Its the car if Hamilton wins. Its Max if RB wins. That doesn't work with me. Don't bother to try it again in the future. Basically Lewis embarrassed Max last races.
Everyone knows it's the FANS if ham wins. He says so himself. He can't do it without them. Except maybe the increasing number of booing fans didn't help. In fact, maybe it's why he lost. Yep, that's certainly it. It's the dangerous booing fans, man. thanks for the laughs ktu.
Always has been. The best championships money can bribe, oops I mean buy. MB admitted to buying errrr spending $500M for the '20 trophies (and that is just what they admitted to) during an era where the rules were supposed to be about cost cutting. Nope, zero respect , zero admiration for either LH/MB and actually zero acknowledgement for the (video game version F1) trophies they bought.
Reading more, it says Masa has the prerogative to end the pace car whenever he wants. Is this correct? If so, no 'rules' were broken. That said more context/clarification on the exact scope of those powers. Otherwise, the head has the power to clearly manipulate races like this.
If this is correct, then yes - Masi didn't break any rules. As far as if he did anything 'wrong' that's a question I have not yet fully answered in my own head.
Realistically, the way the rules are written, Masi can overrule anything and everything during the race. However, there has been an expectation of "standard practice" over the years, and the last lap deviated from that - and that is where so much frustration and grievance is focused. Add to that the seemingly random standards being applied to track limits - especially when overtakes are involved . As you state, no rule was technically broken. Time to move on, or at least wait until the FIA present their findings, after which we can see how the next season evolves. Regardless, natural curiosity will likely drive us to watch at least the first couple of races - new cars, different driver mix, and who knows, maybe some better defined parameters to race under. And then let's see what we are left with. Max won, Lewis and Toto have congratulated him - their beef is with the FIA, and so should ours.
Does anyone else find it laughable that only now people want a change in the FIA and the FIA are supposedly listening? For years, especially during the last 8, people have been raging over the inconsistencies and favoritism from the FIA/Stewards, but only after 1 incident where the FIA's decision hurts Hamilton does it actually become a serious matter that demands change.
The only reason Todt said what he did is because he is done as President. He can speak his mind, but still does so in a politically correct way.
Several points: 1. Sponsors are paying for TV exposure plain and simple. They don't care and will not care about Hamilton being robbed or the rules being unfairly used... Unless F-1 starts to hurt people, or start a racist or homophobic line of communication. short of that nobody cares. if anything F-1 teams will be able to charge more as this entices more people to watch all the fireworks. There is a reason the Real housewives kind of shows exist and proliferate... it generates views which = Money. 2. Equation of your sponsorship with whatever sport you choose to sponsor... short of Phillip Morris, Redbull, Nike etc... most people don't see it. Even Coca-Cola is not as badly damaged but associated with athletes who cross the line. Yes, you may not want to spend your money anymore, but usually, that is about it. Most sponsors get TV coverage and then a way to entertain large corporate guests... That is what drives the revenue of most hospitality at any sport. ... and they make money on it too. 3. Contracts - Are made to be broken, that is a matter of fact why you have one. they sent out what is expected, and what happens when it does not go well. I don't usually see any that go into what happens when it all goes perfectly - other than some bonus incentives, or extensions of the contract at certain rates.... so F-1 and contracts being broken? is like ice cream and apple pie... they just go together. 4. The FIA. The reality is, the FIA owns F-1. They have the right and ability to do what they like when they like. the commercial contracts with F0rmula One Ownership - is the company that runs the show, but does not own the series. this sets up a very complicated structure of a supposed Not for profit ( FIA ) in bed with a 100% for Profit Formula One Management. - Liberty Medial. at the end of the day, you participate at the pleasure of FIA and F-1. if they say next year you have to wear a clown suit to participate... they can do that. The reality is the commercial aspect that runs decisions, and that is what was seen in brilliant clarity at Abu Dhabi. Money talks. The Netflix series will use this to a massive extent to grow its already huge audience... 5. Michael Masi - I feel for him. He has been put in a very vulnerable position, and before with Ecclestone nobody would dare question him and his authority, but we are in a new - vastly more public day, and he likely will be the scapegoat for F1. 6. Mercedes, Wolf, and Hamilton. Very poor display of how to lose. in the end however Mercedes will continue to sell as many cars as it can, Both Wolf and Hamilton will be multi-millionaires and life will go on. if Hamilton stops racing - too bad. if Wolf leaves F-1 and or Mercedes leaves - it's all happened before. What will not happen is anyone leaving one Nickle on the table out of this. 7 Final comment. Failure of Wolf and Hamilton to show up at the Paris awards was short-sited, very poor sportsmanship and really makes me personally think much less of them. True courage would be to go, chin high and congratulate Verstappen in open public. It just shows two spoilt brats having a tantrum.... perhaps the FIA should give them a participation trophy?
