Abu Dhabi F1

[Firthy]

F1 has lost all credibility. Absolutely disgusting.

[Mrpotatohead]

A bit of a joke to be honest. I can't remember before seeing the decision to only allow a certain number of lapped cars through, or to end the SC more or less at the same time they allow the lapped cars through.

That said, a Championship is won over the course of a season, not a single race. Let's hope next year is as exciting as this one!

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Just disappointed because that’s not how you want a title to be decided

Better than from behind a safety car

[Shaggy]

Yes… correct result and correct winner.

[Burnley1989]

Quite impressed myself, I'd been assuming that the FIA were going to have to re-use the Nigel Mansell 'tyres blowing-up on the last lap' script to achieve an exciting finish; I really can't understand why folks get so upset/annoyed/surprised by the twists and turns of F1 racing, the sport's long been as scripted/staged as professional wrestling

You really can’t understand who folk are upset by that? Really?

[BurnleyFC]

LOL.

[KRBFC]

Best driver in the world in the 2nd best car wins the title, congrats Max, well deserved

[RVclaret]

Better than from behind a safety car

He was 11 seconds ahead anyway was NEVER catching him

[PeterWilton]

How can they only let 5 cars through. It's completely contrary to sporting fairness because those 5 lapped cars were also racing with the other lapped cars. So 5 lapped cars get to secure their positions against the cars they should be racing with behind them just to manufacture an exciting finish to the race.

The only thing i'm thankful of is that i can at least be happy for Max. Had he wiped Lewis out that wouldn't be the case.

But as an F1 fan that finale was embarrassing. It's like a referee awarding a team who's 2-0 down in a Champions League final a penalty in the last minute just to make the injury time exciting.

[Shaggy]

Best driver in the world in the 2nd best car wins the title, congrats Max, well deserved

100% agreed.

I think some of the Lewis lovers might be in soon to disagree.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Massi told Wolff that they wanted to have them racing, that's why.

Ending behind a safety car is a crap way to end a title chase.

[minnieclaret]

I hate motor sport when it is decided by others **** driving. Happens all the time in Indy car.
How they chose to change their mind 3 times under the safety car is baffling.

[Steve1956]

The worlds richest sport....making the rules up as they go along....what a F**king Shambles.

[PeterWilton]

Best driver in the world in the 2nd best car wins the title, congrats Max, well deserved

I don't think it's easy to justify the argument that RB is the 2nd best car. The two cars are the strongest two but in different areas.

What makes you say that the Mercedes is the stronger car? I'm interested to know.

[RVclaret]

I don't think it's easy to justify the argument that RB is the 2nd best car. The two cars are the strongest two but in different areas.

What makes you say that the Mercedes is the stronger car? I'm interested to know.

He doesn’t have a clue, just says things to be controversial, you’d do better ignoring his posts

[minnieclaret]

Silly little point but if all cars behind the safety car are supposed to reduce their speed by 40% how did MV manage to catch up with LH when the lapped cars were freed to unlap themselves.

[Burnley1989]

I’d say it’s the second best car at the minute, only just but it’s fine margins.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I don't think it's easy to justify the argument that RB is the 2nd best car. The two cars are the strongest two but in different areas.

What makes you say that the Mercedes is the stronger car? I'm interested to know.

Horner has just said Mercedes have the stronger car after improving year on year.
I think his opinion is relevant.

[Burnley1989]

He doesn’t have a clue, just says things to be controversial, you’d do better ignoring his posts

Exactly that, I’m bored of even arguing it now, him and a few others would argue/debate with themselves. Whatever you think, I’ll go the opposite

[Colburn_Claret]

Massi told Wolff that they wanted to have them racing, that's why.

Ending behind a safety car is a crap way to end a title chase.

The sentiments fine,but you can't change the rules to achieve it.
It was also never racing.
If Max had to drive through the pack, Lewis wins
If all the lapped cars unlap themselves, Lewis wins

To do what Massi did handed the race to Max, because fresh fast tyres were going to win that race 100 times out of a 100.

[timshorts]

I don't think it's easy to justify the argument that RB is the 2nd best car. The two cars are the strongest two but in different areas.

What makes you say that the Mercedes is the stronger car? I'm interested to know.

Well they just won the constructors championship. They were clearly the stronger car in the second half of the season with red bull the stronger in the first.

