Formula 1

As a neutral fan (neither Max, nor Lewis) who has been fortunate enough to attend multiple Grand Prix across the world, I find myself considering whether to continue following the sport that I’ve loved since 96 next season.

The ending to the race yesterday leaves a huge distaste in my mouth, doesn’t feel sporting or follow any sort of consistency to rules or regulations set by the FIA.

It doesn’t feel like the pinnacle of sport - women and men combined with machine - with the best overall “package” winning anymore.

 

That's because based on the rules of a sport that I've watched for 30+ years, he shouldn't be.

Imagine Ronnie O'Sullivan versus John Higgins in a World Championship final at The Crucible. Ronnie's leading 17-0 in frames, and as Higgins steps up to break off at the start of the 18th frame the referee pipes up saying "next person to pot any ball wins the title".

 

Well, I've trawled through 33 pages of posts for and against this driver or that driver, and posts castigating Masi and anyone else who is in the firing line, as well as posts threatening never to watch the sport again. And when all's said and done,,,
MAKES GREAT TELLY DUNT IT ??? And that's what they really care about. In future, for Formula One see Premier league!

 

Now that I would like to see! He’d struggle to keep a straight bat and keep one foot on the floor at the same time

 

Youre too late mate, Greed League is already there. Its called VAR and it has a different set of rules already, specially written for it.

 

Yeah I'm aware of that, but surely there's a skill to overtaking back markers ASAP and using them to provide a buffer to your lead. To have not only the time advantage wiped out but also the buffer of those cars removed due to someone having an off is just... odd.

Still it makes for better television, which I guess is the point...

 

Didn’t win it on merit though did he.

Tbh he’s won it in the worst way possible and will probably come to realise this in the many years to come whenever people will speak of the injustice of that ending as opposed to him winning a championship. Tainted.

 

Depends who's watching the telly in Stockley Park

 

Over 24 hours later and I still can’t quite believe what happened.

I really hope Red Bull struggle with the new regs next year because I don’t want another 20+ races of Max bullying his way up the podium.

I’d like to see Ferrari get back up there, because their lineup is very impressive in my opinion. McLaren too. But that is simply because I want to see Ricciardo winning again.

 

It looks that way because that's what happened. He said no cars to unlap Horner complained so Masi pointed out that if all cars unlapped the time taken would have meant the race would finish under the safety car so Horner asked for just the ones between Hamilton and Vestapen be allowed through to give them the last lap. Knowing that would be enough time for them and Masi caved in and made a very late call to change things. It was a fix pure and simple.

 

Easy way to sort this out.20 lap shoot out with full fuel tanks and soft tyres.Both cars start equal on grid with a toss of a coin for which side.Fans get in for free with a ticket stub from yesterday.Now this would make great television !.Also channel 4 buy the rights again off sky for the masses.The race commences next Sunday at 5pm,Sorted!

 

Laps 1 to 57 were a proper race, with everything in play. Lap 58 was something else. It will be very difficult to ever have any further emotional investment with this sport.

 

Agree that result cannot possibly stand.I like the idea of a race off between off between them.

 

We also have to remember that Masi clarified a complaint that the safety car was out too long in an earlier race. His justification for keeping the safety car out was that he was obliged by the rules to let all lapped cars overtake before bringing the safety car in. So he has no excuse about clarity in his mind of the rules. I think Masi's days are numbered.

 

Just watched the Croft (Sky pundit) 10 minute clip . What a load of BS!!

Patronising. Apparently wasn't a fix but difficult to explain to joe public. (said like trying to explain the offside rule to a 10 year old) He has been covering f1 for 2o years. Got news for you fella... many, including myself have been following F1 for far longer than that.

Deflection and selective facts were also part of his strategy in downplaying what a monument damaging PR disaster it was.

He kept stating reasons why it was not red flagged immediately after the Lafiti crash. The reason was fair in that Masi had already warned teams that crashed cars would NOT bring out the red flag.
He did not though clearly explain why the SC protocols were incorrectly applied other than:
He stated the stewards rejected the appeal based on the main factor was that once the 'follow me' light is extinguished on the SC it HAS to come in, but did not question or explain why Masi controlling the SC ordered lights out before the unlapped cars had rejoined the train or why some unlapped and some had not. This is the main issue that resulted in the fiasco. Whilst he (correctly) insisting Masi has ultimate control over the SC he also said that the (vague IMO) rule overrides the B&W rule regarding SC protocols.
Using the stewards decision to back up Masi ignores the fact that they are both judge and jury in a case of their own making. He also states, albeit probably correctly, that Mercedes will likely not pursue any appeal as it will bring the Sport into further disrepute!!
He then banged on about how worthy MV was as WDC stating he had 'won' more races than LH conveniently ignoring that the crucial two extra 'wins' were 1) this manipulated result, but more importantly 2) Spa which in ANY dictionary definiton I can find was not actually a 'race'.
I do feel for Hamilton and Verstappen in this mess not of their own making, but SKY and Croft have an agenda to whitewash the farce that the FIA have turned the sport into. Not surprising given their financial commitment to covering F1 on a multi year exclusive agreement.

 

They’ve all been at it. It gutted me to watch Brundle give a similar take, because I’ve had enormous respect for him.

The only thing that’s keeping me interested moving forward is the hope that Mercedes come back next season, and unlike a few years ago where they genuinely turned down their engines so it didn’t look as bad for the other teams, that in 2022 they wipe the floor with the field and Toto Wolf tells the media every week “we went motor racing.”