F1 last race

[DaveW]

Dave, you're probably spot on but could you explain "accepting the inevitable"
That does not compute in my smooth brain when it comes to racing.

By accepting the inevitable, I mean that there was no way w/o severe blocking which would likely have resulted in a crash and Max would likely win in any outcome of that. And once Max was past Lewis it was obvious from inside or outside the car that Lewis' tires were too far gone to do anything more about it.

Max is, as we know, a super-aggressive, hungry, driver and would have stuck it in there somewhere no matter what Lewis did. So, as I said, there was no realistic scenario in which Lewis could prevent the pass considering the tire situation.

So being a seasoned veteran who already had 7 F1 titles, logic prevailed.

[John LaRue]

Be Massi's decisions good or bad, F1 has improved its viewership considerably.

[Roland V. Johnson]

So F-1 is now a popularity contest? Just let the Director choose the winner!.....Oh that was done already.

[Bardahl77]

In NASCAR they call it "getting the call" alleging one of the Frances put the word in.

[DaveW]

https://racer.com/2021/12/15/fia-to-...10c2-274291801

[alangbaker]

And if he had complained it would have suggested to you that he's a big whiner.

No. Complaining after the fact suggested that he was playing to the audience.

His lack of complaint at the time it was all happening suggests he didn't find it unacceptable.

[alangbaker]

If it was earlier in the race, or if he was on equal tires, I agree completely. But if he defended into T5, then he would certainly have been passed on the next 1 km straight. So I'm wondering if Ham let him go because it was inevitable AND he'd rather be behind and drafting for the next two straights.

So you're suggesting that you shouldn't defend because a pass MIGHT happen later?

The pass happened and then he was done. It was a stupid choice by Hamilton.

[Kazis31]

All season Mercedes were getting free rides from stewards.
And Max was getting penalized excessively.
He won Wolrd Championship.
There is not one driver that thinks he doesn't deserve it.
Fans just state opinions.
Max is drivers Champion.
Karma is a bitch Lewis.

[Jim Garry]

So you're suggesting that you shouldn't defend because a pass MIGHT happen later?

The pass happened and then he was done. It was a stupid choice by Hamilton.

He had no choice. He was on old hards. Ver was on almost new softs. If Ham held off Ver in 5, then he would certainly be toast in the following long straight, especially since he would have been on a compromised line exiting onto that straight. Ham's only chance was to try to pass using the long back straight and pray he could hold off Ver.

[Jim Garry]

No. Complaining after the fact suggested that he was playing to the audience.

His lack of complaint at the time it was all happening suggests he didn't find it unacceptable.

I guess we just disagree.

[Roland V. Johnson]

Amazing how Sir Lewis forgot how to race after only 7 World Championships.

[BorkRacing]

Amazing how Sir Lewis forgot how to race after only 7 World Championships.

Too busy fighting the evil American and Middle East Society.

[Kazis31]

Is anybody gonna give Perez props for phenomenal blocking and sandbagging in front of Lewis.
It's racing .
This one just did not favor Hammer.

P.S.
And fact that Toto and Lewis publicly stated to not show up at ceremony .

Sour losers..

[BeerBudgetRacing]

And fact that Toto and Lewis publicly stated to not show up at ceremony .

Sour losers..

I think it's not the loss but a 'protest' of the FIAs handling of things.

They SHOULD be concerned about how all this played out.
They better be taking steps to fix what went wrong.

Max is certainly a deserving champion, but with an advantage handed to him there will always be a question.
And he doesn't deserve that.

[Jayeff]

All season Mercedes were getting free rides from stewards.
And Max was getting penalized excessively.
He won Wolrd Championship.
There is not one driver that thinks he doesn't deserve it.
Fans just state opinions.
Max is drivers Champion.
Karma is a bitch Lewis.

You know I don't really care who wins but max got WAY more forgiveness from the stewards all season than lewis got. I disagree that he was penalized excessively.

[alangbaker]

He had no choice. He was on old hards. Ver was on almost new softs. If Ham held off Ver in 5, then he would certainly be toast in the following long straight, especially since he would have been on a compromised line exiting onto that straight. Ham's only chance was to try to pass using the long back straight and pray he could hold off Ver.

Maybe he would have been toast...

...but just giving it up at the first overtaking opportunity doesn't seem smart to me.

[E1pix]

In 15 years, I’ve yet to see a single thread involving Lewis that wasn’t ripe with Hammy Hate.

