Motorsports (NASCAR, F1, etc) Discussion Thread • Page 47

It absolutely should be a consistent thing, but it’s ultimately up to stewards discretion. I will criticize NASCAR all day for numerous reasons, but their wave around rules to get lapped cars out of the way of lead lap cars should be the standard.

 

This is my first year watching F1 regularly, and I feel like FIA made the right call but just awful timing on it. Really terrible for Lewis, great for max. Fun as hell to watch.

edit: or as others pointed out a red flag would’ve been best for a racing finish.

 

I actually disagree there, I think cars should stay where they are, because they’re still racing too. But I digress. it’s shocking to me that something like this is not just a mundane, yet hard and fast rule.

As someone coming from nascar, F1 in many respects has been very refreshing. It feels (for/until now), less corrupted by entertainment value decisions. But while i’m sure over time rules will make more sense, in the meantime it’s mindboggling to me how in some respects the racing feels so over-regulated whereas other things are frustratingly subjective (this, or Lewis not having to give a position back because “he didn’t get *that* much of an advantage.”

 

I wonder if the word “any” will do a lot of heavy lifting for the FIA re: the protests.

 

This is largely Mercedes' argument. The rule as written is pretty simple and the spirit of it is that all lapped cars should be allowed to pass the SC. The SC is then meant to leave the track during the following lap.

What Masi did is allow a handful of cars by and then pulled the SC in immediately, which completely bins any strategy calls made based in the regulations as written.

That all being said, the SC rule is stupid and they should just have all the lapped cars roll through the pits to get them clear. The argument is that then they haven't completed the race distance, but that's such a pointless rule. If they're arbitrarily allowed to unlap, what difference does it make whether they complete that lap or not?

 

You know at least Netflix won’t have to add any fake drama to the next season of Drive to Survive

 

Ultimately it should have been a red flag immediately. You keep the tension but it’s fair and avoids them feeling under pressure not to end the season in a safety car, and in a competitive way.

Also i feel Masi has to be fired.

I have felt ever since early in the season that decisions were continually only being made to ensure the championship came as close as possible, regardless of what was right, proper and within the rules. This led to things like Hamilton punting Max into hospital and winning, and Max pushing Lewis off in Brazil, both of which were either unpunished or under punished. They lost control and from next year they need someone strong who can lay down the rules across the board.

But to take this away from Max would be cruel. He did what he could and it wasn’t him that made a bullshit call. If you ask Lewis, i don’t think he would hold it against Max. Max was the best driver this year and if it wasn’t for his tyres blowing up in Baku, or Bottas crashing into him in Hungary, he would have won the title at a canter.

Punish Masi & stewards, and take a look at how everything works so it doesn’t happen again. Then let’s go into next season with new cars, improved rules, improved stewarding and hopefully consistent, fun, but hard & competitive racing.

 

God this really is such a mess. I don’t want either driver to lose the championship like this.

 

lol at this being Red Bull’s #1 argument

 

Both protests rejected. Mercedes can still appeal.

 

Mercedes is appealing

 

Yeah this isn’t gonna be over for a while

 

Mercedes set to abort appeal against Max Verstappen’s title win over Lewis Hamilton | Sport | The Times

Weird.

 

From a PR perspective it was probably a bad move to try this appeal; just give Max the championship and move on.

 

Also, put this into my veins - "It's Called Motor Racing"

 

Whilst I don't like Masi, I think that was such a mic drop moment lol.

"Michael, no!" is living in my head rent free.

 

The one big benefit of the events of yesterday, is the staggering amount of media coverage pertaining to what happened that was generated. I'm seeing it talked about all over the place, even being referenced by Instagram and Twitter accounts of other sports. In our social media age this is gold for F1, with more eyes on the sport leading to more money for the sport

 

The flip side is that it happened for something which wasn't very sporting...

That radio call of Toto pleading is nightmare fuel. Sounds like Masi has his kids hostage.

 

Masi with unprofessional responses and unprofessional decisions was just as bad as the Toto and Horner pleading.

Only person who came out of this better was Lewis with how he handled everything after the race.

 

Yeah, I already like Lewis, but for the first time since like 2015, I'm actively rooting for him next year now.

 

Imagine if Lewis just walked away after this mess. He still hasn’t said anything since the race has he?

 

Translation
"New FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem will later decide on possible punishment for Lewis Hamilton, who failed to show up on Thursday. "As a former driver, I understand that he is very emotional and disappointed, but we cannot just ignore the rules.""

Aged badly the moment he said it.

 

I see his point though. He has to be seen to not allow it for the precedent, whilst also not actually punishing him.

i expect he’ll give him special dispensation and a fine.

 

I get his point too, but hilarious after last weekend it must be said.

 

Given Lewis was in the UK on Wednesday and the Gala was in France on Thursday, could he even legally get to it? France tightened travel rules with the UK this week.

Also, the fact that the FIA has strict rules about a party, but can't get its house in order on the track is laughable.

I hadn't seen anything about FIA changing leadership. Ecclestone's wife is involved representing South America too, which doesn't feel like a step in a good direction ...