just remove the ability of the teams to directly contact him
in the event of an incident, he/his team simply publish publicly an email/communication as to what judgement was made and why
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That was probably the most exciting end to a season I can remember. In the end the best man won, the sport needed a new champion and its good to see Honda putting out a championship winning engine again.
Max is champion...for now lol
In future id like them to follow NASCAR in that they'll try finish race under green by adding 3 laps, green, white chequer they call it...
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From the stewards determination.
Masi changed how the restart was done and as mentioned above now has the ignominy that he tried to avoid.
Neither team or driver has done anything wrong but Masi and his team have opened the sport to ridicule. Not because Max won, but by making last second changes to the restart that he did, he made that the only likely outcome.
I must admit that I feel a bit cheated but not by RB, Max or any of the drivers but by a sense that it was just too stage managed. Will Liberty be able to squeeze a bit more money out of sponsors for the revenge title series next year?
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Mercedes have submitted their intention to appeal.
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Hardly.
The Stewards themselves has stated that the rules were ‘not applied fully’…it’s the ‘well what do you do about that’? question that they then answer as being not to revert to the lap before positions.
Merc have been done over by Masi not applying the rules correctly…that much is clear.
Quite what should be done about that is not clear and therefore the Stewards have decided that shortening the race to discount Masi’s blunder was not appropriate but I’m sure Merc will be asking the question again!
Masi has to go after this disaster and the other rather questionable decisions this season (the Spa debacle being another one where he seemed all to happy to have a whole race behind a safety car!)
The Race Director manipulated the rules to an unprecedented degree to generate a last race sprint.
He had at least two options to avoid this situation: red flag the race or don’t let any cars pass. He did neither and blew it.
If it was the other way around RB would be doing the same and I wouldn’t blame them.
I agree that it is totally undignified but the application of the two rule books have always courted challenge from all teams
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Hadn’t considered this. He did seem to be delighted to be on the podium and is probably happy not to be part of the mess
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Embarrassing. Just like being in Glasgow when the Race Director/referee has the final say in how the rules are interpreted. Porto being sent off for sneezing in the box and giving away penalties for smiling at people
Not really a fan of Formula 1 now (it always seems to be more about technology and strategy more than driving ability) or Lewis Hamilton. I can understand wanting to give the race director discretion but there was no fair way of him exercising this given the different strategies adopted by the drivers. Accordingly, you need hard and fast rules so the teams know what will happen.
It also doesn't seem sporting to be able to nip in for new tyres when your opponent can't do it because the race might not even continue. It definitely wasn't a level playing field which is what apart should be about - but I guess Formula 1 is anything but a level playing field.
Have to say I admire Lewis H a lot more for the way he handled everything.
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It wasn’t applied fully…anybody can see that. It’s crystal clear on the fact that the safety car needed to do another lap.
They decided that the Race Director has control of the safety car..that is also true.
But surely he needs to exercise that control within the rules?
Suppose this season was always going to end in controversy!
Mercedes have withdrawn their appeal with the FIA announcing a full review of the last 5 laps of the race.
This from the FIA
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Probably as dignified a solution as could have been achieved
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59691827
Verstappen said: "I can understand the first few days after a race like that you're not happy.
"But you should also understand this is racing and these things can happen."
"I don't feel sorry [for him] but I can understand that it can be very painful but at the end of the day," he said. "He also won a championship like that."
Max Verstappen doesn't do emotional intelligence or reading a room. Gone to feeling sorry for him as to how this has gone down to completely not.
Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes driver to decide on F1 future after Abu Dhabi inquiry
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59951382
Would be very surprised if he walked away.
If I am honest, Hamilton back or not isn’t the real issue.
The FIA screwed up by making it all about the drama. An unsupported race director was exposed for entertainment value to the rants of Team Principals so that they could broadcast a 15 second soundbite. It led to a loss of clarity around rules and penalties and ultimately led to at best a novel use of the rule book in the last race.
What needs to come out is a whole lot of clarity around restarts, track limits, stewarding and running other drivers off the track. I stand by my opinion that Masi got it wrong but his paymasters hung him out there.
As a Hamilton fan I would like to see him race again but if he doesn’t there are plenty of other drivers that will make it worth watching.
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I wonder who Mercedes would go for driver wise if Hamilton does walk away. Could see them offering bundles of cash to buy out Pierre Gasly's contract.