[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Onesie

Thinking an F1 race is a “motorcar race, whoever is fastest in a 3.2km stretch wins” is a fallacy.
F1 is so much more, it’s consistency, strategy, teamwork, and rules.

Fact: if cars weren’t allowed to be unlapped, HAM would have won.

That is all. One can argue all night about “gambling” for tires, but working under the assumption cars wouldn’t unlap themselves would be the right call.

Fact 1: the FIA race director made a decision and this decision was not overruled by FIA. Mercedes disputed the decision (in the presence of a lawyer) after the race but the complaint was dismissed. Mercedes decided not to appeal the FIA decision - it rest its case. That's also applying the rules.

That is all. One can argue all night about how Hamilton could or would have won in 2021, but he didn't. Verstappen passed him in Turn 5 of the final lap of the final 2021 race and was the first to pass the chequered flag.

Fact 2: an F1 driver wins a championship based on all points collected throughout the season. Take a closer look at how Verstappen collected WDC points in 2021 and let us know how many of those resulted from team orders ordering Perez to 'invert track position' or to 'abort fastest lap'. Subsequently, based on your findings, feel free to discuss what was fully deserved and what was, or would have been, more questionably deserved. A WDC title is supposed to reflect who overall performed best that year. Check the achievements of all 2021 F1 drivers and let us know who was leading most statistics. And mind you: facts - no fallacies, please.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Refrain from politicizing the matter by suggesting a vile and baseless conspiracy theory that nationality and race has played a role in the FIA race director's decision-making at the Abu Dhabi 2021 race. You are making this up - there is absolutely no proof at all of your toxic narrative.

You're entitled to your opinion, but not to your own facts: FIA took the race decision based on the situation on track after the Latifi crash, regardless of nationality and race of all drivers, teams and FIA officials involved. Whether the race-decision was legitimate in the light of the existing FIA rules, is a different discussion. But no indications whatsoever exist that nationality and race was part of the equation.

And about the notorious final shootout lap at Abu Dhabi 2021. Hamilton and Verstappen fought it out with their cars as ultimate finale of the 2021 season. Hamilton had the advantage of keeping P1 track position as a result of the Mercedes team decision not to pit him for new tires under the safety car. All it took to clinch the victory and world title was to stay ahead of Verstappen upon reaching the chequered flag 3.2 miles further down the road. He perfectly knew that Verstappen had pitted for new tires and that Verstappen would definitely try to overtake him. Team Mercedes had made a trade-off: preference for keeping track position with current tires rather than losing track position with new tires. They gambled on the first option, as the Mercedes car had proven to be the stronger package in the final races of the 2021 season and as the highly experienced Hamilton would have the benefit of leading the final laps.

Hamilton had effectively the benefit of starting the final shootout lap as race leader. Only 1 lap separated him from the chequered flag and, indeed, he had the benefit of controlling the restart and of the race lead. But despite his excellent driving skills, vast experience, P1 track position and the knowledge of the clear and present danger of Verstappen heavily breathing in his neck, he failed to pay enough attention upon approaching Turn 5 in that all-or-nothing lap (likely he anticipated that Verstappen would attack at a later turn). Verstappen outfoxed Hamilton on the inside of Turn 5 with a cunning surprise overtake maneuver. After that overtake maneuver, the fate was sealed. The strategic gamble by team Mercedes to keep P1 track position had been to no avail, as Hamilton had squandered the P1 track position advantage in Turn 5 by failure to protect/defend the inside.

To win a race you must remain aware till the chequered flag. When under attack, cover your bases. Verstappen was aware - Hamilton apparently wasn't. Also taking into consideration earlier achievements throughout the 2021 season, Verstappen showcased during the final shootout lap against his main rival Hamilton that he did deserve the 2021 WDC title.

Of all the stuff said here this is what draws your ire? I really can’t figure you out. Plenty of other politicized comments all the time in these threads.

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Fact: Hamilton could have come in for fresh tyres just as well as Verstappen did....
The difference is that Hamilton didn't and Verstappen did...

Why would they? They had no idea Masi would change the rules and if they do come in there is a very good chance Max doesn’t and they give him the lead. Nobody would’ve came in for tires in MB/Lewis’s situation at that time.

[Marcoose]

Yep. Masi fucked up royally. Verstappen is champion*. Massi lost his job. This will never be forgotten, irrespective of ‘facts’. (Wait, and Red Bull cheated too.)

[Marcoose]

Originally Posted by minn19

They had no idea Masi would change the rules and if they do come in there is a very good chance Max doesn’t and they give him the lead. Nobody would’ve came in for tires in MB/Lewis’s situation at that time.

Precisely. Verstappen was on a ‘do the opposite’ strategy. At that point everybody knew the race would end behind the safety car. Sad as it is, that’s racing. Rules are rules. Track position was everything. Verstappen gamble worked only and only because Masi did not apply the rules. Good for Verstappen.

For the record. Verstappen did not do anything wrong. He’s a good lad, an extremely talented driver. He deserves many championships. Masi fucked up.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by minn19

Nobody would’ve came in for tires in MB/Lewis’s situation at that time.

Well the closest situation to that would be zandvoort 2022.
During the last safety car (then still vsc btw) VER immediately came in for fresh softs, giving his lead away to both HAM and RUS. RUS later also came in for fresh tyres, falling behind VER, but HAM didn't and we all know the outcome of that; VER didnt even had to wait a few turns to pass HAM, he did it straigth away on the straight.
I think the biggest difference here is that VER/RB is mainly focussing on being the fastest on the track, and HAM/MERC is mainly focussing in driving in 1st place on the track.

It's really quite simple if you know that race directors have a preference to have the result of the race fought out on the track instead of due to procedural events. Masi literally said that during the saudi arabia grand prix just 1 week before Abu Dhabi

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Onesie

Strawman arguments because you couldn’t dispute the fact presented.
(...) But I forgot fanboys get blinded by their fanaticism and start arguing…
(...) the strawman arguments won’t work with me, I don’t take baits from trolls. So I won’t be responding to your deflections of subject because it’ll become a sh*show lol.

Mind your language. Consider this a warning.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

It's really quite simple if you know that race directors have a preference to have the result of the race fought out on the track instead of due to procedural events. Masi literally said that during the saudi arabia grand prix just 1 week before Abu Dhabi

Excerpt from the Dec 12, 2021 decision (Abu Dhabi race):