Formula 1 2021 Season Discussion

Forums › Sports › Formula 1 2021 Season Discussion

1 | ... | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40

Mad Scientist
29691 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2831829 14-Dec-2021 07:43

insane: I suspect Masi was trying to bring some balance to the race and reverse the earlier howler of the stewards.

Seems he has no control if something goes to the Stewards, but the power to do something before it gets there. Bit like his negotiated swap last weekend. He was probably also a bit over Toto trying to influence race control.

Merc really have themselves to blame, they chose track position at the first VSC. And gambled it would take 7+ laps to clear the wreck and finish under a SC.

The FIA could have reshuffled the pack quicker though to allow two full laps at the end. It's always too slow and they need to sort that out.

i don't blame merc. that would have been my strategy too. if they pitted at the first VSC they will have to pass Max which is a 50-50 whether he'll crash into you. (this has been true since day 1 - that's why he has a particular nickname. in this race more so because he will win the title if both cars DNF)

at the SC if they pitted and max gains track position there is every chance the race will finish under SC. in fact if every rule was followed in the rule book there would not be a restart as we saw - rules apparently say you must wait for all lapped cars to go around and rejoin at the back, before the SC then enters the pit one lap later. one would assume merc strategists know the rule book inside out.

GoodSync

GoodSync. Easily back up and sync your files with GoodSync. Simple and secure file backup and synchronisation software will ensure that your files are never lost (affiliate link).

tdgeek

29587 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2831831 14-Dec-2021 07:51

However, a message from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff to Verstappen struck a more reconciliatory tone.

“Toto sent me a text - congratulations on the season and that I deserve to win it,'' Verstappen said.

“So that was very nice of him, of course. Emotions run very high to that last lap from both teams. It is what it is.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29691 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2831842 14-Dec-2021 08:22

As I have always said, no matter what happens, even the fact that Lewis Hamilton was leading the race by 11 seconds with 5 laps to go, whoever finishes with more points deserves to be champion. It was Max Verstappen. That's life as and that's motor racing. Looks like Merc won't be persuing legal action to overturn the result based on the text?

Congratulations to Max and Christian Horner. I think it will soon be Sir Christian Horner.

tdgeek

29587 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2831846 14-Dec-2021 08:27

Batman:

Looks like Merc won't be persuing legal action to overturn the result based on the text?

It would appear to be the case. perhaps it came down to interpretation of lapped cars being all lapped cars or all lapped cars the race director chose. Or leeway in the rules to promote racing, or finishing as a race

wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#2831861 14-Dec-2021 08:50

There seems to be enough leeway for the race director to make calls like that on the fly. Doubt anything Mercedes took to court would stand up. I think Michael Masi mostly does a good job, he has an extremely tough job, and generally about half the field (not to mention millions of fans) will probably be unhappy with any particular decision he's made.

I think the 'offer' thing in Saudi was good. It's trying to resolve little issues without fully going to the stewards. But it seems the teams talk to him in the way they do quite often, and there maybe needs to be some better boundaries put into place in regards to respect, etc. The poor guy probably has 5 people trying to talk to him at once half the time, let alone during an incident like that safety car. It's a very thankless job most of the time.

Masi was awesome as supercars race director when he was in that role, now I know that is nothing like F1, but the current guy has made that many stuff ups since he's be in control it makes you realize what an important job it is, and generally when things are all smooth, you don't hear about them at all.

insane

3211 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2831945 14-Dec-2021 10:21

I guess it's a bit like football or rugby. If you want to be sure of victory, don't leave it down to a refs judgement call in stoppage time.. Have often seen the better side
on the day loose at the death.

Both outfits left points on the table this year, could have been settled several raced earlier, but then we'd probably be moaning that F1 is boring!

I really hope a minor or middle tier team strikes it lucky with the best package for the 2022 regulations, hopefully Ferrari or Maclaren will be back.

Three long months to wait....

