you overtake then a 5 second penalty has to be applied. It's just a question of how strict the stewards are with Max.
Bottom line for me is if the FIA didn’t apply the rules correctly, and allowed Max an unfair advantage, then something needs to be done. I have already mentioned my dislike of the safety car rules, which allowed Max, in this case, to close a gap of 11?seconds to zero.
Nah. He’ll get a warning at worst there. Cars always bunch up like that when a SC is ending. Lewis probably braked a bit. He didn’t “overtake” him.
I think Perez has done a damn sight more for Max than Bottas has for Lewis this season. I think Perez has done a great job for his team this season. Bottas - not so much.
Although it was irrelevant in the end, that driving to hold Hamilton up for Verstappen was absolutely exceptional.
Nah I think the other way round. Lewis was playing the game before restart as always happens and there was next to nothing in it. Can never see that sort of infringement being applied after the race. Whereas if Masi has literally ignored the rules and made it up to manufacture the last lap of racing then that's a far bigger case imo. You can't just pick and choose what rules you apply. I'm not versed in the regulations enough to know tbh but if they state that another lap should have passed before the SC coming in then they've definitely got a point. Messy as **** though and I'd rather not have them change **** now, albeit Horner's face would almost be masterbation levels.
Not disputing that, just saying I don’t like the rule. As I said earlier, it’s like having an incident in a football match, when one team is 3-0 up, but changing the restart score to 3-2. Basically, imo, all Max and Red Bull’s hard work and dedication, over the season, has been tarnished by an FIA decision that effectively donated the race result to them.
Yeah, pack it away now, come back next year. I actually feel a little bit sorry for Max - he’s been brilliant this year, and shouldn’t have a title tainted like this. Not that I think he’ll give a ****.
The way it played out it is closer to starting it at 3-3 and giving the side that was 3-0 down a penalty to start Or restarting at 3-2 giving the side that was losing a penalty and sending off a key defensive player for the team that was winning
