2021 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

ML2166 · Dec 15, 2021

When this image came rolling onto screen

who can honestly say hand on heart that they thought Lewis could still go on a win this?

If you want to go motor racing, then lets make it just that then can we. Where the accident had happened, everyone that is involved in F1 or is an F1 fan knew it was going to take quite a few laps to clear the car and debris away. So Masi would have known that too, even the drivers on the radios knew it.

Common sense, logic etc etc all gone out of the window with the decision that was then made. If you want it sorted on the track and you know the time frame you are going to have, just red flag the thing and make it a fair fight to the finish. This was like going to watch a heavyweight fight a featherweight and expecting it to be a good match up and equal fight.
And Masi would clearly have known this.

I don't follow either team, so I'm not a (fan boy) of either of them. Max had had a sublime year in taking it to Lewis and is fully deserving of being Champion this year, But the same could be said for Lewis too.

They've both had their moments of controversy during the season, but that has been part of what has made this season so special.

So to have this spectacular season basically decided by someone sitting on a chair in a little air conditioned room somewhere at the circuit, and not letting the drivers duke it out fairly over a four or five lapped equal sprint to winner takes all ending, quite frankly, in whichever way you want to cut it and dice it....shambolic to put it mildly.

We have been robbed of an potentially awesome ending to arguably the best season in F1 ever, all based off the whim of one man, and one so called rule that allows you to change other rules.

Well Done to Max on his first Championship, I'm sure there will be more of them, well done to Lewis for taking us to the last lap of an outstanding season.

Masi you need to go matey!

Tommeee · Dec 15, 2021

WiisardNic said:
I'm literally copying what I said earlier, but are you saying that if at Turn 5 of Lap 56, when "No cars unlapped" was initially announced, that if the announcement was "all lapped cars to unlap themselves", that Mercedes would have then pitted for new tyres?

This had no bearing on whether or not Mercedes should have pitted, because the decision to unlap, etc wasn't made until 2 laps of the safety car had been completed.

When Mercedes had the option to pit (which is the same option Red Bull had), NO ONE knew when/if the race would restart, and that's a gamble that happens on every safety car period.

I understand the debate on when the race should have ended, but this didn't affect Mercedes' decision making when the safety car was initially deployed.

Yes they would. did you not watch the race did you not hear Hamilton on the radio on at least two occasions asking if he should come in for tyres did you not hear Wolff reply each time they could not because they would lose track position. the decision was taken out of there hands by Masi's call of no overtaking.
How is it you know Mercedes and F1 so well that you know beyond doubt that they would not have pitted if they had been able to
This is not just hard on Hamilton its hard on Max because his championship will always be tainted

LMGiorni · Dec 15, 2021

To be clear, I repeat that I think Masi was unsure if the track would be clear before the race ended so that's why I think he did not give the order immediately for drivers to unlap. (at the moment I felt they where protecting Hamilton). This would make spectators speculate on a restart that might not happen and could with the cars in the order they had.
But as Masi knew the track could be cleared he decided at least to remove the cars stuck in the middle between the two guys fighting for the championship.
In this case, I think he did a good job, not the best as for me he should have given the order to unlap in the first lap of SC just in case to avoid this type of situation.

LMGiorni · Dec 15, 2021

ML2166 said:
When this image came rolling onto screen

View attachment 525165

who can honestly say hand on heart that they thought Lewis could still go on a win this?

If you want to go motor racing, then lets make it just that then can we. Where the accident had happened, everyone that is involved in F1 or is an F1 fan knew it was going to take quite a few laps to clear the car and debris away. So Masi would have known that too, even the drivers on the radios knew it.

Common sense, logic etc etc all gone out of the window with the decision that was then made. If you want it sorted on the track and you know the time frame you are going to have, just red flag the thing and make it a fair fight to the finish. This was like going to watch a heavyweight fight a featherweight and expecting it to be a good match up and equal fight.
And Masi would clearly have known this.

I don't follow either team, so I'm not a (fan boy) of either of them. Max had had a sublime year in taking it to Lewis and is fully deserving of being Champion this year, But the same could be said for Lewis too.

They've both had their moments of controversy during the season, but that has been part of what has made this season so special.

