I doubt even if it was red flagged and restarted the result would be any different. Both had fairly new softs.
The commentary at the end was embarrassing. They were trying to twist the conservation to make it look like it was abnormal to finish under a SC just to try and make AD21 a bit less controversial. It isn't that abnormal, it's in the rules. Red flagging for the sake of entertainment when it isn't a red flag scenario isn't in the rules. Just call a spade a spade. AD21 was an aberration from the rules and convention and this wasn't. If they want to change the rules so a race can't have a SC at the end and it's a red flag in the last 5 laps, fine. Change the rules. But don't pretend the rules are anything but clear. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Definitely a mess, why was Russell allowed to overtake safely car? Safety car came out at wrong point, should have waited a little.
Agree. Red flag or rushing the safety car was a recent new thing and was seen as unpopular by sky sports viewers. Its a bit of double standards.
I'm all for red flagging when so close to the end and there is likely no chance of getting going again. Would have been fine with that in Abu Dhabi, but as mentioned, it's not really in the rules, but they could look at it as an option. Races sometimes end under safety, it's just what happens and what should have happened in Abu Dhabi given the circumstances. The thing with that one though was it was all just a mess under safety car and probably could have got going again.
So anyone tuning in for the last IndyCar race of the season? Mathematically still 5 drivers in it... Though going to need a monumental mess from Power to lose it. Could be a cracker!
An average race, mildly entertaining in the midfield although the passing was mostly routine and made too easy by drs. First lap ended race as contest and rather than see a direct duel we saw pit stop action between the front two. Ferrari jumped the gun a little with the free vsc stop but it was painfully obvious they were going to be sailed past anyway. A race of waiting for the big pass that never came I suppose. Points for de vries was good though.
Because of the way the race ended, this huna has been almost forgot. They basically shafted Charles by forcing on to two stops no matter what and Max was able to mostly maintain the gap after the stop. Useless as always.
For once I don't blame the Ferrari strategy. I think they were going to come second whatever they did, and at least they tried to make advantage of the cheaper pit stop. If Max had pitted under the VSC and gained 10 'free' seconds and still won (which he would have) then people would be hating on Ferrari strategy right now.
Given how things played out, I'm not sure any gains from that stop worked out at all and they were always likely to have to two stop, leaving Max to stick to plan A. I think they were the only ones that came in that early too, right?
I'll have to rewatch but I thought they did have a cheaper pit stop as a result of the VSC, and they were the only ones that came in because the VSC finished before anyone else could pit.
They did get a slightly cheap stop. It ended while they were in.. but once out they made very little ground on Max who was left in a position to control it. Then with the way the rest panned out, then never really saw any advantage from that call. I'm not sure Max would have pit either.. but guess we'll never know.. not sure if RBR made the call to do opposite or not.