My response to your other post contains much of what I will say again here. Legality is what the FIA decides. Not you or me. or for that matter a 3rd party court. It would be far worse to have a civilian court overturn a championship vs. the decision that was made for TV. I'm not aware of any royalties that they would get for winning the championship. MB will get that for the constructors sides... they will get payment from FOM, and also get choice of garage sites etc... logistics help all that remains un changed. their share of "prize" money remains intact. Hamilton may not get a bonus payment for winning a championship, but then there may be clauses in his deal that alow him to back out save money etc... but I doubt anyone can claim that they suffered material damages. - again dealing with Billions here.... nobody is going hungry and homeless. The good of the sport.... interesting statement. I would maintain the sport is in far better shape today than ever before. they just finished 22 races around the world in a pandemic. and they had 150K people in the USA at Austin. TV rev and viewership at an all time high... if anything it will be more as the casual fan tunes in to see what all this stuff is about.... Rules - and perception are what you are talking about. if you are a racer - I get it, its arbitrary at best. however that is what Modern racing is ... REAL racing is at SCCA - Kart or Vintage racing where the rewards are a trophy, and you get a bill for wear and tear on your machine... real racing costs the driver vs. the driver coming away with more than they had going in.
So lets really be clear and REAL - F-1 has been about MONEY. since the inception in 1950. Teams made Money from running up front. Ferrari - he made money from sponsors - Shell, Goodyear, Englebert etc... and got publicity... that is how it works. When Chapman introduced imperial Tobacco in 1969 - it just took it to a new level.., Ecclestone took it to the next level, and now Liberty is moving it to Reality TV level.... each stage has increased the $$$ available, and potentially the sport... MB will stay until it no longer makes any financial sense... as will any team. Ferrari included. THERE IS NO REVERENCE FOR HISTORY only $$$$$$$$$$$$$
So I don't know how a rule can be written for every potential circumstance. so if a car crashes within 5- 10 laps of the end of the race, does that mean that the leader at that point wins the race? or does the race get stopped? or do they tack on more laps? what is right? It is very easy to quarterback from our cushy chairs - but hard to call what is going on in the moment. If you are a Hamilton fan - I'm sorry you are upset. if you are a Verstappen fan I'm glad you are happy. there is not going to be any rule that would have worked here at some point you have to go with a gut feeling, and what you are trying to achieve was a race. Hamilton had the opportunity to go in for tires as well.. he chose not to. they thought it would end under yellow & Saftey car... its a judgement call. Much the same as Hamilton going off track at full speed - corner 1 lap 2... Masi has a hard job to do, and as far as I can tell, if everyone is mad at him - he's doing his job. I don't know what Masi would gain with Verstappen wining - or are people now alleging that there was a fix in? does he get Redbull $$ for throwing it to Verstappen? did he then make Latifi crash? I mean its so far fetched... Sh($ happens, and it does not always go your way.
Messy Masi needs to go ...the clown has been inconsistent during his stint as RD, not just this race. Must be plenty of qualified applicants for the hot seat, maybe another one of his Emirati mates will be drafted in?
In other words Masi had discretion to choose F1 champion on last lap Precedent be damned Maxipad Verstappen WWF1 World Champion
From a legal perspective no, that is not correct. That provision is in the context of the race director having authority over the clerk of the course. It does not override the specific provisions in 48.12. Of course Masi made that argument when backed into a corner but it’s a very weak legal argument and wouldn’t hold weight in a real court (basically this view does not accord with established principles for statutory interpretation).
Both drivers got the best out there machines. Lewis won some races. Max won some races. Not Its the car if Lewis wins but Max if RB wins as you claim.
