[deetjohn]

while all the wheeling and dealing is happening behind the scenes, here is a something for a lighter moment!

https://youtu.be/TSspxF0F3O0

He is good and doesn't spare anyone!

[Hatari]

Originally Posted by lambodara

Masi being in F1, race director and all, knew pretty darn well. Heck, even I knew pretty darn well that he is handing the win to car no 33. People here still are saying it was fair. Guys, you have to be a blind RedBull fan to say so. Even neutral people have agreed that what happened was not correct.

How can a race director take a decision based on the end result? It would have been the identical call had Max & Lewis's roles been reversed.

[volkman10]

Mercedes are set to ABANDON their appeal against Max Verstappen's contentious Abu Dhabi win after Sir Lewis Hamilton told them he doesn't want his eighth world title to be won in court.

Christian Horner :

The win hasn't sunk in yet. It won't until we see Max pick up that trophy. But as far as we're concerned, Max is the world champion until someone says otherwise.

This is an issue between Mercedes and the FIA. Max has done absolutely nothing wrong. We complied with the rules. He won the race. He won the world championship. We've received him here as the world champion

Link

[NKB]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Mercedes are set to ABANDON their appeal against Max Verstappen's contentious Abu Dhabi win after Sir Lewis Hamilton told them he doesn't want his eighth world title to be won in court.

This is sensible move. I was wondering if it had gone to court, what were the possible outcome:

1. To my mind they could not have curtail the race to 57 Laps or 55 Laps from 58 Laps retrospectively to derive a result pleaded by plaintiff. Firstly the reason is that the race was not red flagged when Latifi collided but it continued under SC. The race was continued and it completed whole 58 laps. Secondly, to curtail the race to 57 Laps and announce Hamilton champion would be highly prejudicial to Max, without any of his fault, unless obviously Mercedes can prove with evidence that Red Bull illegally influenced race director’s decision. Also the court will have to consider whether the “No investigation required” as well and the impact of the advantage that Hamilton got out of that at the beginning of the race.

2. The other possibility is to disqualify entire race and in that case also Max would be winner basis count of wins.

3. And surely a strong reprimand for Race director and stewards for not being consistent with decision making not only in this race but though out the season.

I feel, if Max had not pitted and would have been on the older tyre, Hamilton would have won. Just see how much close Hamilton came to overtake Max even with those old tyres (around turn 9, I guess). So if Mercedes had pitted Hamilton, with fresh tyres Hamilton would have done what Max did. So Hamilton would have won the championship on Track like Max did. So to my mind, it is pure strategy fault by Mercedes. They should accept and move on.

[fiat_tarun]

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fia-an...investigation/

The FIA, in a statement issued on Wednesday evening, have recognised the fall-out from events in Abu Dhabi is “tarnishing the image of the championship” – and have said they will study what happened “with all relevant parties”, as proposed by President Jean Todt who is about to exit his post following the maximum 12 years in office.

Let's see what comes out of this. Acceptance and recognition is the first positive step...

[am1m]

Sensible decisions all round - Lewis being gracious post-race (kudos to him- that's truly champion and chivalrous (considering his well-deserved recent knighthood!) behaviour!) and now Merc withdrawing the appeal. F1 not reversing a championship result that was decided (however fairly or unfairly) on the track by some off-track technicalities (however justified). And finally, acknowledging that things could have been handled better and (hopefully) making the required changes to ensure something like this doesn't happen again.

[FURY_44]

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team will not be going ahead with the appeal.





As a Lewis fan, this will take some time to heal, from what I have learned from him, live to fight another day, looking forward to 2022.

[AtheK]

Sensible decision, and taken on the chin, more power to Mercedes.

[suhaas307]

Took them a while, but I guess they realized that it's just bad optics to pursue this. Maybe Stuttgart had something to do with it?

Unfortunately, disgruntled Lewis fans will continue to defame Max for winning the title. A Michael-Masi page on Instagram (owned and operated by someone entirely unconnected) received and continues to receive hateful messages from these fans. But the important thing is Mercedes and Lewis have taken this on the chin and have moved on.

