1.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 08:49:20
Spot on Ed. That finish was a farce. The end just left me in shock. I couldn't believe how far they would go just to get their guy on top.

2.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 08:54:08
Absolutely spot on ed1, you know Karen would push it through the courts
So toto should also max doesn’t take the knee the man’s a.

3.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 08:58:25
As Blackadder says, "I smell something fishy. and I'm not talking about the contents of Baldricks apple crumble"

4.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 09:02:25
Morning eds
I’ve no idea the back ground on Michael mesi but I guess he was Charlie Whiting right hand man. (Who by the way must be turning in his grave after that race! ) I just have no words as to how blatant of a cheat this man really is. I mean the amount of money that is involved in this sport and all the thousands of staff and it’s all for nothing because the FIA make there rules up on the spot to suit who ever they want to win. This is the biggest f**k up in sport I can ever remember. I have been an f1 fan all my life and traveled all over Europe to watch this amazing sport but I too feel like you eds1 and I see no point watching something that is just a farce. And this isn’t just soure grapes because Lewis didn’t win. I just can’t stand cheating! I hope I feel differently in a few months I really do hope there’s a shake up I rules and that includes teams putting pressure on the FIA in the races and given deals!

5.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 10:08:04
I agree that the FIA manipulated things to create a last race Verstappen win. I do disagree on why though.

I don't think it has anything to do with Hamilton's political stances. I don't think it hurts the FIA much that one of it's super stars openly supports LGBTQ rights (as does Vettel btw) and talks to the media about how terrible human rights in Qatar and Saudi Arabia are. Even with new ownership, the FIA clearly does not have any shame whatsoever and I don't think it matters to them that Hamilton complains about where he's racing, as long as he actually races.

Hamilton and Vettel with their 11 WDCs between them point out how bad these places are, do kart races against some women (who are probably being shot as we speak now that the superstars are gone), or paint rainbow flags on their helmets, the FIA say nothing, it gets a few minutes coverage on Sky in the buildup, then both of them strap in to their cockpits, do their jobs along with their 18 fellow drivers, and millions tune in and watch the sportwashing anyway. No damage to anyone's bottom line, and no one is really asking hard questions of the FIA. At least no one who matters. For now.

I think it's a case that they wanted a non Mercedes WDC for competitive reasons, because let's face it, no one will be surprised if Mercedes steal a march on the rest of the field on the new regs too. They have previous with this, albeit far less blatantly, where they kept changing the tire and qualifying rules in the mid 2000s to break the Schumacher stranglehold, until they accidentally pushed it too far in 2005, reduced Ferrari to midfield runners, and had to roll back a bit (banning Renault's mass damper and they did something to Michelin that I can't remember the details of) to manufacture a close contest in 2006.

Merc may push this to CAS, but I think the best outcome they'll get is the FIA bunging them a load of cash on the quiet over it. I don't think CAS will order the result changed, because to do so would deprive Red Bull and Verstappen of a race win, when, for a change, they didn't break a rule. They didn't deserve to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, obviously, but unless some collusion between them and the FIA is proven (and it won't be), they haven't actually broken a rule. Weaving to brake a tow unless you do it a braking zone has always been a verbal warning or at worst a black and white flag for first offence in a race, so that's not going to generate a penalty.

Merc could threaten to withdraw from the sport, and hope the thought of being down to effectively two engine manufacturers would scare the FIA into action, but aside from the fact that'd probably be a bluff since they've already spent money on 2022 and possibly beyond and have binding agreements with the FIA, I again think the FIA would solve it with compo.

6.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 10:13:15
Longthing - Masi was race director in F3 and F2 for a couple of years and then #2 to Whiting in F1 for about 2 seasons. He does appear to lack longevity, but I can only guess that either Whiting was a complete one man show for most of his tenure, or anyone who helped him retired before he passed away leaving only Masi.