I wholly agree with KRBC on this one. Lewis, though, showed more class than I have ever given him credit for after the race.

Over the season, up until the last lap of the last race, I'd had the feeling that max had frequently been hard done by with a number of decisions, but the very last one balanced that all out.

A rubbish season for my team, mind. Here's hoping that next season is just as good (and better for force India racing point Aston Martin. I cant help feeling that the wider tyres will make overtaking even more impossible in Monaco etc, so can't see what put that decision into people's heads.

Anyhow, that's all over. Now let's see if we can also get a bit lucky second half v West ham.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

The sentiments fine,but you can't change the rules to achieve it.
It was also never racing.
If Max had to drive through the pack, Lewis wins
If all the lapped cars unlap themselves, Lewis wins

To do what Massi did handed the race to Max, because fresh fast tyres were going to win that race 100 times out of a 100.

Oh come on, the FIA/Massi are now being accused of handing the title to Max after being accused of handing it to Lewis in the same race after the incident earlier in the race.

They just wanted a racing lap, a right way to end a season let's be honest.

Just bitter lemon suckers because their man didn't win.

[PeterWilton]

Horner has just said Mercedes have the stronger car after improving year on year.
I think his opinion is relevant.

I'm not asking about Horner's opinion, i'm asking about KF's opinion and would be interested to understand their thinking.

[Shaggy]

I'm not asking about Horner's opinion, i'm asking about KF's opinion and would be interested to understand their thinking.

Well Mercedes have been dominant for the past decade really. What is that now 8 constructors titles in a row? I’d say they have the best car.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Well Mercedes have been dominant for the past decade really. What is that now 8 constructors titles in a row? I’d say they have the best car.

Not relevant apparently

[RVclaret]

Oh come on, the FIA/Massi are now being accused of handing the title to Max after being accused of handing it to Lewis in the same race after the incident earlier in the race.

They just wanted a racing lap, a right way to end a season let's be honest.

Just bitter lemon suckers because their man didn't win.

Under 39.12

“once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.”

It seems like a couple of rules were broken just to have “motor racing” and gift Max the title.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Under 39.12

“once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.”

It seems like a couple of rules were broken just to have “motor racing” and gift Max the title.

So you wanted it ended under a safety car so Lewis would win the race etc.
Just go with that, it's the boring option after what we just had, but clearly the preferable one for you and the others.

[Colburn_Claret]

They just wanted a racing lap, a right way to end a season let's be honest.

That could have only happened if both were on new slicks, it was never racing.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

That could have only happened if both were on new slicks, it was never racing.

Lewis had the power, just not the new tyres.
Max had new tyres and not the power.

Balanced out really

[KRBFC]

He doesn’t have a clue, just says things to be controversial, you’d do better ignoring his posts

How is that controversial? most experts would say the Mercedes is slightly the better car....

[RVclaret]

So you wanted it ended under a safety car so Lewis would win the race etc.
Just go with that, it's the boring option after what we just had, but clearly the preferable one for you and the others.

Well that is the rule isn’t it?

And let’s just conveniently move only the 4 cars in between Max and Lewis but leave the others.

You keep mentioning they wanted a race, having fresh soft tyres v 30 odd old hards was NEVER a race.

Joke of a decision.

[claretburns]

Silly little point but if all cars behind the safety car are supposed to reduce their speed by 40% how did MV manage to catch up with LH when the lapped cars were freed to unlap themselves.

You only go 40% of your speed under a VSC. Under a full safety car the pack is allowed to bunch up and come close to each other.

Max did nothing wrong under the safety car, but it was a ridiculous decision by the FIA regarding the lapped cars and I am a Max fan and wanted him to win but Lewis and Mercedes were robbed today.

[KRBFC]

Exactly that, I’m bored of even arguing it now, him and a few others would argue/debate with themselves. Whatever you think, I’ll go the opposite

You just agreed with RV saying I'm controversial for saying Mercedes is the better car, 2 posts after you just wrote ''I’d say it’s the second best car at the minute, only just but it’s fine margins.''

[ClaretDiver]

That could have only happened if both were on new slicks, it was never racing.

I will admit to not being a big fan but didn't Mercedes have the option twice to bring Hamilton in on a 'free' pitstop but didn't....that might have changed things???

[Devils_Advocate]

So you wanted it ended under a safety car so Lewis would win the race etc.
Just go with that, it's the boring option after what we just had, but clearly the preferable one for you and the others.

