From the same referenced Sky documentary: "And the Red Bull pair also have their say on that Abu Dhabi controversy. On Masi's handling of the Safety Car and allowing there to be one more racing lap, Horner insists: "He didn't break the rules. "He perhaps applied the rules slightly differently in that circumstance but there was nothing he did that actually contravened the rules." Horner also says Masi needed more support, saying the race director was the subject of "bullying and online abuse" after the title finale. Verstappen similarly sympathises with Masi, who has been replaced by two race directors for 2021. "You can always argue was it right, was it wrong, what he did in Abu Dhabi," says Verstappen. "But I think what Michael stood for was always racing."" So CH and MV are saying what occurred in Abu Dhabi didn't contravene the rules (and I tend to agree given the way they are written), but was "slightly different", "was it right or was it wrong"? So by saying "slightly different" does CH mean not normal?
So it looks like the FIA are blaming Massi after all for breaking the rules, unintentionally. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/fia-abu-dhabi-report-finds-masi-broke-rules-in-controversial-f1-finale?fbclid=IwAR0PX36gp1n6ZMtvgDZehFGq8pcwrlkmvmPNj_eEQvSaHUsPO68b4ddYLTk
And yet, the FIA recently CHANGED the safety car rules ... only now requiring ALL cars to be unlapped Why the need to change the rules, if the whole "problem" was that Masi went rogue and broke them? Further, why blame Masi for "breaking rules" ... given that rules that allowed for "different interpretations" by the Race Director: “It was apparent from the analysis that there could be different interpretations of Article 48.12 and Article 48.13 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, and that this likely contributed to the applied procedure.” "interpreting the rules" is suddenly synonymous with "breaking the rules"?? When will the stewards also get blamed, and re-assigned, for fully supporting Masi's decision? Finally ... any remaining doubts that the FIA is a purely political ... and, apparently, illiterate ... group of morons?
CORRECTION The full report is here: https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/in-full-the-fia-report-on-the-2021-f1-abu-dhabi-grand-prix/9135547/ NOTE: Nowhere in the report does it state, or even suggest, that "rules were broken" What IS stated in the report is that the unlapping rule has now been changed, and "The results of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the FIA Formula One World Championship are valid, final and cannot now be changed." Congrats to Max Verstappen, as the valid 2021 Champion (under the rules in-place during 2021, of course)!!
Indeed it has! No rules were "broken" (despite the earlier link in post #1756 that was false), rules have now been changed for 2022, and Max Verstappen is finally and fully recognized as the valid champion of 2021 (under the rules in-place during 2021) ... with no qualifiers or asterisks I'm fine with it !!
Max is the legitimate wdc. No question. We can have our individual opinions as to whether or not there will be an asterisk. I personally believe it won’t make much difference in the long run for max. He will be credited with winning an amazing year long duel. I do, however, believe that the asterisk will be with Hamilton for having 7 wdcs instead of 8.
Personnel changes were politically motivated, intended to placate the weak-minded ... and Sir Lewis the Great, of course The real substance is in the rule changes, which validate Verstappen as 2021 WDC ... just as the FIA has now affirmed
I never had a problem with Verstappen being WDC, and said so from the start. But it's the interference of an official that I found questionable, although I didn't have your expertise to discuss the subject. What came after suits me fine: Max is crowned champion, and Masi out of his job !
No validation. There is no mechanism to remove the title. Sorry but your wrong on that. The report stops short of stating the obvious lol. Masi was mistaken but it does paint a picture of a slight collusion with RedBull. Title tainted permanently which is why Max was on record yesterday that the report should not be made public. That says it all. Ciao!
Direct quote from the final FIA report: "The results of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the FIA Formula One World Championship are valid, final and cannot now be changed." Sure sounds like 100% validation to me
But the FIA admitted there was "human error" committed, which surely means that Masi was at fault. What I cannot understand is your insistence in exonerate Masi, who was at the origin of the controversy.
Masi is no longer race director because Max was given the 2021 title. Can't get anymore simple than that
Here, again, is the full text of the official FIA report issued today: https://www.fia.com/2021-f1-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-report-world-motor-sport-council-19-march-2022 I've read it, in full, a couple times. I can't find any phrases like "broke the rules" or "human error" Nothing even close. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Instead, what actually IS written are these statements: 31. It was apparent from the analysis that there could be different interpretations of Article 48.12 and/or Article 48.13, and that this likely contributed to some of the confusion surrounding the safety car unlapping procedure. It was therefore considered that these provisions of the F1 Sporting Regulations would benefit from clarification. 34. In a recent E-Vote, the WMSC has confirmed a rule change that clarifies that in case of unlapping <<all>> cars rather than <<any>> cars have to unlap. Further investigation into the F1 timing system shall clarify whether a <<virtual unlapping>> procedure could bring advantages and simplification. 35. The results of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the FIA Formula One World Championship are valid, final and cannot now be changed. In accordance with the rules, Mercedes made a protest to the stewards after the race, seeking to change the race classification. The stewards dismissed the protest and Mercedes then had an opportunity to appeal that decision to the FIA International Court of Appeal, but did not do so. There are no other available mechanisms in the rules for amending the race classification. Not much more to say. The FIA has affirmed that Max Verstappen is the legit, valid 2021 WDC ... according to the rules in-place during 2021. The rules have been changed, for 2022.
I think you are barking up the wrong tree here. The FIA has disavowed Massi by removing from his position. What more proof do you need?
For all we know, Masi was "disavowed" for his actions all season long ... allowing rules to be broken on Lap 1 of Abu Dhabi, for example. I didn't notice any change to the rules about gaining an advantage off-track, did you? When the Race Director "breaks rules", you change the director ... not the rules. Anyway, I'm not "barking up any tree". I'm just reading the actual report issued by the FIA today ... rather than a biased interpretation of the report here's your second chance: show me where the actual FIA report contains phrases like "broke the rules" or "human error". I've provided more than one link to the actual report itself ... please, prove me wrong BOTTOM LINE: The FIA report explicitly validates Max Verstappen as WDC for 2021, and spells-out safety car rule changes for 2022 Again, I'm fine with it!
You beat around the bushes, but you just cannot come up with an unequivoval condemnation of Masi !! I noticed you were vehemently defending that guy from the begining, although it was evident he was the cause of all that trouble. Any reason ?
I absolutely CONDEMN Masi for allowing Hamilton to break the rules on Lap One of Abu Dhabi Third chance: show me, in the actual text of the FIA report issued today, phrases like "broke the rules" or "human error" ... i'm still waiting. Or, show me where the stewards were fired, for supporting Masi's decision at the end of Abu Dhabi. Or, show me where rules were changed to allow drivers to gain an advantage off-track. Again, when the Race Director "breaks rules", you change the Director ... not the rules Of course, you can't. But none of it matters. Today, the FIA validated Max Verstappen as the 2021 WDC I'm fine with it!
