Michael Masi gets fired/replaced?

Well, that's the way you see it, and I see it differently, but that's irrelevant in what's happened at Abu Dhabi.

 

Oh, I see, you see Abu Dhabi as a justified revenge for previous stewards decisions.

That's a strange way to appreciate F1 !!

For you it's open warfare.

 

Like I said, I saw it differently. For me Verstappen created that incident by leaving room on the inside and then trying to close the door.

 

Basically all incidents between Max and Lewis past season was Lewis's fault. Max never ran no one off the road or anything unprofessional. He drove like a saint all season.

 

So, for you F1 is just a mean to settle score against a driver you dislike?

You won't be surprised I think if I tell you that I find that mentality loathsome.

This is supposed to be a sport, not gang warfare.

 

Not at all!!

It's not about "retaliation" ... it's a simple recognition that the stewards played a big role in making sure that Hamilton stayed in contention, all year long. The argument that "what happened before Abu Dhabi was irrelevant" might have some merit, if the stewards were unbiased before Abu Dhabi. But they weren't ... far, FAR from it!

I can't "ignore" Silverstone, when the 2021 season is considered in-total. I can't "ignore" Saudi Arabia. Hell, I can't "ignore" lap 1 at Abu Dhabi, for that matter ...

Seems like the Hamilton fans want to "ignore" EVERYTHING that happened, all season long, EXCEPT the last lap at Abu Dhabi. I find that to be intellectually dishonest.

 

You are allowed to "close the door", somewhat ... if you leave it open enough, for someone to fit through (just as Max did at Silverstone ... or was trying to do, before he was shunted).

 

false, he never did, the only guys ramming others were you mercedes friends...

 

It doesnt matter a rats **** what we all think, does MV really beleive he won it outright & on merit. Possibly he did but there will always be that nagging doubt.....did I actually win it?

 

Verstappen raced every race, all season long. He fought tooth and nail, all season long, against a very competent field, and a set of stewards biased against him. I'm quite sure that he is 100% confident and comfortable, that he won the 2021 WDC on merit.

 

The latest way I see it is this:

15.3 gives Masi authority to ignore 48.8 and 48.12. So he didn't 'break the rules.'

However, he did hand Verstappen the victory by exercising 15.3

***

Put another way, Masi may not have broken the letter of the law, but he definitely broke the spirit of it.

In my opinion, 15.3 needs to be adjusted so that overriding authority can be granted in matters of SAFETY only. There was no reason for Masi to exercise 15.3 other than to give Verstappen a chance to win.

I'm very conflicted. I hate Verstappen, yet glad he won. I think Masi messed up here, but firing seems really harsh. I don't know.

 

My god, is everyone still ragging on this? It's over, move on.

 

That will not die for years, and people will be divided over this issue for a long time.

People still remember the Prost-Senna episodes, the Shumacher-Villeneuve clash, how Massa almost won a WDC, the Singaporegate, etc ...

 

We will see if the FIA enquiry can throw some light over this, although I am not holding my breath.

Masi should give his version and explain his decision, and other officials too.

Abu Dhabi revealed at least some conflicting rules, and how race result can be obtained at the discretion of one individual .

If Masi was at fault, I can't see how he can keep his job.

 

Well, I think Verstappen takes everything that comes to him and thinks "a win is a win is a win" without questioning too much. I can't blame him for that.

He had a rather eventful season, and probably couldn't believe his luck when Masi removed all the cars between him and Hamilton.

I can imagine his delight when he came in sight of the Mercedes with its worn tyres, like a sitting duck on the track as he was himself shod with fresh slicks.

It was a dream scenario and must have felt like Christmas coming early for him !

 

I was fine with Hamilton did there. Fair play. He never touched Max, and that's the key. All of the "dodgy moves" from Max were moves pioneered by Hamilton. Out braking and pushing a driver to the edge of the track, so they don't have the racing line, without ever touching them, is fair play. The difference is that when it happens to Hamilton, he just cuts the course and cries that he took evasive action, when he actually is gaining an illegal advantage.

 

Elton was queen of all that is F1. However, no more.

 

LOL! Oh, so now the stewards decisions are something that are gospel to you? Interesting how it flips back and forth with you guys.

You know Hamilton was just two points away from a race ban in late 2020 himself, right?

I was very pissed at Vettel when his driving became erratic and unsporting under pressure back in 18'. I was of the opinion he earned himself a race ban for hitting Hamilton under the SC in Azerbaijan, so I'm not some Hamilton hater, or some Max lover, like I'm sure you assume me to be.

Hamilton has escaped serious sanction and race bans many times. Silverstone was bad enough, but his desperate and insane Senna/Schumi dirty swerving into Max coming out of the pits, should've earned him a spot at the back of the next weeks race, and a point away from a race ban. The fact Max was the one punished for that (even Martin Brundle blamed Lewis) showed just how much of a man crush the stewards have on Hamilton.

 

You're using the fact that Max has points on license as evidence that he's a dangerous driver, while conveniently ignoring that Hamilton was in Max's exact position in 2020, with the same amount of points on his license.

 

Baku and hungary.

2 Situations that were completely and utterly out of his hand (I'm leaving silverstone out of it as I really can't be bothered arguing the next 3 days and everyone still coming to their current conclusion). No one can deny that Max's tyre blowing 2 laps from the end whilst well in the lead, and Bottas crashing Max out was totally out of Max's control, yet costing him significant amount of points. He's the correct champion, alright.

Edit: Meant baku and hungary

 

Weren't Hamilton's points almost all for technical infringements? Bar one for a lunge on Albon which he held his hand up for. Don't think Max has ever admitted fault in an accident.

But I think we all agree that Max is a worthy Champion and a great driver, we just don't all seem to agree that the way that it was achieved at the final race was in any way 'sporting'. And to those of us who love the sport (rather than love or hate an individual or a team), the sport is important.

Personally I'm not really sure where F1 goes from here. The tracks are too run-off friendly, the cars are too big, fast and too reliable, the drivers too aggressive and the 'Hollywood' bunch are in charge of the show. We now have races determined by steward's decisions, and random SCs. I'm just glad I saw the good times.

 

+1

There is that uneasy feeling that the race was "decided" for Verstappen.

 

He knows full well what Masi did at the right time for him. Can he look at you say otherwise. Sure. He will quote the rule Masi used per the Stewards. Deep inside he also knows he was going to lose the race and title unless Masi intervened. Hence the LARGE * on all of this. He didnt win this race on merit. Period.

No Masi no title to think otherwise denies the utter reality that took place on that evening lol. Max didnt win it - he had it given to him. One would have to say the same if it was another driver who won in such a manner.THE sport MATTERS more than LH or Max!!

Max gifted title includes gifted points as well like Brazil and his running LH literally off the track. He is silly to think he won this title on skill. He was clumsy all season. He is lucky Masi and Stewards provided his result in many situations. Mercedes should have taken this fully to court. RedBull would have-- had LH passed Max on the last lap set up nicely by Masi eh?

Redbull incited virtually hatred after Silverstone and would have done so after losing as LH did in Yas. No question. They are literal idiots and bullies in Management of Horner and Marko. P A T H E T I C they are.

Max most rabid fans and others are happy simply because LH didnt win. Their one dimensional justifications are silly in the face of the 'common sense' reality this Yas event displays. Max won the title and that will not be reversed. It was hardly on merit given Yas and Masi setting it up as he did. By himself.

Fired - how can he not be. Time for the FIA to clean house and reset/revise its rules. Too bad it took such a farce to motivate such actions. Assuming they, FIA, do anything.....