Formula 1 2021 - General Discussion Thread (Read 1st post rules)

namloc1980 · 14-12-2021 01:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319489#Comment_118319489

Sport is all about drama. Aguero last minute goal to win City the league, Henry handball against Ireland, Liverpool in Istanbul, Ben Johnson in Seoul 1988 etc. Drama in sport is what makes it memorable. Very weird to think otherwise.

fe1ki5 · 14-12-2021 01:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319266#Comment_118319266

I don't think it is a matter of being being pro/anti Hamilton or Verstappen.

I think after the hype surrounding the race, they have had to go on the defensive of the sport itself.

I have listened to interviews with Crofty and Brundle and they have spent half the time sticking up/defending Masi, the Stewards and the FIA in general.

We had two worthy winners but the whole sport was thrown into contention off the back of Masi's decisions - not the outcome any of us were expecting!!

Anjobe · 14-12-2021 01:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319547#Comment_118319547

Absolutely, but a sport that depends on drama contrived by officials decisions is in trouble.

barryribs · 14-12-2021 01:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319547#Comment_118319547

Why even bother playing 38 games of season if the ref can just say 'next goal wins' at any stage?

Max deserved the championship this year but they way the rules have been manipulated to get him there does a disservice to the integrity of the sport as a whole, and his ability as a driver.

namloc1980 · 14-12-2021 01:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319593#Comment_118319593

That's not what happened. Masi wanted to finish the race not under SC and maybe that clouded his judgment somewhat. Add to that the whinging and moaning from Mercedes about the red flags in Saudi last week which was probably on his mind also.

Officials make errors in sport all the time and we don't say those are in trouble. Some of the most memorable sporting moments are where officials made bad calls or missed obvious issues (Maradona hand of god for example).

If you think Masi deliberately contrived it for Verstappen (not saying you but many here do) then we're firmly in the realm of conspiracy theories.

namloc1980 · 14-12-2021 01:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319642#Comment_118319642

That's not at all what happened but anyway we're veering off into conspiracy theories now.

fe1ki5 · 14-12-2021 01:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319642#Comment_118319642

Absolutely! That sums it up in a nutshell.

Anjobe · 14-12-2021 01:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319654#Comment_118319654

No, he didn't contrive it Max's favour deliberately. He wanted a proper finish to the race and in trying to ensure that he completely lost sight of how he was influencing the outcome. I am sure I heard somewhere that it was Horner who suggested letting all the lapped cars in front of Max through, maybe that wasn't the case but it certainly bears some scrutiny as to why he chose the option that most favoured Max.

namloc1980 · 14-12-2021 02:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319762#Comment_118319762

All we know of what Horner said was why aren't we letting these lapped cars through - an obvious question from his POV. He didn't say to Masi to only put through the ones in front of Max.

I think it was a perfect storm of the pressure of a championship on the line, the desire to finish under green conditions (which all teams agreed was highly desirable) and the very recent Mercedes crying and moaning about red flags in Saudi that led to to the outcome.

Next year Team Principals should not be allowed to lobby the RD under any circumstances. Only a designated person on each team should be able to talk to the RD (not the TP) and not be allowed to lobby for particular decisions. The Sporting Regs need to be tidied up too as they are full of holes.

flazio · 14-12-2021 02:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319266#Comment_118319266

I think the problem is that those who absolutely despise Hamilton don't see anyone who is as cynical as they are working for any media outlets , even Nico Rosberg gives Hamilton his dues. To use another soccer analogy they're looking for the F1 equivalent of Roy Keane to add some "balance".

artanevilla · 14-12-2021 03:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319731#Comment_118319731

Absolutely not! If Schumacher had have won the last race would he be drivers champion?

They were level on points on Lap 57, Hamilton was leading the race but that's irrelevant, it's first passed the chequered flag.

jacool · 14-12-2021 03:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118320331#Comment_118320331

Not 100% correct. Max Verstappen had posted the fastest lap (not going to be beaten from a standing start lap) so he led by 1 point.

eviltimeban · 14-12-2021 03:59PM

Anyone who says "they did it for TV" or "it was just for Netflix" don't appreciate that these guys are professionals and doing a job.

