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FIA launches detailed analysis into controversial Abu Dhabi GP finale
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was restarted on the last lap. © Florent Gooden / DPPI
At the end of the World Council held in Paris this Wednesday, December 15, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) published a press release dedicated to the outcome of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
A brief reminder of the facts is necessary before going any further: on the 53rd lap, Nicholas latifi send it Williams against the rail at turn 14. The safety car was dispatched to the track to clear the debris and the wreckage of the Canadian. Red Bull call Max Verstappen at the pit to put soft tires on him while Mercedes, believing in an arrival under neutralization regime or at least without modification of positions behind the SC, leaves Lewis Hamilton continue with the hard tires started.
The Race Direction first indicates that the latecomers interspersed between the two drivers competing for the title will remain in their place, before reversing this decision and allowing five single-seaters to split to reach the back of the peloton, and thus offer the tempting prospect of a head-on duel between the Dutchman's Red Bull and the Englishman's Mercedes.
In addition, the restart of the Grand Prix on the final lap was decided and effective without waiting for the said latecomers to have caught up with the peloton, which would have happened on the following lap as written in the regulations. If FIA Race Director Michael Masi had followed the usual procedure, then the race would have finished behind the Safety Car. Enough to provoke the ire of Toto wolff and his men, who brought a claim, rejected by the college of commissioners on Sunday evening. Mercedes can still contest the decision of the commissioners with the sporting authorities until Thursday, December 16 during the afternoon.
A few days after this unprecedented outcome in the history of Formula 1, the FIA therefore published a long press release, the main parts of which we have translated for you.
“The circumstances surrounding the use of the safety car following the incident involving driver Nicholas Latifi, and the communications between the FIA Race Direction and the teams, notably generated significant misunderstandings and reactions from the teams, of drivers and fans, an argument which is currently tarnishing the image of the Championship and the celebration of the first Drivers' World Championship title won by Max Verstappen and the eighth consecutive Constructors' World Championship title won by Mercedes.
Following the presentation of a report on the progress of the events that occurred following the incident on lap 53 of the Grand Prix and in a constant desire for improvement, the President of the FIA Jean Todt proposed to the World Motor Sport Council that A detailed analysis with the aim of clarification for the future with all parties involved will now take place.
This issue will be discussed and addressed with all teams and drivers to learn lessons from this situation and provide more clarity to participants, media and fans on the regulations in force to preserve the competitive nature of our sport while ensuring safety drivers and officials. It is not only F1 that can benefit from this analysis, but also more generally all other FIA championships. Following this presentation and in-depth discussion, the World Council decided to unanimously support the President's proposal. »
This initiative, coming from the highest decision-making level in motorsport, namely the position of President of the FIA occupied by Jean Todt, should make it possible to identify and gather all the comments and useful feedback. “before the start of the 2022 season”.
Thus the FIA seems to have become aware of the shabbiness of the Safety Car procedure in Abu Dhabi. Would this be an admission of failure?
Medhi Casaurang
Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!
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16/12/2021 at 10:44 a.m.
Why not apply a red flag? With all this, aren't we going to find Michael MASSI at Red Bull Racing one of these days... for services rendered after sending Hamilton to the slaughterhouse thus allowing Max VERSTAPPEN's first coronation?
DANIEL MEYERS
15/12/2021 at 11:26 a.m.
That's a minimum! Byebye Mr Massi. As a reminder, the German team has until Thursday evening to confirm or not this call, and this same Thursday evening will take place the traditional FIA end-of-year gala. Today, Mercedes did not present its Formula 1 and Formula E single-seaters for the photo taken each year with all the machines titled in an FIA World Championship. The worst is to be feared.