Was Max Verstappen’s last lap victory over Lewis Hamilton engineered for Netflix? Pundits and fans claim race chief Michael Masi wanted thrilling F1 finale for ‘Drive to Survive’ – as peak TV audience of 7.4million tuned in for title decider
- Max Verstappen won first F1 world championship during dramatic season finale
- He overtook Lewis Hamilton in the last lap after controversy over safety car rules
- Hamilton was 11 seconds ahead when Williams driver Nicholas Latifi’s crashed
- But race director Michael Masi controversially allowed cars to unlap Hamilton
- It means Verstappen has a fresh set of tyres to overtake Hamilton in the final lap
- Some pundits suggested that Masi was attempting to engineer a dramatic finale
Pundits and fans have today taken a swipe at F1 chiefs who they have accused of trying to ‘manufacture drama’ for the hit Netflix show Drive to Survive.
Mercedes-Benz bosses were left furious – to the point of instructing a top sports lawyer – after Max Verstappen controversially pipped title rival Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 championship in yesterday’s dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi.
In a jaw-dropping end to the race – watched by more than 7.4million people in the UK – race director Michael Masi allowed lapped cars to pass Hamilton under a safety car, setting up a last lap showdown with Verstappen.
But while setting up a stunning photo finish and an even better story line, Masi invoked fury from Mercedes who lodged a protest that the race director had not properly followed the rules in relation to the safety car.
The FIA – the governing body for F1 – said it was up to Masi’s discretion how to use the safety car.
But it has lead pundits and fans to question whether the decision was about creating a dramatic end to fit the high drama that has gripped F1 fans this season.
Some have suggested Masi’s decision would create a ‘juicy storyline’ for Drive to Survive – a gripping behind-the-scenes Netflix documentary that has attracted a huge number of new fans to the sport.
With debris strewn across the track, race director Michael Masi (pictured) called out the safety car, bunching up the pack in the final laps of the race
Mercedes-Benz bosses were left furious – to the point of instructing a top sports lawyer – last night after Max Verstappen (pictured) controversially pipped title rival Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 championship in yesterday’s dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi
On much fresher tyres, Verstappen breezed past the seven time champion Lewis Hamilton (pictured) in the final lap to secure the race win and his first ever F1 world title
It has lead pundits and fans to question whether the decision was about creating a dramatic end to fit the high drama that has gripped F1 fans this season. Some have suggested Masi’s decision would create a ‘juicy storyline’ for Drive to Survive (pictured) – a gripping behind-the-scenes Netflix documentary that has attracted a huge number of new fans to the sport
Jordan Bianchi, writing for The Athletic, was one of those who criticised Masi’s decision.
He wrote: ‘Masi’s flimsy justification to (Toto) Wolff (Mercedes-Benz’s team principle) along with his refusal to speak to the media afterward only further undermines any confidence that Masi is capable of effectively officiating a race.
WHO IS MICHAEL MASI?
Michael Masi is the Australian who has been F1 race director since 2019. He is also F1 safety delegate, permanent starter, head of F1’s technical department and is responsible for the safe running and operation of every grand prix.
How long has he worked as race director?
Masi was promoted after the sudden death of Charlie Whiting.
Has he been involved in anything controversial?
Yes, he was responsible for the abandoning of the Belgian Grand Prix earlier in 2021. He tried to get the race under way and used his powers to suspend the race clock but it was abandoned after just a handful of safety car laps
Race director Michael Masi has faced criticism for his safety car call on Sunday
‘He might as well just have said “because I said so.” Or that he wanted to make sure Netflix gets another juicy storyline for the next season of Drive to Survive.
‘All this does is diminish what Verstappen accomplished. And what the Dutchman did should not be diminished.’
Others also made claim, including Hong-Kong based journalist Paul Ryding, who wrote on Twitter: ‘The irony is, F1 probably think the “thrilling finale” they manufactured on the fly for the next season of Drive to Survive would secure more converts.
‘In reality, the season has been gripping enough and the contrived ending will have turned a lot of people off the sport.’
High profile F1 fans also got involved in the debate, including South African comedian Trevor Noah, host of the popular US satire show, The Daily Show.
He wrote: ‘Terrible result for Lewis (Hamilton) but great result for F1. Championship decided on the final race, everyone arguing about the rules online and a dramatic ending for the next season of Drive to Survive.
‘Better to be a controversial sport than a boring one.’
Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, Sunday Times, also got involved in the debate. He wrote on Twitter: ‘That’s going to court. The rules would have let all the lapped cars through which meant no more racing.
‘They chose to engineer a finale to Drive to Survive instead. I support Verstappen most of the year. But Lewis deserved that.’
However Metro’s F1 journalist Adam Hay-Nicholls responded to suggest the move was most likely to avoid the race ending behind a safety car.
