Did Formula 1 Break Their OWN RULES? | The F1 Breakdown | Abu Dhabi GP

Summary

The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sparked controversy over race director Michael Masi’s handling of a late safety car situation. With only a few laps remaining, Masi allowed some lapped cars to pass but not all, leading to a one-lap showdown between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Mercedes protested Masi's decisions, citing violations of the rules, while Red Bull defended his actions based on the race director's discretion. The conflict highlighted regulatory ambiguities, with both teams debating the fairness of the decisions. Although Mercedes’ protest was dismissed, they are considering an appeal, potentially altering F1's governance in the future.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was chaotic, with key decisions from race director Michael Masi coming under scrutiny after controversial calls during the race.
• 😀 Mercedes and Red Bull had opposing views on whether Masi's decisions broke the rules, leading to a conflict over the interpretation of race regulations.
• 😀 A late crash by Nicholas Latifi caused a safety car situation, which heavily influenced the final laps of the race, leading to the controversial decisions by the race director.
• 😀 Lewis Hamilton, concerned about losing track position to Max Verstappen, stayed out under the safety car, while Red Bull pitted Verstappen for fresh tires.
• 😀 There were several potential options for Masi: red flag the race, finish under safety car, restart with a one-lap battle, or wave lapped cars through.
• 😀 Masi chose the option of waving some lapped cars through, but not all, creating confusion and potentially breaking the rules regarding lapped car procedure.
• 😀 Mercedes argued that Masi broke the rules by only allowing some lapped cars to pass and bringing the safety car in too early, violating specific race regulations.
• 😀 Red Bull contended that the word 'any' in the regulations was ambiguous and that Masi had overriding authority over safety car decisions, allowing him to make exceptions.
• 😀 A key issue was whether the decision to only wave through some lapped cars affected the race outcome. Red Bull claimed it had no significant impact, but Mercedes disagreed.
• 😀 Mercedes filed a protest, but the appeal was dismissed. However, the case may still be reviewed by the International Court of Appeal (ICA), which can settle disputes in motorsport.
• 😀 The controversy has led to discussions about the need for clearer and more precise rules in Formula 1 to avoid such ambiguities in future races, especially regarding the safety car protocols.

Q & A

What caused the controversy during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

The controversy was caused by the decisions made by the race director, Michael Masi, regarding the handling of the safety car and the lapped cars during the final laps of the race, which directly affected the outcome of the championship.

What were the main options available to race director Michael Masi during the safety car period?

Masi had several options: red flag the race, finish under the safety car, maintain the on-track order and have a one-lap battle, or wave the backmarkers through to clear the way for the title contenders.

Why did Mercedes argue that Masi broke the rules?

Mercedes argued that Masi broke the rules by only allowing some of the lapped cars to pass the lead cars, which contradicted the regulations stating that all lapped cars should be waved through. Additionally, they claimed that the safety car was brought in too early, violating the established protocol.

What was Red Bull's argument in defense of Masi's decisions?

Red Bull argued that the term 'any' in the regulations did not necessarily mean 'all' lapped cars, allowing for some interpretation. They also cited a section of the regulations that grants the race director overriding authority, suggesting that Masi had the right to make such decisions.

How did the race director's decision affect the title battle between Hamilton and Verstappen?

Masi's decision to only wave through the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen allowed Verstappen, who had fresher tires, a clear shot at overtaking Hamilton for the championship in a one-lap shootout, which ultimately led to his victory.

What does the FIA rulebook say about the safety car and the waving of lapped cars?

According to the FIA's sporting regulations, all cars that have been lapped by the leader must pass the lead car under a safety car period. After the last lapped car passes, the safety car should return to the pits at the end of the following lap.

Why did Michael Masi only wave some of the lapped cars through instead of all of them?

Masi’s reasoning was to avoid lapped cars interfering with the title contenders in the final laps. He believed that only allowing the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to un-lap themselves made sense for a clean, competitive finish.

What was the impact of Masi's decision on the fairness of the race?

Masi's decision raised concerns about fairness, as it appeared to contradict the regulations. Mercedes felt that Red Bull had an unfair advantage, as Verstappen was able to benefit from fresher tires and a direct race against Hamilton with no lapped cars in between.

What is the International Court of Appeal (ICA) and what role could it play in this controversy?

The ICA is a body that settles disputes in motorsport, made up of 36 elected judges who oversee the enforcement of FIA regulations. If Mercedes appeals the decision, the ICA could review the case and determine whether the race director’s actions were in line with the rules.

How might the FIA change its procedures in light of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix controversy?

In response to the controversy, the FIA is considering limiting direct communication between team principals and the race director. This is to avoid undue influence and ensure that decisions are made based on the rules, without external pressure.