Formula 1: Where next for sport after Verstappen and Hamilton title drama?
Why was Abu Dhabi so contentious?
In the context of a year in which consistency of rule application has been a hot topic, Masi's operational calls in Abu Dhabi, and the stewards' decision defending them, raise further questions. The entire season has been littered with questions over the consistency of penalty application and decision making, much of it surrounding Verstappen.
At the subsequent race in Qatar, all the drivers discussed this with Masi and the stewards to try to establish a definition for what was allowed in wheel-to-wheel racing. After the meeting, a number emerged saying that the situation was still not clear. They had been told that forcing a driver off the track was not allowed but that the matter was at the discretion of stewards' panels at each race.
It only takes a glance at the eruption over this topic on social media to see that among the questions being asked was whether the decisions were made specifically with a view to provide entertainment.This impression was hardly diminished by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner admitting that F1 bosses had discussed trying to ensure races did not end under safety-car conditions because it's an anti-climax.
But in the context of so many over the last two years, some are privately saying that they believe Masi may struggle to survive the fallout of Abu Dhabi.If he does go, some will certainly not mourn him. But others express regret about the situation, saying that Masi is trying hard to do his best in a difficult job in extremely demanding circumstances, and is not helped by the lack of structure around him.
Red Bull and several other teams had designs that leaned backwards beyond a certain speed on the straights to reduce drag - they became known as "limbo wings". This is in some ways a reconstitution of the role of the late Charlie Whiting, the FIA's highly respected former director of F1, who died on the eve of the 2019 season - and who, in Saudi Arabia, Horner said the sport was missing.
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