[mp417]

Originally Posted by click

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.

Spot on. I have been watching F1 for more than two decades (without missing even a single race) and what happened on Sunday was unimaginable.

Though I'm a Lewis fan, I don't mind Lewis losing the race/championship in a straight fight (which was on till lap 56). It's a sport at the end. But that's where things got ugly on Sunday where the TV viewership was given preference (more like a bollywood masala movie) than the "true sport" which we petrol-heads truly enjoys.

Lewis handled the post race fiasco much better. Mercedes tried and eventually gave up. While withdrawing appeal is the sensible thing to do, making the rule more transparent and not having "hand of god" is the way to go. Frankly I don't expect FIA to do anything on this matter. This will be brushed under the carpet in due course of time

Just on lighter note, enjoy some memes (courtesy: F1Troll)

[Samir Taheer]

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

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 Especially since Mercedes have accepted FIA's enquiry and they have withdrawn their appeal, to still protest like this seems a little sour.

Mercedes would have withdrawn their appeal only after certain negotiation with the FIA and its representatives -
- This way Lewis and Toto would look like good sportsman
- Permission to miss the Gala
- The FIA would most likely work towards their demands, without these getting published. For all we know removal of Masi is one of those.
- Everyone looks clean and the negative publicity dies down after awhile.
- And Max gets to keep his championship!

Of-course this is speculation but didn't the Ferrari/FIA deal get done behind closed doors??? How many business houses settle litigation like this as well..

Link to the Ferrari/FIA secret deal - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...ia-motor-sport

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

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.

To me it’s the right approach, since things must have been discussed and agreed behind closed doors. Mercedes appear magnanimous by dropping the legal case but still show the world they are not in agreement and reject what transpired in Abu Dhabi.

Originally Posted by Samir Taheer

Mercedes would have withdrawn their appeal only after certain negotiation with the FIA and its representatives -
- This way Lewis and Toto would look like good sportsman
- Permission to miss the Gala
- The FIA would most likely work towards their demands, without these getting published. For all we know removal of Masi is one of those.
- Everyone looks clean and the negative publicity dies down after awhile.
- And Max gets to keep his championship!

Agree with you Samir Taheer. Toto and Hamilton are businessmen at the end of the day and this whole circus is a big money business in the name of sport. All of them have joined together to close this messy end of the season as best they can. As for Masi, we will know the outcome next year

Cheers

[Turbohead]

At the end of the day, I don't understand why Toto cried like a baby- stuff happens in F1 and it's not always fair- like Hamilton taking out Max and receiving a 5 second penalty (and going on to celebrate like he won the championship while his main rival was in the hospital).

What truly matters is that Mercedes is honestly the greatest F1 team in history - they were too good to the point they made the sport quite boring. Nobody could even come close until recently.

IMO, they've overreacted way too much considering all the luck they've had this season.

Hopefully the new season brings in more competition and hopefully better road cars as a result.

[corvus corax]

Hamilton and Mercedes might get into hot waters with FIA for breaching the gala rules.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...rules/6886489/

[McLaren Rulez]

Originally Posted by corvus corax

Hamilton and Mercedes might get into hot waters with FIA for breaching the gala rules.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...rules/6886489/

"No, no Mohammed, that was so not right"

[iamahunter]

Originally Posted by corvus corax

Hamilton and Mercedes might get into hot waters with FIA for breaching the gala rules.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...rules/6886489/

He speaks a lot of Hamilton and Toto breaking rules of the FIA gala.

Well, they both do have an counter argument about
Afterall, Mercedes AMG F1 team has "formally" congratulated Max and on his championship win, doesn't mean that they are happy about it.
(why would they be anyway!)

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by corvus corax

Hamilton and Mercedes might get into hot waters with FIA for breaching the gala rules.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...rules/6886489/

Maybe since the FIA threw the rulebook out during that last lap!

There is also the Omnicron issue - France are creating havoc for UK Travellers

[BlueFreedom]

Originally Posted by Turbohead

At the end of the day, I don't understand why Toto cried like a baby- stuff happens in F1 and it's not always fair- like Hamilton taking out Max and receiving a 5 second penalty (and going on to celebrate like he won the championship while his main rival was in the hospital).

Hopefully the new season brings in more competition and hopefully better road cars as a result.

Both Hamilton and Max got their fair share of luck in the inconsistent application of rules, some can argue it was Ham who got more than fair share of luck.
In my opinion Toto was absolutely right in calling out Masi, the impact of Masi decision on the race single handedly won the WDC to Max, there was no other way in this universe Max could have won the championship in the penultimate race without the intervention of Masi.
Probably in any court of law this result would be contested and FIA has no leg to stand. Nothing to take away from Max he kept the championship alive with a car which had a significant pace deficit an extraordinary driver, its Masi who has brought the championship to disrepute no one else, as I have stated in many of my previous posts Masi should quit if he has any self-respect or FIA should fire him.
FIA famous for his backroom dealings has probably stuck a deal with Merc to drop the case which makes the sport more and more opaque

[akshye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzsio9gJPxY