So to have this spectacular season basically decided by someone sitting on a chair in a little air conditioned room somewhere at the circuit, and not letting the drivers duke it out fairly over a four or five lapped equal sprint to winner takes all ending, quite frankly, in whichever way you want to cut it and dice it....shambolic to put it mildly.

We have been robbed of an potentially awesome ending to arguably the best season in F1 ever, all based off the whim of one man, and one so called rule that allows you to change other rules.

Well Done to Max on his first Championship, I'm sure there will be more of them, well done to Lewis for taking us to the last lap of an outstanding season.

Masi you need to go matey!

Again, it's not decided in the chair, it's not that Latifi did not crash, and for a few papers on track Masi decided to deploy a SC. It was a crash, an unexpected crash, and for everybody the feeling was that the race was coming to a close but it just happen it was not the case this time.

ML2166 · Dec 15, 2021

I should have been sitting there watching and applauding the end to a magnificent season of racing. Instead I was sitting there thinking WTF just happened? You can have a team of 50 people under you, but ultimately the decision comes from one man does it not? And he was in all likely hood sitting down. I stand by my thoughts, we have all been robbed of the finish that was deserved / we needed. Title has been decided in a room, and not on track.

Let's put it this way, I wouldn't even want Masi organising our staff Christmas Party..........we'd end up with it in July.

LMGiorni · Dec 15, 2021

Well if you feel that way, go ahead and cry. I know that crying finally drowns the sorrow.
The race was decided by one man or a couple of men that decided not to stop Lewis to change tires. That could happen to anyone and sadly, if you are a Hamiton fan, you have to embrace the lose and move on.

ML2166 · Dec 15, 2021

LOL

Whatever.

Jog on.

Read my origin post properly. Don't support either of them as stated.

davehenrie · Dec 15, 2021

Tommeee said:
The decision was taken out of there hands by Masi's calls
And you don't need a computer to work out that for only 1 or 2 laps of longevity needed from them new soft tyres are much faster than very worn hard tyres

You keep focusing on the Yellow flag period, the crucial mistake by Mercedes was NOT the yellow flag, but the VSC. They could have run most of the race on equal tires, but chose not to. Masi didn't make that call, Toto didn't make that call, the Merc Tacticicians did. They were faster in race trim than Max. If he had stayed out after Lewis pitted, MAX would have been the sitting duck. Hamilton's TEAM trapped Lewis to the unworkable strategy by not pitting during the VSC. The confusion at the end was a direct result of Hamilton being on tires that were worn, they could have been on much fresher tires if they had pitted during the VSC...indeed, if Max used the same thought process and stayed out, LEWIS could have pitted for the new tires. RB left themselves the option to pit, Mercedes did not.

WiisardNic · Dec 15, 2021

Tommeee said:
Yes they would. did you not watch the race did you not hear Hamilton on the radio on at least two occasions asking if he should come in for tyres did you not hear Wolff reply each time they could not because they would lose track position. the decision was taken out of there hands by Masi's call of no overtaking.
How is it you know Mercedes and F1 so well that you know beyond doubt that they would not have pitted if they had been able to
This is not just hard on Hamilton its hard on Max because his championship will always be tainted

I did watch the race. I suggest you watch it again, and then maybe clarify what you're asking.
The field was already bunched when Masi made the initial call to not unlap the field. Pitting AFTER that call, would have left Lewis in 6th place.

WiisardNic · Dec 15, 2021

ML2166 said:
I should have been sitting there watching and applauding the end to a magnificent season of racing. Instead I was sitting there thinking WTF just happened? You can have a team of 50 people under you, but ultimately the decision comes from one man does it not? And he was in all likely hood sitting down. I stand by my thoughts, we have all been robbed of the finish that was deserved / we needed. Title has been decided in a room, and not on track.

Let's put it this way, I wouldn't even want Masi organising our staff Christmas Party..........we'd end up with it in July.

Hmm.. I personally wouldn't mind a Christmas in July party, then I can finally experience a winter Christmas without the travel!

Tommeee · Dec 15, 2021

WiisardNic said:
I did watch the race. I suggest you watch it again, and then maybe clarify what you're asking.
The field was already bunched when Masi made the initial call to not unlap the field. Pitting AFTER that call, would have left Lewis in 6th place.