He wrote: ‘Ultimately the pressure was on to ensure such an amazing season didn’t finished behind the safety car.
‘Red Bull got a bum rap on the Turn 1 incident, the scored the jackpot on lap 58. With safety cars, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t.’
Other fans also got involved in the debate, with some even sharing memes about the decision. One fan, sharing a picture of Ant and Dec with a microphone, wrote: ‘Drive to Survive producers to the FIA.’
And even Netflix got in on the joke, posting a Tweet saying: ‘Someone should make a documentary about this.’
Drive to Survive is a Netflix documentary that goes behind the scenes with the F1 teams and their drivers.
Directed by British film director James Gay-Rees, who was behind the critically acclaimed F1 documentary Senna, it tells the ups and downs of a Formula One season from the perspectives of those involved in the sport.
The lawyer brought in to help Mercedes: Who is Paul Harris QC?
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was last night locked in talks with the team’s barrister, Paul Harris QC, a distinguished sports lawyer who has acted for Premier League football clubs, including Manchester City and Liverpool.
The barrister, of Monckton Chambers, was Barrister of the Year for 2021, as awarded by the Litigation Tracker team of The Lawyer.
Described as ‘a very forceful and direct advocate’ by legal gudie Legal 500, Harris represented Manchester City against UEFA at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The successful appeal was against the decision by UEFA to ban the club from the Champions League.
He also succeeded for the Claimant in the Supreme Court in what has been described as the largest ever UK damages action.
He has previously represented Mercedes in two recent arbitration cases in the Intentional Court of Appeal.
He also acted for Racing Point F1 team in the ICA case concerning the clutch control of the 2019 Alfa Romeo F1 cars and has acted for a team in the Le Mans 24hr race.
The first season launched in 2019 and followed the 2018 season. But with major teams like Ferrari and Mercedes denying access to the Netflix crews, it mainly followed the stories of challenges such as Red Bull and the trials and tribulations of the Haas F1 team.
But it proved such a success that more and more teams got on board and by the last season, Season Three, the show regularly featured interviews from Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team.
The show has been credited with igniting a huge interest from American viewers who have flocked to F1 since the launch of Drive to Survive.
According to US sports broadcaster, ESPN said its average viewers per race had risen to 928,000 in 2021 from about 547,000 in 2018.
Even in the UK, which has always had strong ties to F1, it has re-ignited interest in the sport, helped by this season’s dramatic title showdown between Hamilton and Verstappen.
There was a peak audience of 7.4million across C4 and Sky at the race’s climax yesterday, which was a 60 per cent audience share.
Yesterday’s grandstand finish came after a gripping title race which has seen seven-time world champion Hamilton attempt to claim his record eight title.
But he faced stiff competition from young Dutch racer Verstappen all season, leading to a number of high profile crashes and incidents.
At Silverstone the pair collided, with Verstappen flying into a barrier at speed, leaving him needing hospital treatment. Hamilton was penalised for the collision.
The pair crashed again in Italy when Verstappen’s car ended up on top of Hamilton’s in a nasty looking collision which halted both their races.
And the title race reached fever pitch in Saudi Arabia last weekend when the pair collided again, sparking controversy. Hamilton went on to win the race and level the points to set up yesterday’s season finale.
There was more controversy on lap one of Abu Dhabi when Hamilton cut a corner after being forced wide by Verstappen. Despite Red Bull’s appeals, Masi ruled in Hamilton’s favour.
But the Red Bull driver was given what his own boss, Christian Horner, described as a sporting ‘miracle’ when, with Hamilton 11 seconds ahead and easing to a race and record 8th championship win, Williams driver Nicolas Latifi crashed into a barrier.
At Silverstone the pair collided, with Verstappen flying into a barrier at speed, leaving him needing hospital treatment. Hamilton was penalised for the collision
The pair crashed again in Italy when Verstappen’s car ended up on top of Hamilton’s in a nasty looking collision which halted both their races
And the title race reached fever pitch in Saudi Arabia last weekend when the pair collided again, sparking controversy. Hamilton went on to win the race and level the points to set up yesterday’s season finale. Pictured: Hamilton and Verstappen battle it out in Jeddah
With debris strewn across the track, race director Masi called out the safety car, bunching up the pack in the final laps of the race.
Mercedes, fully expecting the race to end under the safety car, and unwilling to give up the lead to Verstappen, opted not to pit Hamilton for fresher tyres. Red Bull, with nothing to lose, gambled and pulled Verstappen into the pit lane as Hamilton drove on.
F1 season finale draws peak audience figures of 7.4million
The Formula One season finale that was contested at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday drew peak audience figures of 4.4 million on Channel 4.
Max Verstappen clinched his maiden F1 world championship with a thrilling last-lap overtake at the Yas Marina Circuit with a one-minute peak viewing figure of 4.4 million at 2.32pm.