I actually feel sorry for Masi, because although he's clearly fudging the rules you can bet he's under pressure from above to, at the very least, "maintain the spectacle". He'd have found a horse's head in his bed the following morning if he'd done that SC to the letter and run out of laps to sort the lapped cars properly.

7.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 10:23:01
Agreed, I'm done with F1. Watched the days of Prost, Senna and Mansell. what is this contrived farce? Surely a way to stop the Hamilton-Mercedes dominance. I would argue on Verstappens popularity- he's talented but utterly reckless. The fans seemed to be with Hamilton- Brazil and other places know a true champion and were fully behind him it seemed. If it is WwE are we in the era of the corporate champion vs the people's champion! That's about the last I remember of wrestling. seems like I have a new hobby to find for a Sunday too! What's womens football like? Rugby?

8.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 11:26:19
I appreciate that 2021 was farcical (that Belgium isn't the most ridiculous thing to happen all season is an outstanding achievement) but think we over-romanticise the old days in F1 a bit. Prost and Senna both got away with intentionally running into the other to win the 1989 and 1990 WDCs. Prost even had help from Balestre on the former whilst Senna admitted to the latter one, which was far more dangerous than anything Verstappen's ever done.

Schumacher got away with one at the end of the absolute clown show that was 1994 too.

9.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 12:51:36
While the final race ended in farce, Verstappen’s credentials as a world champion simply cannot be questioned. He has defeated the great Lewis Hamilton while driving a slower car (anyone who even thinks this isn’t the case is delusional. Hamilton managed to challenge Verstappen’s RB on fresh softs despite being on 40-lap old HARDS, and Mercedes won the constructors again despite Bottas spending half the season on the beach) . He did not finish below 2nd in any race in which his race was not affected by circumstances beyond his control (other than Italy, which I believe he was at fault for) .

10.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 12:10:49
Ed01 do you expect Russell to get on well with Merc?

{Ed001's Note - yes mate, they know him well and he is well liked.}

11.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 18:42:13
Hi ed I agree with a lot of your review however, for verstappen’s lunge, yes it desperate but Hamilton left the door open and verstappen made the corner. Hamilton gained a second from running wide (yes he was forced wide, but the move was just about legal) he should have been made to concede the position in my opinion. I think this season is the best season I have ever seeen in F1. Both drivers have been brilliant. FIA a sham, but I do feel you’re a little biased towards Mercedes and Hamilton. Toto is just as guilty as influencing the weak stewards as Horner and personally I don’t think they should be able to influence race direction. Verstappen has overstepped the mark at times this season, but in terms of luck Hamilton has had the better. You cannot pass on inside at copse corner Hamilton more to blame on that crash and 24 point swing, bottas smashing max at hungry and then Hamilton having rub of the green at imola. The only bit of luck i recall for max as last race and points for pole at spa as I think merc had the better package their I am not a max fan boy, both were equal winners in my eyes, and despite the farce of the fia the last lap was the most exciting finish I have seen to an f1 race since button in a wet Canada winning from the back!

Last point, if bottas did not have a stinker at Abu Dhabi then rbr would not have been able to be so aggressive as bottas would have negated that threat, in my eyes he let his team down and cost Lewis the title. Meet cannot complain though, 8 consecutive titles in constructors. I think if fia just let all lapped cars past, we would all be lamenting Hamilton’s miss fortune but celebrating a fitting end to a cracking season rather than moaning about officials.

12.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 18:44:49
Thanks for the GP review Ed001. Great as ever mate. What an absolute shambles it was and the worst case of "refereeing" I have ever seen in sport - let alone F1. In engineering the result they wanted, they have made an absolute joke of the sport. I actually feel a bit sorry for MV, as although I wanted Lewis to win (which he clearly deserved to) MV has been great this season and now his "victory" is nothing but a fake. It is also odd that the appeal is to the same body that decided the result and manipulated it all anyway, so that is clearly a waste of time. I am not expert enough to comment on the situation with CAS, so that is that. I suspect that MB will take the moral high ground and leave it be. There is nothing they can do anyway, so they may as well (unless CAS can intervene, which I just don't know) . Terrible ending to a pretty good season.

