When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Max still had to pull off the pass and defend the position. It's not like the FIA ordered Lewis to pull over.
Pretty easy to do on new soft tires against 45 lap hard tires.
Strategy is based on the rules being followed, which they were not in this case. They were making it up on the fly to try and finish on a green flag.
They should have looked at NASCAR who has gone through this and has extensive rules about how the end of a race is handled after safety cars.
Mercedes made their decision not to pit based on Masi saying that the lapped cars would not be passing and that Lewis would have several cars between himself and Max. If he had known that they would be waved by he could have pitted for his own new tires and even if he fell behind Verstappen they would have been on equal tires for the last lap. Instead, they said one thing and at the last lap they changed their minds and did not follow the rules for waving any of the lapped cars through and then bringing in the safety car and now he had lost his lead he had built up and now was on old hard tires and it was over by the first few corners.
I am not sure they would have had time to even make a pit stop from the time it was announced that the 5 cars between Max and Lewis were being waved by and the time that the green flag flew.
It was a great season but Lewis had the race well in hand before the safety car incident and I think deserved the win as he was faster on the track before new soft tires were added to the equation.
Yes, luck is part of the equation, and the crash and safety car were bad luck, but not following the rules is not bad luck, it is just wrong.
The following 6 users liked this post by Greg Phillips:
AGO (12-13-2021),dogger15 (12-13-2021),Dr911 (01-03-2022),Spinout (12-15-2021),Viper pilot (12-13-2021),will968 (12-13-2021) and 1 others liked this post. (Show less...)
The lucky horseshoe finally fell out of Lewis' pocket. Last lap shoot out was unexpected but exciting. Perhaps they should have red flagged it and had the 2 go at it for 5 laps on fresh soft tires. Regardless, it's a pretty big deal to knock off a 7 time champion and IMO, the best driver over the entire season won the driver's championship and the constructor's title went to the team who build the best car overall as it should be. Great season, but Masi needs to tighten up his act.
I’m still buzzing. I can’t believe I was there to see it. Sort of.
We were overlooking T13 and I had written the race off as another Hamilton c’ship, but stoked for Gasly and Tsunoda who had a great race (we sponsored Pierre this year and will the whole ALPHATAURI team in 2022).
Heard and could smell the Latiffi spin and saw the SC engaged but no idea what had happened. The monitors on the boat where at least 20 secs behind but realized a SC could bunch the cars up and Max might have a shot. But no idea about the drama until a few mins later. Hellava race and event. The track is so much better now.
48.12 is unequivocal. "Any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap...". "Once the last lapped car has past the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap."
OK, a shoot out with Max and Lewis on soft tires would have been fun, BUT, I believe that HAM didn't have any more soft tires, at least from what the commentators were saying on TV. Mercedes started on mediums and went to hard tires. No matter how you argue it, I think the race director has discretion, and wanting to finish under green made sense.
A huge shout out to Mick Schumacher for being ahead of the Williams car ALL race long and causing Latifi to push too hard.
No crash and Lewis cruises to victory.
The rules for the safety car were ignored because the drivers of the non contention cars would of been at huge risk, glad that racing occurred. Safety took precedent and others wanted rules to prevail.
First time in decades a non German car or driver is champ.
Should have thrown a Red Flag after the Latifi crash, put everyone on softs, sorted the field out, and restarted for a 3-lap shootout.
^^ This. By rule, a red flag automatically allows all lapped cars to unlap themselves so it wouldn't have been an issue. Fresh tires for both protagonist and 5 laps to the checkered flag would have satisfied even the saltiest Hamilton fans.
It’s not even about the driver’s at this point in time; it’s what the FIA decides to do to uphold the integrity of the Sporting Regulations that a rogue ‘Race Director’ tossed out of the window.
1: All lapped cars should be allowed to pass, not just a select few.
2: The Safety Car pits the lap after the lapped cars have lined up behind all of the unlapped cars, never on the same lap as they are unlapping themselves.
It’s going to be hugely controversial but Mercedes need to appeal this to the FIA, and I can’t see how they don’t have a winning case.
Oh, and Masi needs to be fired ASAP
Last edited by thebishman; 12-13-2021 at 12:10 PM.
Totally agree. Masi was a poor choice from the beginning and should be told to pack his bags and get out. A weak, spinless director who hasn't read the rule book and blows in the wind.
12-12-2021, 11:08 PM
End of Season