WiisardNic · Dec 15, 2021

You can quote post me all you want as if you think that's some sort of Gotcha moment, but you're not reading what is said. If at that point Masi said "ok everyone unlap yourselves, we're going racing on Lap 57" instead (which, if the track is clear, this whole regulation debate would have allowed him to do), Mercedes aren't going to pit Hamilton, because.. it's at the same point in time: He would still end up in 6th. Not just 6th in the queue, but 6th position. And possibly with backmackers in-between who just unlapped themselves. Say what you want about Masi's decision, but it didn't affect Mercedes strategy choices in the slightest

Tommeee · Dec 15, 2021

you know very well that Mercedes as would have red bull if the situation was reversed did not come in straight away because it would have been giving Max the opportunity to stay out and take the lead .next opportunity to pit would have been well after the no overtaking call had been made and Hamilton would have been miles down the field unable to overtake.
are you just trying to twist things for your own desires .because you really don't seem to understand what your saying

Tommeee · Dec 15, 2021

you know very well that Mercedes as would have red bull if the situation was reversed did not come in straight away because it would have been giving Max the opportunity to stay out and take the lead .next opportunity to pit would have been well after the no overtaking call had been made and Hamilton would have been miles down the field unable to overtake.
are you just trying to twist things for your own desires .because you really don't seem to understand what your saying

Tommeee · Dec 15, 2021

WiisardNic said:
I did watch the race. I suggest you watch it again, and then maybe clarify what you're asking.
The field was already bunched when Masi made the initial call to not unlap the field. Pitting AFTER that call, would have left Lewis in 6th place.

you know very well that Mercedes as would have red bull if the situation was reversed did not come in straight away because it would have been giving Max the opportunity to stay out and take the lead .next opportunity to pit would have been well after the no overtaking call had been made and Hamilton would have been miles down the field unable to overtake.
are you just trying to twist things for your own desires .because you really don't seem to understand what your saying

WiisardNic · Dec 15, 2021

Tommeee said:
you know very well that Mercedes as would have red bull if the situation was reversed did not come in straight away because it would have been giving Max the opportunity to stay out and take the lead .next opportunity to pit would have been well after the no overtaking call had been made and Hamilton would have been miles down the field unable to overtake.
are you just trying to twist things for your own desires .because you really don't seem to understand what your saying

Safety Car was deployed on Lap 53. RB pit max on Lap 53.. The timing line is before the garages, so I'm assuming this means at the beginning of Lap 53. For the benefit of the doubt, lets just say it was Lap 54. This is when the Safety Car is deployed.. The call to not let lapped cars overtake is not made until Lap 56 has already begun. That's two laps in between where Mercedes sat on their hands, and Masi has only decided to deploy the safety car. The only decision that he made that impacted the Mercedes strategy is that he deployed the safety car, and we know that decision was the right decision on his part.

This is what your hypothetical is based off how you're typing it, so this is the "YES" or "NO" Question I'd like to ask. We just have to confirm the facts first
FACT: On Lap 56, All the cars are already in the Safety Car Queue. Lewis first in the queue, (and in position), and then the 5 cars in between, Max in 2nd position (but 7th in the queue). Anything that happens before this moment is on the teams themselves.
ALTERNATE TIMELINE: At the beginning of LAP 56, Masi announces through Race Control, "LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE” which will restart the race at the end of LAP 57. The cars unlap themselves leaving Lewis still first in the SC queue, and Max directly behind, as the cars had already bunched together.

QUESTION: After this happens, do Mercedes pit Hamilton for new softs? "YES" or "NO"

Tommeee · Dec 15, 2021

WiisardNic said:
Safety Car was deployed on Lap 53. RB pit max on Lap 53.. The timing line is before the garages, so I'm assuming this means at the beginning of Lap 53. For the benefit of the doubt, lets just say it was Lap 54. This is when the Safety Car is deployed.. The call to not let lapped cars overtake is not made until Lap 56 has already begun. That's two laps in between where Mercedes sat on their hands, and Masi has only decided to deploy the safety car. The only decision that he made that impacted the Mercedes strategy is that he deployed the safety car, and we know that decision was the right decision on his part.