What a crappy era to be a Hero.

[Pi_guy]

In 15 years, I’ve yet to see a single thread involving Lewis that wasn’t ripe with Hammy Hate.

What a crappy era to be a Hero.

There has always been hate one way or an other, your not from my country-- you cheat conspiracy theories have been about for many many years. The problem is the internet and social media you can reach the masses that you never could from a soapbox. The keyboard warrior doesn't have to exert much effort to get a rise.

I have seen behavior on the net from what appeared to be a normal person, yet he spent an excessive amount of time to engage with a convicted internet loon. When I asked why? I got I do it for entertainment.

As much as the internet provides positive items there is a whole dark side which brings out incomprehensible behavior.

[DaveW]

Maybe he would have been toast...

...but just giving it up at the first overtaking opportunity doesn't seem smart to me.

Fresh softs were likely at that point to have at least a 2-second/lap advantage over the old hards.

As I said previously, a blocking or any other move that could have prevented a pass under these circumstances would have had, IMO, a very high probability of causing a wreck - not worth the possible serious outcomes or at the minimum a serious blow to Lewis' reputation and self-image, given how hard he has worked to deserve both.

Doing a Senna v Prost move would have been either ineffective or resulted in a Verstappen win (on points or by penalty) even if they both finished.

[Garry Sharp]

The fatal mistake Masi made was the allowing of only the cars between Lewis and Max to unlap themselves. If all the lapped cars were allowed to go by which was consistent with what he had done all year, even if Max still won, none of this discussion would be happening. It would be about Lewis's bad luck that Latifi crashed.

Garry

[FVRacer21]

As much as the internet provides positive items there is a whole dark side which brings out incomprehensible behavior.

Take a look at this (I know it is long)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leX541Dr2rU

Some of us remember when we had to wait a week to find out the results in Autoweek or SpeedSport.

There was Jeff Scott's "Weekend on Wheels - if you were in NYC and maybe they did not preempt him...

The only commenting was by people who were actually there.

It took months to form an opinion about a driver.

There were few official screwups (only that the FIA always favored Ferrari or at Le Mans, the French drivers) because many races were won by 1/2 to 1 lap - except for Monza.

ChrisZ

[tige00]

Always bull**** politics in f1, Nascar is bs for allowing lapped cars back on lead lap, so now f1 is bs for doing the same, racing doesn't allow lapped cars to get back on the lead lap sorry that's is junk racing. It was given to vers.

[Garry Sharp]

Masi's statement on Monday: "I wanted to give Lewis and Max a 1 lap shootout for the F1 Championship. I wasn't aware of their tire strategies."

Garry

[swiftdrivr]

"okay Hamilton and Verstappen to VIR in Formula Fords - 10 laps to decide it.

ChrisZ"



Don't care, don't like the baby in braids, but I'd pay to watch that race!

[chrisw52]

Masi's statement on Monday: "I wanted to give Lewis and Max a 1 lap shootout for the F1 Championship. I wasn't aware of their tire strategies."

Garry

Masi has been watching too much Netflix

[Jerry Kehoe]

In my original post I mentioned the whole deal merely sets up on going posts and disagreements regarding the finish and this is only one avenue! F1 gave the entire world a reason to bitch at least until a new season starts then attention will be on who got the new rules right, or who cheated the rules best, or who was disadvantaged, etc. Thank F1 for the Christmas present!

[swiftdrivr]

And the seasonal, predictably manufactured, PR item about "will Lewis race / get a contract he likes / change teams" to keep F1 in the news. It's marketing. [If they could produce a good FF runoffs race once or twice a year, they wouldn't need the marketing ploys so much.]

[Kazis31]

"okay Hamilton and Verstappen to VIR in Formula Fords - 10 laps to decide it.

ChrisZ"



Don't care, don't like the baby in braids, but I'd pay to watch that race!

Somehow i think Max would slaughter Lewis.

[mikey]

The only mistake made last race that affected the championship was MB strategy calls

[Garry Sharp]

The only mistake made last race that affected the championship was MB strategy calls

You're right, MB strategy call was bad, after Masi made a call that has been vilified around the world and will bring about rule changes so it can't be made again.

[stonebridge20]

"okay Hamilton and Verstappen to VIR in Formula Fords - 10 laps to decide it.

ChrisZ"



Max can use my RF81