Iggle Piggle
Well-known member
- Sep 3, 2010
- 5,891
Couldn’t help but watch that race end thinking- this is what happens when the rules are followed.
Personally I have no problem with the race finishing under the safety car. Very few F1 races have a grandstand finish, normally the guy in first place is managing his pace / engine cruising around to victory. Finishing under a SC isn’t much different- I never really understood why people were obsessed with a green flag finish. I get that there can be some fun (sometimes) after a SC restart but it’s all pretty artificial.
In basic terms the race directors / Marshalls need to follow the current rules. If the sport is not happy with the consequences of the current rules then they are free to re-write them and apply the revised rules.
The issue last year was making it up on the spot, not applying the current rules, which resulted in awarding the title to the person who would have been 2nd had the rules been followed. Madness.
And F1 have admitted since that it was categorically the wrong decision, they sacked Masi, but Max retains the WC he only won through failure to enact the correct rules. Bonkers.
Personally I really didn’t see the need for it - just finish the race under the SC like they did yesterday. In terms of repercussions- LH would have got his 8th title, won all the records etc, maybe would have retired, or not, good for the sport as a narrative either way (arguably). Max would have been disgruntled and hungry and would have come out fighting this year, when as it transpires he has a car which can thrash everyone and has a nailed on WC. This dominance may continue into subsequent seasons under the new regs meaning he gets a load of titles anyway- he didn’t need the rules to be bent to hand him his first one.
Overall I say the sport dropped a bo**ock in Abu Dhabi, it compromised the integrity of the sport as it looked like they are willing to bypass their own rules to improve the show or secure a preferred outcome / narrative.
If they do want to re-write the safety car rules then go for it- come up with something folk are happy with and apply that consistently.
This is a good an article as any. Short version is they've talked a lot about different solutions but all the teams voted to keep the status quo as they can't come up with anything better.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/f1-teams-couldnt-agree-rule-to-prevent-safety-car-finishes/