F1 has always been on TV. Netflix had nothing to do with Masi's actions.

tobefrank321 · 14-12-2021 03:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118319642#Comment_118319642

If the sides are level in a game, next goal does win. That's sport. There's no mystery to it.

Anjobe · 14-12-2021 04:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118320687#Comment_118320687

Quote from Masi after the Eifel GP last year, explaining a long safety car period (https://www.motorsportweek.com/2020/10/13/masi-explains-reason-for-late-eifel-gp-safety-car/):

”There’s a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave all the lapped cars past,” Masi said.

Jordan 199 · 14-12-2021 04:42PM

Bottas behind the wheel of the Alfa today:

eviltimeban · 14-12-2021 04:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118320894#Comment_118320894

And he has the power to override that rule. And all teams agreed to finish races under green flag conditions where possible. Masi made it possible that way.

Otherwise now everyone would be shouting at him "why didn't you try to end it under green flag conditions?!?"

Still has nothing to do with Netflix or TV.

artanevilla · 14-12-2021 04:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118320939#Comment_118320939

"Young Drivers"

El_Duderino 09 · 14-12-2021 06:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118320939#Comment_118320939

Cool Christmas themed helmet.

I'd say it was interesting to learn about the Ferrari engine. He only drove Mercedes engines during the current engine formula.

artanevilla · 14-12-2021 06:31PM

Are timing sheets released for these sessions?

mickdw · 14-12-2021 06:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118320894#Comment_118320894

The race director has power to use his discretion to use safety car in best interests of getting the race finished under race conditions.

That's why he did it I feel.

I can tell you I came very close to turning off the tv after max got by lewis at 1st corner and they allowed lewis to rejoin way up ahead without penalty.

If we had then gone on to finish the race with Hamilton protected by safety car to end while he is sitting there on cold old hard tyres, I would have certainly cancelled my subscription and closed the door on a lifetime of F1 viewing so certainly imo letting them race was the right answer.

Masi to be sure is not fit for purpose. The previous race was a shambles but I think he did the right thing here. He could probably have gotten all the lapped cars by in the same fashion with a bit of communication to all drivers.

There is a terrible piece in the Indo today. Must be written by someone who doesn't know F1. Claiming Hamilton was 12 seconds ahead and basically saying anything other than being 12 seconds clear after the safety car is an injustice. Hello, the safety car and it's strategy is a big part of F1 and Hamilton was on a risky strategy in that regard. Mercedes knew that too.

Anyone claiming injustice needs to look at the race as a whole and to be honest the season as a whole. Hamilton has had the better of all decisions around racing incidents all year long.

Jordan 199 · 14-12-2021 07:13PM

ednwireland · 14-12-2021 07:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118321547#Comment_118321547

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.autosport.com/f1/news/de-vries-fastest-on-first-day-of-post-season-abu-dhabi-test/6884875/amp/

devries in the merc posted fastest time

Frank Bullitt · 14-12-2021 07:36PM

This text is a mix of 2021 cars and “mule” cars to test out the new rims and tires.

flazio · 14-12-2021 09:18PM

Max was out as well, still sporting 33 on the car. Would have thought they'd been keen to roll out '1' as soon as possible. He has confirmed that he'll be taking the number next year.

RunningFlyer · 14-12-2021 10:23PM

What a brilliant season. It really makes such a difference having some competitive teams and it was fascinating to watch all the events/controversies between Merc & RB - but that's F1 and it's always been like that. I really hope 2022 is equally as exciting and has a few other teams in the mix.

Delighted Max won the championship - he deserved a bit of luck going his way and I do feel he was the more deserving driver over the course of the season. Merc understandably won the Constructors as their car is clearly superior and should have been happy with that.

Also absolutely delighted for Checo who had a great season and win, Ocon and Danny Ric for their wins. Gutted for Lando being so close to his first win in Russia but he will be one to watch.

The finale has been debriefed and argued to death but all I can say is I've never been standing up shouting and cheering at the TV during a race than I was on that final lap, watching the two best drivers in the sport fight it out in a one-lap shootout for the championship.

Absolutely hilarious reading all those football and other sporting analogies from people who clearly only tuned into the last race trying to explain how Lewis was “robbed” of the championship. 🙈

Going to be a long few weeks waiting for the next season…!