It's been 17 days now since Max Verstappen was crowned the 2021 Formula One World Champion. The 1st non Mercedes champion since 2013, Max took the fight to Lewis Hamilton in an epic tussle not seen for many a year.
Controversy has followed the 2 drivers all year. From Lewis 'unlapping' himself at the Emiliano Romagna GP at Imola under red flag conditions, to Silverstone and one of the worst overtaking attempts I've seen in many years resulting with Max off to hospital in a Helicopter (more on this later). We had the tangle at Monza. We had the 'did he/didn't he' squabble in Brazil. We had the stupidest race I think I've ever watched in Saudi Arabia. That track isn't fit for purpose, the rules were so poorly implemented by the Stewards it's laughable, with Max getting 3 separate penalties for the same on track kerfuffle. And then we had the climax in Abu Dhabi...
So, bringing it back a touch, the Abu Dhabi scenario shouldn't have happened. Max lost points in Hungary when Bottas went bowling. He lost points in Baku when his tyre exploded. He (and Lewis) lost points in Italy, and only received half points for the farcical Belgian Safety Car parade for 2 laps. And Silverstone. I was sat at Copse. I remember saying 'you don't throw it up the inside of Copse on lap 1', watching Lewis try it and Max hurtling at us at 150 mph into the barriers. With a thud I've never experienced before. He was shaken, he couldn't stand when they 1st got him out of the car and when he was put into the ambulance, the vitriol and abuse he received from those in teamLH/Mercedes gear was vile. When the medical helicopter flew over, the same morons cheered.
The 'punishment' of 10 seconds is pathetic. I've always had this view. I said at the time it should be a 'drive through penalty', not a time penalty. Added to this Lewis was able, again under red flag conditions, to repair his damaged car, and by all accounts, 1 more safety car lap would have resulted in a retirement. So, the 'rules' so far, are on Lewis' side. 'If' none of the above had happened, Max would have been the champion with races to spare.
Now I must add this caveat, that I've followed Lewis since his junior days. his drives at Silverstone & Turkey in his GP2 championship winning season were some of the best drives I've ever seen. I cheered when he won in 2008. I've celebrated many of his wins. But, and this is the killer, I've fallen out of love with Lewis the person. Not the driver, his talent is almost unmatched. In my top 5, but not at the top, that will always be reserved for Ayrton. The social media persona, the band wagon jumping, the reluctance to shut the fanatics down when they step beyond the line has made me look elsewhere. And my change isn't just reserved for Lewis. I hated Alonso for as long as I can remember, but with age comes perspective I guess especially when his almost glorious Indy 500 ended with a new found respect for the man.
Lewis' followers, the self confessed teamLH are little more than a cult. The belief that their 'leader' can never, ever do wrong, is persecuted from all sides and should always win, just because he is Lewis. It's scary. I've been to Monza many times and have never had any abuse from the Tifosi (aside from the nutter who wanted 2,000 people in front of him to sit down, so he could see, and I got the brunt of it because I was a 'foreigner'). I have heard many a story from friends at Silverstone (none of whom support LH44) who have had abuse hurled at them, or even worse, have been spat at because they dare to wear Ferrari merchandise.
And so to Abu Dhabi. And Michael Masi. Who, despite the widely wrong belief, is not a Steward. He is the Race Director. And, amazingly, directs the race. As did Charlie Whiting before him.
Imagine the scene. It's the World Cup final. England (for arguments sake) are playing Holland. It's 0-0 and there is a horrific tackle at the end of the game. A leg breaker, in the penalty box. It's a penalty, but the referee is distracted by Gareth Southgate & Louis van Gaal are shouting in his ear while he's trying to work out what the hell is happening. Getting the medical staff over to see to the player with the injury. Sorting out the inevitable handbags from both sides. Working out who to red card. VAR in his ear too. The crowd baying for blood.
Now imagine you're Michael Masi. Who is trying to make sure the marshals clear Nicholas Latifi's stricken car as hastily as possible. Making sure the medical car is with him, incase of injury. Making sure the barriers are ok. You have Toto yelling in 1 ear. You have Christian in the other. You have the knowledge of an 'unwritten' want from ALL teams to finish under green flag where possible, and you'll remember the farce of just that not happening in Belgium. You have lapped cars in the way. You have cars pitting for new tyres. None of this is policed by the race stewards, that's not their job, they are the punishment givers/enforcers. So what do you do?
It's not your fault Lewis didn't stop for tyres while Max did. You know you're running out of laps, and you know that whatever decision you take will be the wrong one. So you go for the most sensible option, as race director, with the power to overrule the regulations if you believe its the correct decision. Remember, Michael Masi can and often does, 'interpret' the regs in a way that makes sense in the heat of the moment. I have no issue with what happened. I have often questioned the need for lapped cars to overtake the safety car, this only prolongs the period behind it, and makes little sense. Why not just shuffle them out of the way? That would have produced an extra lap of racing, sometimes 2 if its a long circuit like COTA/Baku.
Max was on fresh tyres, a new set he'd saved. Lewis was on old rubber with no real way to defend. Smart from Red Bull? Stupidity from Mercedes? Lewis' car was faster, so pitting during the earlier VSC or just after would have equalised things for Lewis. But Mercedes were so committed to track position, they gave up the 1 thing that won them the Russian GP - ALWAYS BE ON THE CORRECT RUBBER FOR THE CONDITIONS.
You'll probably disagree with me. Say I'm just against Lewis and turning a blind eye to 'cheating'. But the bigger picture is that Masi did nothing different from the other 21 races of the season. Direct each one, to the best of his ability. The stewards on the other hand? Useless. Inconsistent. Biased (having a driver as a steward will always produce a bias, Luizzi an ex Red Bull driver for example). For anyone blaming Latifi for 'deliberately' crashing, or blaming Jean Todt for, 'erm, I have no idea, but it's obviously his fault as he was FIA President' needs their head wobbled. There is no conspiracy, there is no agenda. There were 22 races this season, and 1 single lap didn't win or lose the title for either driver.
Formula One needed a new champion. Whether it was Max, Lando, Charles or whoever, the sport needed someone else winning. The Mercedes domination has had me considering if I really want to watch any more, as it did from 2000 when Ferrari did it, or 2010-2013 when Seb was all conquering. We need variety. We need competition. We need new guys winning. It's no coincidence that in the last 3 seasons, in my opinion, the best race of each has been Monza. Charles winning in front of the Tifosi. Pierre Gasly holding off Carlos Sainz for the epic win for Alpha Tauri and this year with Daniel Ricciardo taking the only 1-2 of the season, for McLaren with Lando. That's what the sport needs. Not a relentless, no matter how impressive, domination from 1 team.
Congratulations Max, Holland's first ever Formula One World Champion!
