FIA Thread

[siskue2005]

I only disagree with the way they manipulated the championship

It is also likely Masi was busy clearing the Latifi car and didn't realise that Verstappen had a tyre offset with respect to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race final lap. Simply he wanted to have no lapped cars (at least somewhat, unfortunately for Sainz) and a racing finish.

But that in my opinion was done by him due to pressure from redbull.. he doesnt have confidence in his own ability and can be bullied into doing the wrong things.

We all have gone thorugh that phase when we start in a job where we are still learning and alot to take in and we lack confidence. Hence bullied in to doing the wrong things, thinking thats the right thing to do.

[Big Tea]

I only disagree with the way they manipulated the championship

It is also likely Masi was busy clearing the Latifi car and didn't realise that Verstappen had a tyre offset with respect to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race final lap. Simply he wanted to have no lapped cars (at least somewhat, unfortunately for Sainz) and a racing finish.

But that in my opinion was done by him due to pressure from redbull.. he doesnt have confidence in his own ability and can be bullied into doing the wrong things.

We all have gone thorugh that phase when we start in a job where we are still learning and alot to take in and we lack confidence. Hence bullied in to doing the wrong things, thinking thats the right thing to do.

To me, this is the main thing needing to be changed. Teams should not (and should not have been) allowed to pressure the race director into making decisions, especially decisions that have to be made 'on the fly' as some things should like just the right thing to do until a few seconds after you do them. An assistant should deal with teams and pass relevant messages on to the director.

[Stu]

I couldn’t agree more, the Race Director should only have one-way communication with the teams. He should be allowed to direct the race as he/she believes is correct without being lobbied.
This started coming to our (the fans) attention last year, but because of the inter team battle for the championship this year became ridiculous.

[NathanOlder]

I only disagree with the way they manipulated the championship

Decisions went both ways, there is no use attributing to malice what can be attributed to incompetence.

If you recall correctly, at the Saudi Arabian GP, Masi was so fixated on Verstappen and Hamilton that he clear forget about Ocon and that Ocon would be restarting from pole. That may explain Masi's choice to only unlap some cars between those two rather than unlap all the cars.

It is also likely Masi was busy clearing the Latifi car and didn't realise that Verstappen had a tyre offset with respect to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race final lap. Simply he wanted to have no lapped cars (at least somewhat, unfortunately for Sainz) and a racing finish.

Surely you can see its heavily stacked in RedBulls favour ?

Of the top of my head, Spa fiasco allowing a race to be completed the way it was giving a win to RedBull and allowing another RedBull to rejoin the race when it was aleady crashed out.
The proof in brake checking by Max in Saudi only resulting in a small penalty that did change Max's race at all.
Brazil where all day long it should have been a penalty , and would have hurt as Bottas only finished 3 seconds behind.


What did Mercedes get away with this season that comes anywhere near close to those ?

[Just_a_fan]

So is it not moot point ?

Exactly. A close season, some aggressive driving from both resulting in penalties and some odd race direction, and a worthy champion in MV.

As Wheatley said on the radio, he wanted MV to have a chance to execute his tyre strategy for the Abu Dhabi GP in particular (of the many Grands Prix) and the Race Director helped get at least some, unfortunately not all, of the lapped cars out of the way for that to happen.

It's not the race director's job to help a driver to execute his tyre strategy, especially if that strategy is only open to him by virtue of the benefit of a safety car.

The safety car is supposed to neutralise the race - at Abu Dhabi it did the exact opposite because of the way that Masi allowed himself to be manipulated by Wheately. Wheatley did his job there perfectly. Masi did not.

[nzjrs]

The safety car is supposed to neutralise the race...

That's not true though.

[Jolle]

I couldn’t agree more, the Race Director should only have one-way communication with the teams. He should be allowed to direct the race as he/she believes is correct without being lobbied.
This started coming to our (the fans) attention last year, but because of the inter team battle for the championship this year became ridiculous.

Of should be less open for suggestions. Whiting had an assistant, something Masi declined. He wanted to do the job all by himself.

[Just_a_fan]

The safety car is supposed to neutralise the race...

That's not true though.

Sorry, meant to say it's supposed to be neutral in outcome. There is no intention to benefit a competitor.

[siskue2005]

[NathanOlder]

I couldn’t agree more, the Race Director should only have one-way communication with the teams. He should be allowed to direct the race as he/she believes is correct without being lobbied.
This started coming to our (the fans) attention last year, but because of the inter team battle for the championship this year became ridiculous.

Of should be less open for suggestions. Whiting had an assistant, something Masi declined. He wanted to do the job all by himself.