The Red Bull driver stormed past title rival Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages of the race, having benefited from a late safety car that bunched up the pack.
There was a combined peak TV audience of 7.4 million at 2.32pm – a 60 per cent share – with Channel 4 and all three Sky Sports channels that were broadcasting the race.
Confusion reigned as under-fire race director Michael Masi changed his mind to allow lapped cars to pass the safety car – meaning Verstappen had a clear run at Hamilton in the final lap and, on much faster tyres, made his move to claim a first F1 title.
Mercedes immediately launched two appeals against the result, one against Verstappen for allegedly overtaking under a safety car and a second claiming a breach of rules regarding race restarts following a safety car period – both of which were dismissed.
Then came an unexpected twist Masi suddenly announced he would bring in the safety car for one final racing lap.
Controversially, he also allowed a handful of cars that had been lapped by Hamilton past the safety car, leaving Verstappen with a clear run at the British driver.
On much fresher tyres, Verstappen breezed past the seven time champion in the final lap to secure the race win and his first ever F1 world title.
Mercedes believed all lapped cars should have been allowed through, rather than just the ones between Hamilton and Verstappen. This would have taken at least another lap, ending the race under the safety car.
And they pointed to rules saying that the safety car should been withdrawn the lap after the cars had unlapped – meaning Hamilton would have won the race under a safety car.
But the decision to allow the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen in yesterday’s Abu Dhabi grand prix sparked outrage from Mercedes.
As the car’s raced in the dramatic final lap, Mercedes team prinicpal Toto Wolff was heard shouting down his radio at Mase: ‘No Michael, no no! That was so not right.’
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s team-mate of next year, Williams’ George Russell, who tweeted: ‘THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!’
‘Max is an absolutely fantastic driver, who has had an incredible season. I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely not acceptable. I cannot believe what we’ve just seen.’
After the race Mercedes lodged two protests to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) – the governing body of F1 – over Masi’s decision.
Yesterday Wolff was locked in talks with the team’s barrister, Paul Harris QC, a distinguished sports lawyer who has acted for Premier League football clubs, including Manchester City and Liverpool.
Team principal Toto Wolff was locked in talks with the team’s barrister, Paul Harris QC, a distinguished sports lawyer who has acted for Premier League football clubs, including Manchester City and Liverpool.
Mercedes confirmed: ‘We have lodged our intention to appeal.’ That was after their initial protest into the safety car incident that cost Hamilton victory was rejected by the stewards four hours after the end of the race.
One insider indicated that no legal option was off the table. Mercedes now have 96 hours to confirm whether they will press ahead with the appeal.
MailOnline has contacted F1, the FIA and Netflix for a comment.
Will Max Verstappen be STRIPPED of his first ever World Championship title?
The celebrations will continue long into the night for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, who won his first ever F1 Driver’s World Championship – but Mercedes have already lodged an appeal against the official results.
At the time of writing, team principal Toto Wolff is yet to comment on the drama, but Mercedes appear to have a clear case against the FIA.
Mercedes’ case looks to question a decision made by race director Michael Masi, who allowed five cars in between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake the safety car on the penultimate lap of the race – and may also argue that Verstappen briefly overtook Hamilton behind the safety car.
In the rulebook, Article 48.8 says ‘no driver may overtake another car on the track, including the safety car, until he passes the Line (see Article 5.3) for the first time after the safety car has returned to the pits.’
There is also Article 48.12, which says that ‘any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.’
Regarding the first point, Verstappen looked to pull up alongside Hamilton approaching Turn 12 on lap 57, ahead of the race restarting on lap 58 – the final one.
And for the second argument made by Mercedes, Race Control told Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel to pass the safety car ahead of the drama-filled restart.
However, Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Mick Schumacher were not given the same instruction.
Article 48.12 also says: ‘Unless the clerk of the course considers the presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.’
Mercedes’ case looks to question a decision made by race director Michael Masi (pictured at Yas Marina circuit yesterday), who allowed five cars in between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake the safety car on the penultimate lap of the race – and may also argue that Verstappen briefly overtook Hamilton behind the safety car.
It is unclear what action could be taken, but the investigation is already underway.
Ultimately, if any punishments are meted out, they will single-handedly change the complexion of the title fight – and potentially strip Verstappen of the trophy.
The fact that the tussle came down to the final race of the season means that if there are any alterations to the race result, Hamilton may take home an eighth award.
It will be nothing short of embarrassing for the sport is the outcome is overturned.
But it may also be more damaging for them to leave the result to stand, with rules seemingly conjured up on the last lap of the season to create a soap opera.
Red Bull will now speak to the stewards this evening, with plenty more controversy expected before the day is out.
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