Gracious in victory as well as in defeat. Maybe Red Bull should learn a thing or two from them.

[volkman10]

Mercedes congratulate Verstappen and Red Bull:

Mercedes have also congratulated Verstappen and Red Bull on their title win.

“To Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing: we would like to express our sincere respect for your achievements this season,” the team added.

“You made this Formula One championship title fight truly epic. Max, we congratulate you and your entire team. We look forward to taking the fight to you on the track next season.”

[click]

Am neither a Lewis or a Max fan, but the race was unfortunately decided by the Masi. It's ironic that he said 'its racing' to Toto on the radio, as he made sure it had the climax of a Netflix thriller than an organic race.

To add to the injury of seeing a race being completely overtaken by non-racing elements, the FIA's response was even worse. They basically blamed us the fans as being misunderstood!!!

I can understand the restraint shown by Mercedes, but this was also as close as a opportunity one could get to bring in some sensible changes to the FIA and F1. I wish they did pursue it not for Lewis' win, but to bring about genuine changes that would have made the rules less grey and racing friendly. Thats why I am saddened by this decision.

One can only hope that things will change for the better, but having seen how sports is governed elsewhere like Fifa, Bcci and others... I don't think much will change apart from some superficial rewording to calm the waters.

Biggest losers here aren't the drivers or teams, but it's us. We were taken for a ride and our intelligence is being taken for granted... because they know, come next season, all of us will be glued to Netflix reliving the season the way they want us to see.

Lando was on point when he said that this was made for the tv.

[Surprise]

Become a fan of Max Verstappen as he is the one who challenged Hamilton. After all that drama, I jumped in joy when Max crossed the chequered flag. But I really feel sorry for Hamilton to lose the championship this way, not taking into account of the previous incidents. The way he responded post the race is the strength of Hamilton, staying cool and composed.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

Let's see what comes out of this. Acceptance and recognition is the first positive step...

Originally Posted by am1m

Sensible decisions all round - Lewis being gracious post-race (kudos to him- that's truly champion and chivalrous (considering his well-deserved recent knighthood!) behaviour!) and now Merc withdrawing the appeal. F1 not reversing a championship result that was decided (however fairly or unfairly) on the track by some off-track technicalities (however justified). And finally, acknowledging that things could have been handled better and (hopefully) making the required changes to ensure something like this doesn't happen again.

Originally Posted by FURY_44

[b]
As a Lewis fan, this will take some time to heal, from what I have learned from him, live to fight another day, looking forward to 2022.

Originally Posted by AtheK

Sensible decision, and taken on the chin, more power to Mercedes.

Lewis had a lot to do with this. He made it clear that he did not want to gain this championship in a court case
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...title-win.html

[Cyborg]

After everything is said and done, I wonder if Michael Masi is deeply regretting his decision in hindsight. Sure it was all going down really fast, but that’s his job, giving correct decisions under severe pressure.

Right now Masi is untouchable since anything done to him would be a direct silent admission of guilt. Again I wonder if he will start next year with his job and if he starts will he complete the year. I wouldn’t be surprised if he suddenly resigns citing “personal reasons” sometime in the future.

Since Toto and Hamilton are not attending today’s FIA gala, will Hamilton face some kind of sanction? It seems there is a rule in place that first, second and third place in the drivers championship have to mandatorily attend.

Cheers

[fiat_tarun]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

...
Since Toto and Hamilton are not attending today’s FIA gala, will Hamilton face some kind of sanction? It seems there is a rule in place that first, second and third place in the drivers championship have to mandatorily attend.

Cheers

Was watching the FIA press conference where this question was asked to Jean Todt. He of course avoided it saying this is a moment for celebration and not to discuss if there will be punishment, etc.

On one hand everyone praised Lewis for handling the post race celebrations with grace and being a great sportsman, shouldn't the same sportsmanship be shown here too ? Especially since Mercedes have accepted FIA's enquiry and they have withdrawn their appeal, to still protest like this seems a little sour.