This is what your hypothetical is based off how you're typing it, so this is the "YES" or "NO" Question I'd like to ask. We just have to confirm the facts first
FACT: On Lap 56, All the cars are already in the Safety Car Queue. Lewis first in the queue, (and in position), and then the 5 cars in between, Max in 2nd position (but 7th in the queue). Anything that happens before this moment is on the teams themselves.
ALTERNATE TIMELINE: At the beginning of LAP 56, Masi announces through Race Control, "LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE” which will restart the race at the end of LAP 57. The cars unlap themselves leaving Lewis still first in the SC queue, and Max directly behind, as the cars had already bunched together.

QUESTION: After this happens, do Mercedes pit Hamilton for new softs? "YES" or "NO"

you are a fantasist trying to justify the unjustifiable

WiisardNic · Dec 15, 2021

Tommeee said:
you are a fantasist trying to justify the unjustifiable

I'm just trying to gauge where you think the decision to unlap/not unlap cars at the end of the safety car period actually affected strategy decisions by the teams.

Tommeee · Dec 15, 2021

WiisardNic said:
I'm just trying to gauge where you think the decision to unlap/not unlap cars at the end of the safety car period actually affected strategy decisions by the teams.

Tr3voRR · Dec 15, 2021

F hamilton and mercedes, they got away with too much this season! karma!!! A single exemple, in Saudi Arabia Verstappen had to give back position to hamilton in the 1st corner, yet same situation in Abu Dhabi (not really the same, since hamilton cut the corner and got a mega leap ahead) yet didn't have to give position and didn't even slow down for the time gained... What about Silverstone? destroying max car and getting the smallest penalty... and go on and winning the race, what the hell. Bottas, destroying max car in hongri, hamilton not getting any penalty in abu dhabi for obstructing other cars... karma!

1	Max VERSTAPPEN	Red Bull	1:22.109
2	Lewis HAMILTON	Mercedes	1:22.480
3	Lando NORRIS	McLaren	1:22.931
4	Sergio PÉREZ	Red Bull	1:22.947
5	Carlos SAINZ	Ferrari	1:22.992
6	Valtteri BOTTAS	Mercedes	1:23.036
7	Charles LECLERC	Ferrari	1:23.122
8	Yuki TSUNODA	Alpha Tauri	1:23.220
9	Esteban OCON	Alpine	1:23.389
10	Daniel RICCIARDO	McLaren	1:23.409
11	Fernando ALONSO	Alpine	1:23.460
12	Pierre GASLY	Alpha Tauri	1:24.043
13	Lance STROLL	Aston Martin	1:24.066
14	Antonio GIOVINAZZI	Alfa Romeo	1:24.251
15	Sebastian VETTEL	Aston Martin	1:24.305
16	Nicholas LATIFI	Williams	1:24.338
17	George RUSSELL	Williams	1:24.423
18	Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN	Alfa Romeo	1:24.779
19	Mick SCHUMACHER	Haas	1:24.906
20	Nikita MAZEPIN	Haas	1:25.685

1	Max VERSTAPPEN	Red Bull	LAP 58
2	Lewis HAMILTON	Mercedes	2.256
3	Carlos SAINZ	Ferrari	5.173
4	Yuki TSUNODA	Alpha Tauri	5.692
5	Pierre GASLY	Alpha Tauri	6.531
6	Valtteri BOTTAS	Mercedes	7.463
7	Lando NORRIS	McLaren	59.2
8	Fernando ALONSO	Alpine	61.708
9	Esteban OCON	Alpine	64.026
10	Charles LECLERC	Ferrari	66.057
11	Sebastian VETTEL	Aston Martin	67.527
12	Daniel RICCIARDO	McLaren	+1L
13	Lance STROLL	Aston Martin	+1L
14	Mick SCHUMACHER	Haas	+1L
15	Sergio PÉREZ	Red Bull	DNF
16	Nicholas LATIFI	Williams	DNF
17	Antonio GIOVINAZZI	Alfa Romeo	DNF
18	George RUSSELL	Williams	DNF
19	Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN	Alfa Romeo	DNF

2021 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Who will win the 2021 World Championship?

Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton

Qualification Results

Race Results

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2021 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Who will win the 2021 World Championship?

Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton

Qualification Results​

Race Results​

Comments

Article information

Share this article

Qualification Results

Race Results