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F1 | World Motor Sport Council to conduct a ''detailed analysis'' on the contentious ending of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

A statement released today by the FIA says a review will take place of the closing laps of Sunday’s race, following Nicholas Latifi’s crash and the divisive finale.

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F1 | World Motor Sport Council to conduct a ''detailed analysis'' on the contentious ending of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Fuente imagen: FIA.com

Three days on from a highly controversial end to the 2021 season and Drivers’ World Championship battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, the governing body released a statement on Wednesday saying a detailed analysis will take place on what went on during the last few laps. 

The championship looked to be heading Hamilton’s way as the seven-time World Champion comfortably led Verstappen with a few laps to go. 

However, a Safety Car was required on lap 53 as Nicholas Latifi crashed out at turn 14. While a Safety Car was the correct call, the huge controversy came in regards to the lapped runners.  

A message was initially posted that lapped cars were not allowed to overtake, but a lap later the five cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were waved on by after Christian Horner had queried race director Michael Masi about it, giving the Dutchman a free run at the Mercedes.

The Safety Car came in at the end of the penultimate tour as Latifi’s car had been cleared. Verstappen, who instantly pitted for soft tyres when it was deployed, passed Hamilton at turn 5 on the final lap, took victory and secured his maiden championship. 

It left Mercedes and many other people fuming, prompting today’s statement from the FIA. 

Read the statement in full below:  

The world watched every race with great anticipation, knowing that in the end, there could only be one winner. In this respect, many praised Max Verstappen for his victory, and Lewis Hamilton for his remarkable performance and sportsmanship after the closing event of the season. 

The 2021 FIA Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has prompted a large number of reactions from the F1 community and from motor sport in general, as well as in the public.  

The FIA’s primary responsibility at any event is to ensure the safety of everyone involved and the integrity of the sport. 

The circumstances surrounding the use of the Safety Car following the incident of driver Nicholas Latifi, and the related communications between the FIA Race Direction team and the Formula 1 teams, have notably generated significant misunderstanding and reactions from Formula 1 teams, drivers and fans, an argument that is currently tarnishing the image of the Championship and the due 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 regarding the sequence of events that took place following the incident on Lap 53 of the Grand Prix and in a constant drive for improvement, the FIA President proposed to the World Motor Sport Council that a detailed analysis and clarification exercise for the future with all relevant parties will now take place. 

This matter will be discussed and addressed with all the teams and drivers to draw any lessons from this situation and clarity to be provided to the participants, media, and fans about the current regulations to preserve the competitive nature of our sport while ensuring the safety of the drivers and officials. It is not only Formula 1 that may benefit from this analysis, but also more generally all the other FIA circuit championships. 

Following that presentation and an extensive discussion, the World Council has decided to unanimously support the President’s proposal. 

The FIA will therefore do its utmost to have this in motion within the Formula 1 governance and will propose to the Formula 1 Commission to give a clear mandate for study and proposal to the Sporting Advisory Committee, with the support of Formula 1 drivers, so that any identified meaningful feedback and conclusions be made before the beginning of the 2022 season. 

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