2021 F1 Thread

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Interesting snippet in the lead up to the decider.

That the atmosphere between the pair and how it affects their approach to racing is important was made all the more clear in the buildup to the Abu Dhabi race. With the two tied on points, the grand prix is a winner-takes-all finale but one that will also be decided if neither finish the race. If that were to be the case, should they take each other out in an incident, Verstappen would be champion based on his nine race wins this season to Hamilton’s eight.

However, the FIA race director, Michael Masi, has issued a stark warning that driving unfairly or deliberate attempts to influence the title fight could be punished by a points deduction, changing the championship result.

Masi clearly felt the need to remind both drivers that offences would not be tolerated. He quoted the international sporting code noting the right to punish “any infringement of the principles of fairness in competition, behaviour in an unsportsmanlike manner or attempt to influence the result of a competition in a way that is contrary to sporting ethics”.

Given the importance of this weekend’s event he pointedly reminded the teams that punishments could include “withdrawal of points”. The rule is in place all season but that Masi chose this weekend to highlight it spoke volumes and raised the spectre of the title being in limbo while stewards pore over a potential infringement.

Tensions rise between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen before F1 decider

Tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen ratcheted up again on Thursday before the Formula One season decider at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

www.theguardian.com

 

[kelvedon]

that statement could just have been addressed to VER as if they take each other out he’s the only one who will gain because he has more race wins this season.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

that statement could just have been addressed to VER as if they take each other out he’s the only one who will gain because he has more race wins this season.

Possibly, but there are scenarios that Hamilton unfairly takes out/retires Verstappen and Hamilton scores at least point and wasn’t disqualified during the race

 

[eastwest101]

Interesting snippet in the lead up to the decider.

That the atmosphere between the pair and how it affects their approach to racing is important was made all the more clear in the buildup to the Abu Dhabi race. With the two tied on points, the grand prix is a winner-takes-all finale but one that will also be decided if neither finish the race. If that were to be the case, should they take each other out in an incident, Verstappen would be champion based on his nine race wins this season to Hamilton’s eight.

However, the FIA race director, Michael Masi, has issued a stark warning that driving unfairly or deliberate attempts to influence the title fight could be punished by a points deduction, changing the championship result.

Masi clearly felt the need to remind both drivers that offences would not be tolerated. He quoted the international sporting code noting the right to punish “any infringement of the principles of fairness in competition, behaviour in an unsportsmanlike manner or attempt to influence the result of a competition in a way that is contrary to sporting ethics”.

Given the importance of this weekend’s event he pointedly reminded the teams that punishments could include “withdrawal of points”. The rule is in place all season but that Masi chose this weekend to highlight it spoke volumes and raised the spectre of the title being in limbo while stewards pore over a potential infringement.

Tensions rise between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen before F1 decider

Tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen ratcheted up again on Thursday before the Formula One season decider at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

www.theguardian.com

Masi should also be talking to Bottas and Perez as well as we saw the slow inlap from Bottas in Jeddah to save Mercedes double stacking in the pits but this compromised Verstappens race.

I think this is a problem entirely of the stewards own making, although he has matured a lot and driven very well this season (in fact I'd argue that given the exact same car that Verstappen would easily beat Hamilton) I remember the first few seasons where Verstappen was racing and the stewards gave him an inordinate amount of latitude moving around in the braking zones, and seeing many collisions and accidents with other drivers. The FIA stewards gave Verstappen a lot more latitude than any other driver out there, and I suspect this was partially inexperience and youth but also a deliberate ploy to signal to the rest of the paddock that Verstappen isn't afraid to tangle wheels, regardless of whether the competitors were on a different strategy or a direct threat or not. This worked to some degree when we saw a lot of experienced drivers keep a wide berth away from the rear of Verstappens car in the past and only committing to overtakes of Verstappen when there was no possibility of collision i.e. DRS straight overtakes, whereas other drivers were quite content to race almost within millimetres of each other with the understanding that sudden car movements were not usually expected - I am thinking of drivers like Perez, Ricciardo, Vettel, Raikkonen, Alonso, Bottas, Sainz, LeClerc etc,who seem to be able to feel comfortable getting their cars quite close together in the high speed environment.

 

[cjd600]

Red Bull should just pay Mazepin to put Lewis into the wall when being lapped. Nobody would suspect a thing

 

[serfty]

Interesting F2 qualifying, Piastri of course, but Doohan makes an all Oz front row for the feature race.

