Best driver: Hamilton (just)

Worst driver: Perez. Well off the pace all weekend and caused a big accident by forgetting Leclerc was there.

Best team: Mercedes

Worst team: Aston Martin

Best overtake: Verstappen takes Hamilton and Ocon in one bold and brilliant move.

Worst overtake: Raikkonen on Vettel

Best moment: Verstappen's final qualifying run. Eye popping stuff (just ask Alonso), that recalled Senna at Monaco in 1988. It may have ended in the wall but it was majestic until then.

Worst moment: Mazepin almost being taken out by a slow moving Hamilton

 

And the race in a sentence: 'Suzuka, with walls'

Worst moment: FIA "bargaining" with RB - dafuq was that all about?

 

 

It wasn't bargaining at all though really, was it? Masi just offered them the opportunity to give back the place voluntarily or it was going to be decided by the stewards

I don't know though, I didn't like that though. Showed pretty weak leadership instead of just ordering them to move to third. A lot of people are catching on to Masi's shortcomings as race director now. From forgetting Ocon existed in the first place to the lack of communication around Max letting Lewis past. They seem to flip flop each week on what is acceptable racing too, a big overhaul needed ahead of next season I think.

I'm certain that in true application of the rules, the race director has no authority to order the teams to switch positions back. He can make a suggestion, which is what he did in Jeddah, but the race stewards alone have the power to enforce it.

 

 

Aside from that I agree that Masi feels out of his depth at the moment and whilst I get that it's not an easy role, especially at the moment, but he does seem wanting.

The lack of consistent interpretation of the rules by the stewards is also problematic. Although many are calling for a permanent stewarding team that handles every race, this too has potential for bias at the very least and corruption in the worst case.

 

It's also true that for years people have been asking for the drivers to be allowed more freedom, the 'let them race' argument and that this has meant wildly subjective opinions on what this means. It need clarifying for sure but certainly some will find Verstappen's aggressive style within the rules and others will thinks it's beyond the pale

The final race of the Formula 1 season on Sunday will be shown live on free-to-air television on Channel 4.

 

The channel has struck a deal with Sky to share the rights to the winner-takes-all race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.

 

Mercedes' Hamilton, 36, and Red Bull's Verstappen, 24, go into the race level on points at the top of the driver's championship.

 

Britain's Hamilton is aiming for a record eighth world title.

 

The race is set to start at 13:00 GMT.

 

Yes!!!!

Bottas getting sacked tomorrow coz they can’t use him like a bowling ball at turn 1

Sky Sports have pulled an advert featuring Max Verstappen’s British GP crash and the words ‘Merry Christmas’ after Red Bull complained.

I was shown that by a German friend last night who was horrified and I’m just like yeah, not even surprised.

 

It’s a horrific ad in bad taste but not shocking for the shitshow that is the British media.

Max Verstappen gets pole position for tomorrow's Grand Prix. The question now is will he be able to get the job done tomorrow?

The Karun & Nico Sky pad analysis of Lewis and Max's Q3 runs is a real eye opener. Don't know if it's on youtube yet but if it is, I recommend it

Max Verstappen gets pole position for tomorrow's Grand Prix. The question now is will he be able to get the job done tomorrow?

Possibly although I'm expecting an incident during the race.

pretty bad qualy for Bottas, he's usually quite good at qualifying, not sure what happened there

Mazepin has the rona and Haas are only fielding one car in the race

 

 

 

Inventive strategy to ensure they’ve enough spare parts to do post season testing

Mazepin has the rona and Haas are only fielding one car in the race

Inventive strategy to ensure they’ve enough spare parts to do post season testing

As conspiracy theories go, deliberately infecting your driver with potentially life threatening virus to save a few quid, is right up there.

And the precision required to make sure he shows positive in a specific 20 hour window.

 

 

Like it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(In case anybody doesn't realise, you can't switch drivers after Qualifying is completed}

Edited December 12, 20213 yr by Severin

Kimi will be missed. Hope he has a great race to sign off

 

Edited December 12, 20213 yr by Severin

I agree Kimi will be missed but I'm never a real fan of seeing great drivers in sub standard cars, he's not really registered with me at all for a few seasons now

 

 

edit - sadly he's a DNF is his final race :(

 

BIZARRE decision from Mercedes there, if they lose it now then they'll only have themselves to blame

Perez fought like a lion. Apparently Mercedes defines dangerous driving as „anyone who doesn’t immediately drive off the circuit out of their way like Timo Glock in Brazil“

Christ this is tense. Championship decided on how quickly they can clear up Latifi's car

They’re not moving lapped cars through so max can’t take him on the restart. Absolutely RIDICULOUS. The level of bias is unreal