13.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 19:19:34
Man of Todd
Hamilton did not leave the door open at all. A car doesn't cover all the racing track and Hamilton was on the "racing line" pretty much. It was typical of Verstappen to try such an idiotic manoeuvre.

As for Bottas? Well, when the chips were down over the last 6 races or so, he didn't help Hamilton one bit. Lovely fella I'm sure just not that good and I'm being generous.

14.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 20:00:48
Ed perhaps I’m wrong and you can point me correct but I initially thought they retired Perez to reduce the number of cars that the lapped cars would have to drive through taking up more time. I believe they simply retired him hoping that 1 less car going round would provide more chance for the handicapped drag race to go ahead.

{Ed001's Note - I thought Perez retired before that happened?}

15.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 21:57:01
Irish rover
I agree with what you’re saying however Max was always going to try and pass if given the slightest sniff, Hamilton would’ve known that and should’ve covered that corner better. I understand it would have comprised his exit etc. But as the great Ayrton Senna said racing drivers always go for a gap (something along those lines), and I know that if roles were reversed hamilton would have gone for that move too!

Chapeau to Hamilton though, he drove a perfect race and was gracious in defeat, true champion and the goat of F1. As much as I love Schumacher.

Yeah good to see the last of bottas in the merc, it will be really interesting to see what Russell can do and also the team dynamics.

16.) 14 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 22:42:38
Could people please post their comments on the F1 Rumours page.

17.) 15 Dec 2021
14 Dec 2021 20:14:39
I'm ok with how they dealt with the lap 1 incident. Hamilton didn't give all the time back, but Verstappen's lunge was silly and late enough that as a fan I'd let it slide that Hamilton was allowed go off circuit without penalty to avoid the Red Bull missile.

I don't agree with man. of. todd that Silverstone was more Hamilton's fault than Verstappen's, it was a racing incident imo. If you can get a substantial overlap before you have to brake (or turn in if it's flat or near flat) for a corner, then yes, you can pass there. Verstappen wasn't expecting Hamilton to come wide of the apex (due his acute entry angle) as much as he did, so was relatively tight on exit and we ended up with contact. Neither was really doing anything out of order imo.

It was however unlucky for Verstappen in the sense that a no fault wheel to wheel contact left both cars undamaged from the initial touch, but speared him off into the wall resulting in a DNF whilst Hamilton goes on to collect max points. Add Baku (no tire delamination and Ver almost certainly wins with Ham 2nd, +7 points advantage to Ver) and Bottas' bowling at the Hungaroring, and we're talking a 40+ points advantage that Verstappen lost really without any of it being his fault.

As I said after the Brazil review, he should've been out of range.

But it's not the FIA's job right "wrongs" caused by bad luck. And it's certainly not okay for Verstappen to drive like a berk to make amends.

On the Bottas front I have no sympathy for Merc or Hamilton that he failed to deliver when needed. They gimped him several times when they didn't need to (being asked to slow down by 2 seconds a lap not to leapfrog Hamilton in the pit phase at some stage in 2019, possibly Russia, when Bottas was 2nd in the Championship and Hamilton had about a 4-5 race lead over anyone else being the most egregious), so I actually just find it funny when they really needed him to play the team game he was too slow. Also his engine was on its last legs.

18.) 16 Dec 2021
16 Dec 2021 02:03:34
It’s an insane end to a season and as close to a fix (I’d argue it was a fix) as you could ever see. How they can justify going against their own rules I do not know but they didn’t want Hamilton winning yet again so they engineered the result. The whole season has seen Verstappen have numerous advantages and favorable decisions, this was the icing on the cake. In my opinion a very unjust champion and the sport itself has been completely and utterly tarnished, have only been a casual fan but after that why even bother watching at all?