Apply that logic to football and the ref ignoring the laws of the game and making a decision to make the last 5 minutes of a game more exciting

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Well that is the rule isn’t it?

And let’s just conveniently move only the 4 cars in between Max and Lewis but leave the others.

You keep mentioning they wanted a race, having fresh soft tyres v 30 odd old hards was NEVER a race.

Joke of a decision.

Blame Wolff, they kept Lewis out several times in the hope the race would end under the safety car etc.
They got their tactics wrong.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Apply that logic to football and the ref ignoring the laws of the game and making a decision to make the last 5 minutes of a game more exciting

That's gone on for years though

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I will admit to not being a big fan but didn't Mercedes have the option twice to bring Hamilton in on a 'free' pitstop but didn't....that might have changed things???

Yes, they were expecting the race to end under the safety car, like a previous one ended under a red flag and they'd kept Lewis out for that one so he won.

[Devils_Advocate]

That's gone on for years though

Yep but we dont congratulate the ref for his wrong decision because it made things more exciting

[claretburns]

Blame Wolff, they kept Lewis out several times in the hope the race would end under the safety car etc.
They got their tactics wrong.

To be fair being first puts you at that disadvantage of having to make the decision. If Lewis would have pitted then Max would have stayed out for track position.

Hindsight and you would have pitted Lewis and allowed him to chase down Max but in that moment in a race with a few laps to go it is difficult to make a decision like that.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I see Mercedes have lodged an appeal over that last lap.
Problem appears to be that the rules aren't really very clear so it could well come to nothing

[ClaretMat]

I hadn't watched properly in years but thought I'd give it a chance today to see what all the fuss was about. Needless to say I won't be rushing to watch again.
A complete and utter shambles.

[Colburn_Claret]

I will admit to not being a big fan but didn't Mercedes have the option twice to bring Hamilton in on a 'free' pitstop but didn't....that might have changed things???

They didn't have the option, because if they had pitted Max would have stayed out and gained the lead. It was a freebie for Max because they had nothing to lose, Lewis did..
Finishing the race under a yellow flag might have been disappointing, but ultimately it would have been fair. What Massi did wasn't fair.
They've appealed now, I don't think they'll change it,, because like our referees, they don't like to admit they are wrong, but they should.

[Colburn_Claret]

Lewis had the power, just not the new tyres.
Max had new tyres and not the power.

Balanced out really

What utter ********

[Burnley1989]

You just agreed with RV saying I'm controversial for saying Mercedes is the better car, 2 posts after you just wrote ''I’d say it’s the second best car at the minute, only just but it’s fine margins.''

Tbf it’s not this thread, it’s just you in general

[RVclaret]

Double protest from Mercedes.

This rule was clearly broken.

Can’t just let the cars between 1st and 2nd pass for the fun of it.

[Herts Clarets]

I will admit to not being a big fan but didn't Mercedes have the option twice to bring Hamilton in on a 'free' pitstop but didn't....that might have changed things???

No they didn't. They would have lost track position. Which given their pace v Max made no sense. Lewis was nearly 12 seconds clear with 6 laps to go. Once there was a safety car RB do what Merc don't. If Merc pit RB stay out and take the lead. If Merc don't pit RB do and stick softs on and still come out second. The flaw in this was the lapped cars so Race Control apply part of the rules to get the obstacles out of Max's way and allow him a run at Lewis who is in old hard tyres then bring the SC in at the same time.

As I said earlier, a disgraceful decision and one which handed the title to Max when Lewis had it in the bag.

[FCBurnley]

Not a Hamilton fan but thought he was robbed today

[Firthy]

If anyone thinks that was a fair race and a suitable outcome then you're totally deluded.

[PeterWilton]

I see Mercedes have lodged an appeal over that last lap.
Problem appears to be that the rules aren't really very clear so it could well come to nothing

It should come to nothing. The FIA have already rigged the race to make for an exciting final lap. To then change the result from anything other than a Max Verstappen win would be worse because Max didn't do anything wrong.

Michael Masi should lose his job over that decision to let only 5 drivers through. All of them or none of them is the only fair decision. If Max didn't want to be behind lapped drivers then he shouldn't have pitted. That was the trade off of getting the soft tyres that they accepted. Masi then multiplied that a bunch by making sure he was right behind Lewis, contrary to all sporting logic.