Did Masi really reject any help in the job? I've not heard that before. I only ever heard that he should have had help, so everyone should feel sorry for him.

[AeroDynamic]

His judgement is naive and proven to be quite poor in some areas. He's led by the teams instead of the rules when it comes to the racing.

What changes did he propose to the Motorsport Council regarding the actual rules? because from what I recall, all his rule compromises were between himself and the teams. The freestyle rule making started and ends with him it seems to me.

While I do feel compassion for him as a human being, I really don't think the other factors where blame lays, is actually a legitimate excuse for his incompetence in the areas where he is not sufficiently strong enough to protect the integrity of racing.





Edit by mod (14/2/22) to remove ‘bait’ comments.

[AeroDynamic]

Big day


interesting clothing style difference between Toto and Christian.

[AeroDynamic]

2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Analysis

The FIA President led detailed discussions of the 2021 FIA Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Feedback from the Commission on matters raised will be incorporated into the President’s analysis and he will publicly present news of structural changes and action plan in the coming days.

Sprint

Following a review of the three Sprint events that took place in 2021 and a recognition by all that the format created positive benefits for the sport, three Sprint events were proposed for 2022, acknowledging this as a sensible number in light of the pressures already on the teams for this season with the introduction of major changes to the regulations. The Commission unanimously approved the three Sprint events for the coming season, incorporating a number of updates to the format based on the feedback of fans, media and teams. The Sprint events will be:

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Austrian Grand Prix
Brazilian Grand Prix
The format changes will include:

Change of official session name from Sprint Qualifying to Sprint
Awarding World Championship points for the top eight as follows:
1st – 8 points
2nd – 7 points
3rd – 6 points
4th – 5 points
5th – 4 points
6th – 3 points
7th – 2 points
8th – 1 point
Awarding Pole Position for the Grand Prix to the fastest driver in Qualifying on Friday
Cost Cap Adjustments for Sprint events will remain unchanged from 2021.

Treatment of short races

Following the weather-affected 2021 FIA Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, the Commission approved proposed updates to the Sporting Regulations as follows:

No points will be awarded unless a minimum of two laps have been completed by the leader without a Safety Car and/or Virtual Safety Car intervention.
If the leader has completed more than two laps but less than 25% of the scheduled race distance, the top five finishers will be awarded points as follows:
1st – 6 points
2nd – 4 points
3rd – 3 points
4th – 2 points
5th – 1 point
If the leader has completed 25% but less than 50% of the scheduled race distance, points will be awarded as follows:
1st – 13 points
2nd – 10 points
3rd – 8 points
4th – 6 points
5th – 5 point
6th – 4 points
7th – 3 points
8th – 2 points
9th – 1 point
If the leader has completed 50% but less than 75% of the scheduled race distance, points will be awarded as follows:
1st – 19 points
2nd – 14 points
3rd – 12 points
4th – 9 points
5th – 8 point
6th – 6 points
7th – 5 points
8th – 3 points
9th – 2 points
10th – 1 point
Note that all regulatory changes are subject to approval by the World Motor Sport Council.

Interesting. I'm not sure what to read into this at the moment.

Why would they have no proposals to present yet? they clearly have thought about them but they want to get a feel for what the teams think first. More people pleasing??

[AeroDynamic]

Sprints really won't be just an exercise now, with up to 8 points to win. its much more of a factor now in championship. for some reason, this makes me dislike the sprint even more. Only if the '22 cars are a success with overtaking and following, will I appreciate it.

Pole position now belongs to the fastest qualifying lap on Friday. (That puts the qualifying head to head in perspective for last season officially for me!)


after the other farce from last year in Belgium.

No points will be awarded unless a minimum of two laps have been completed by the leader without a Safety Car and/or Virtual Safety Car intervention.

Good change. again, puts perspective on the other farce under Masi last year.

These changes by the teams and FIA prove too many authored and contrived points and 'race' results happened last season. along with the loss of official qualifying recognised poles from sprint weekends.

There is thankfully a sensible and staggered approached to points in short races. Based on the sensible changes, No points would have been awarded in Belgium last season, and the title protagonists in Abu Dhabi, it would've been completely different: Hamilton would've had a points advantage and that completely changes the complexion of their wheel to wheel dynamic for the finale. It also means, if this sensible rule was in place to protect the sport from incompetent leadership and race control under Masi last season, A successful ICA outcome to void Abu Dhabi would've made Hamilton Champion because he would have had a points advantage (Max gained free 5 points on Lewis in Belgium in '21)

[214270]

No points is a win from a sporting perspective, but no points isn’t the same as no race. Seems to me the fans will still be left out to dry with zero recourse/compensation if you’re unlucky enough to attend.