Formula 1 - 2021 Season

So gracious he skipped the mandatory post race press conference.

 

All things considered, he's been very gracious.
I suspect more so than majority of the other drivers would've been.

 

Graciousness applies to competitors (see: Christian Horner for an antonym). Tolerance may be more appropriate to press interviews. I’ve watched a few pressers and they’re mostly worthless. “A question for Max. You said winning a title wouldn’t change your life. For reals?”

That said, Lewis is pretty transparent in post-session or -race interviews. Super chipper when he does well, super down when he doesn’t, and so quick to patronize Bottas it hurts. Not sure you’d get anything worthwhile out of him.

Edit: Eh, I’ve said my piece. Max is blameless, Checo may have been RB’s smartest move, Lewis drove an almost flawless last race. I think the end of the race was handled poorly by both Masi and the stewards, and that’s been consistent for the whole year. Really disappointing. Next year is even more interesting if Lewis returns to a more competitive teammate in mixed up, more competitive field. I wonder if I’ll care if the refs remain equally unable to follow their own rules. I’m here for legit competition, not manufactured drama. I was as bored as anyone by Mercedes’ (and Lewis’) dominance, but there’s competition throughout the field worth watching.

 

Perhaps, but being less of an asshole than anyone in that group isn't much of achievement.

 

Lewis Hamilton receives knighthood days after being denied F1 title - BBC Sport
Congrats Sir Lewis Hamilton!

 

Huh, I'd kinda assumed they'd have given him that already.
About time then.

 

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 'tarnishing image' of F1, says sport's governing body - BBC Sport

 

I recon the big reason they won't appeal is toto tried to influence the safety car not to come out.

From a strict WHS perspective in my county trying to influence a safety process for ones on gain is very much a criminal offence.

Best. To let sleeping dogs lie , they already have favorable public opinion.

 

lol you need to gain some perspective

 

Very unlucky Hamilton in last race and probably best decision after Latifi crash would be red flag. Imo safecars and redflags are too unfair for leading drivers but people like drama and little randomness in races.

 

I didn't even mind safety car, but either let all drivers unlap or none is my issue.
If you don't have time to let them all unlap then choice is simple, don't let any.
Even letting those couple actually meant was going against safety car rules as wasn't able to do the normal lap etc

 

yeah that for sure was controversial also

 

Some kinda hilarious takes on the Latifi crash going around along the lines

 

Merc dropped their appeal, FIA will appoint a commission but sad about people “misunderstanding” what happened at the end of the race (“sorry not sorry, plebs”): The Race video summary, with quotes from both sides.

It’s really the only option for Merc, short of directly calling for Masi’s head and a permanent set of stewards. I’m curious to see if the stewards treat Max differently next year.

Can’t wait for Mercs’ debrief video.

I guess they allowed Lewis to keep ahead of Max after the lap one divebomb because Max—even though he made the corner—didn’t leave Lewis any room despite them being side by side? That’s consistent with them threatening Lewis with a black and white flag for escorting Max off the track at T27 in Jeddah, but inconsistent with not even investigating Max’s defense in Brazil (and the precedent established when Max pushed Charles off the track in Austria a year or two ago that the guy on the inside owns the corner, “always leave the space” be damned). And Masi “offering” Red Bull the option of dropping Max behind Lewis after one of the red flag restarts in Jeddah is, again, confusing. Why was it an offer? Does Masi honestly think RB would prefer a five second penalty? Does he honestly not know that Max’s move was illegal (see: Seb vs. Lewis in Canada), or is he not allowed to assign time penalties? Again, who TF knows with this officiating crew?

Apparently Lewis was already offered this knighthood or whatever a while ago, but the ceremony hadn’t happened because Covid.

Edit: BBC article, The Race article with full Merc statement.

Edit edit: Ah, the FIA had their “prize giving ceremony” today. There must have been a lot of horse-trading to get Merc to drop the suit.

 

And what point would that be? That after winning how many titles in a row without any real opposition he's now quitting because he lost once? I'm sure that wouldn't come across like being a sore loser to most...

Obviously what happened was rather shitty. I doubt anyone would deny that. But the championship isn't won or lost on the last lap. Over the course of the season its hard to say Verstappen didn't deserve to win. RB had their fair share of bad luck and Hamilton/Merc definitely got away lucky a couple of times. That is the only reason Hamilton still had a chance in the last race to begin with.