Batman

Mad Scientist
29691 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2831958 14-Dec-2021 10:44

wratterus:
Masi was awesome as supercars race director when he was in that role, now I know that is nothing like F1, but the current guy has made that many stuff ups since he's be in control it makes you realize what an important job it is, and generally when things are all smooth, you don't hear about them at all.

Ah touring car race. Didn't know that. That explains all the touring car race style decisions. Very entertaining and unpredictable. Maybe we should have more of those next year. In fact give drivers direct microphone connection to Masi.

tdgeek

29587 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2831964 14-Dec-2021 10:56

insane: I guess it's a bit like football or rugby. If you want to be sure of victory, don't leave it down to a refs judgement call in stoppage time.. Have often seen the better side
on the day loose at the death.

Both outfits left points on the table this year, could have been settled several raced earlier, but then we'd probably be moaning that F1 is boring!

I really hope a minor or middle tier team strikes it lucky with the best package for the 2022 regulations, hopefully Ferrari or Maclaren will be back.

Three long months to wait....

It will be boring unfortunately. Its highly unlikely that two top teams will have cars that are close. Its taken 7 years to wind back Mercedes, but they still pull the most hp, but close enough for other factors to close the gap. Another few years of predictable finishes Id say. But can see George take on Lewis, but George will be wingman from day 1 so that's not there either. If after the hybrid regs we finally got two teams close, making 2022 a must watch, but no, we start over

GV27

5872 posts

Uber Geek

#2832012 14-Dec-2021 12:01

Batman:

In fact give drivers direct microphone connection to Masi.

You're not thinking laterally enough. Give the drivers the ability to talk to each other.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29691 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2832018 14-Dec-2021 12:18

GV27:

Batman:

In fact give drivers direct microphone connection to Masi.

You're not thinking laterally enough. Give the drivers the ability to talk to each other.

hey why didn't i think about that!

insane

3211 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2832024 14-Dec-2021 12:32

GV27:
Batman:

In fact give drivers direct microphone connection to Masi.

You're not thinking laterally enough. Give the drivers the ability to talk to each other.

Hmm, there would have to be rules around that. It could quickly turn nasty and resemble the Australian cricket team's overzealous sledging.

Would be amazingly entertaining though!!

Maybe start with drivers of the same team being able to talk to each other to plan a coordinated slipstream or something.

insane

3211 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2832027 14-Dec-2021 12:35

I wouldn't be surprised if Lewis retired and didn't come back to complete with George... Or has already built a #1 #2 clause into George's contract for the first two years.

With the new cars the experience advantage may not be as much.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29691 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2832030 14-Dec-2021 12:43

insane: I wouldn't be surprised if Lewis retired and didn't come back to complete with George... Or has already built a #1 #2 clause into George's contract for the first two years.

With the new cars the experience advantage may not be as much.

driving for the world title is very demanding, it consumes every minute of your life, as nico rosberg explained.

so it will depend on whether Lewis wants to crack 8 and sacrifice another year of his life. if he doesn't want to, then he'll have much better things to do i would have thought, rather than being there to make up the numbers.

tdgeek

29587 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2832094 14-Dec-2021 13:10

insane: I wouldn't be surprised if Lewis retired and didn't come back to complete with George... Or has already built a #1 #2 clause into George's contract for the first two years.

With the new cars the experience advantage may not be as much.

George will be number 2 for sure.

1. Lewis wants No.8

2. Get your learning year in, then Lewis retires

3. If RBR are good again, we cannot share points (especially if RBR and Adrian Newey are that good at aero)

Batman

Mad Scientist
29691 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2833573 16-Dec-2021 16:27

FIA launches an investigation into how Masi engineered the transfer of trophy from almost winner Lewis Hamilton to the rightful winner Max Verstappen

I have a very easy solution. if this happens at the end of the last race of the season, the race director can consider a red flag.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2021/12/16/fia-launches-investigation-into-abu-dhabi-f1-drama/

1 | ... | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40