They start at 9 and 10 for tonight's sprint race.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Well done to Oscar Piastri - now officially F2 champion.

 

[Flashback]

And well done to VER for slingshotting his way to pole Will make for an interesting race with RBR on soft tyres and Merc on mediums.

 

[moa999]

Yep. RB probably reliant on some well timed safety cars.

 

[kelvedon]

VER on pole and soft tyres has hopefully removed the chance of a first corner crash.

 

[kookaburra75]

VER on pole and soft tyres has hopefully removed the chance of a first corner crash.

Unless Verstappen takes out Hamilton on the first corner to win by default - Senna vs Prost again?

 

[kelvedon]

Unless Verstappen takes out Hamilton on the first corner to win by default - Senna vs Prost again?

Massi, the race director has specifically warned the drivers that any unsportsmanlike driving may result in championship points deductions. This rule was used against Schumacher in 1997 when he deliberately tried to takeout his championship rival Jacques Villenenuve.
A question to the cognoscenti, VER wanted to start on medium tyres but had to swap to the softs because he flat spotted the mediums in qualifying. Does that mean that he has to use the damaged medium tyre when he pits or does he have another spare race set of mediums…in which why didn’t he use those in qualifying and change to softs in the race ? ( as HAM has to )

 

[kookaburra75]

Massi, the race director has specifically warned the drivers that any unsportsmanlike driving may result in championship points deductions. This rule was used against Schumacher in 1997 when he deliberately tried to takeout his championship rival Jacques Villenenuve.
A question to the cognoscenti, VER wanted to start on medium tyres but had to swap to the softs because he flat spotted the mediums in qualifying. Does that mean that he has to use the damaged medium tyre when he pits or does he have another spare race set of mediums…in which why didn’t he use those in qualifying and change to softs in the race ? ( as HAM has to )

Good question about the tyres. I'm tossing up whether to set the alarm to watch the race live. MrsK thinks I'm mad, but that's what we did in the old days when we watched Alan Jones win his championship

 

[serfty]

MrsK thinks I'm mad, but that's what we did in the old days when we watched Alan Jones win his championship

I used to record it, then get up 5AM to watch it on VHS.

These days I just watch it on Kayo Mondays- avoiding sports results during in the day (and this thread )

 

[JessicaTam]

I will be watching it live. Expect commentary in this thread though-out*. You have been warned!

*As long as there is someone to talk to.

 

[serfty]

Massi, the race director has specifically warned the drivers that any unsportsmanlike driving may result in championship points deductions. This rule was used against Schumacher in 1997 when he deliberately tried to takeout his championship rival Jacques Villenenuve.

Can they penalise cross teams?

Bottas "did a great job for Mercedes taking out both of our cars" - Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said his team had suffered "hugely bad luck" after a first-lap collision involving both of his cars at the Hungaroring.

www.racefans.net

 

[kookaburra75]

I used to record it, then get up 5AM to watch it on VHS.

These days I just watch it on Kayo Mondays- avoiding sports results during in the day (and this thread )

In 1981 we didn't have VHS and being poor students we wouldn't have had access anyway. I too, rely on Kayo Catch Up, but it's not quite the same as seeing it live. @JessicaTam and i might be swapping messages through the night

 

[JessicaTam]

Can they penalise cross teams?

Bottas "did a great job for Mercedes taking out both of our cars" - Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said his team had suffered "hugely bad luck" after a first-lap collision involving both of his cars at the Hungaroring.

www.racefans.net

I reckon Masi could do whatever he liked. Surely there has to be a 'god' clause in the rules?

 

[Flashback]

Surprised they didn't penalise BOT for last week's efforts backing up VER, but there you go.

 

[Meggsy]

A question to the cognoscenti, VER wanted to start on medium tyres but had to swap to the softs because he flat spotted the mediums in qualifying. Does that mean that he has to use the damaged medium tyre when he pits or does he have another spare race set of mediums…in which why didn’t he use those in qualifying and change to softs in the race ? ( as HAM has to )

They can be replaced at the discretion of the Technical Director following an inspection of the damage. Not sure if flat spots meet the criteria for ‘damaged’. He still has a further 2 sets of mediums to be used. I suspect he switched to softs to ensure he progressed to Q3.