A Formula 1 fan has questioned the FIA over why they didn’t release audio from the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a race which was completely overshadowed by ex-race director Michael Masi going against the rulebook.
Masi broke multiple rules in the closing laps of the 2021 season, which saw a late Safety Car not follow procedure.
Under Masi’s instructions, the Safety Car for Nicholas Latifi’s crash was brought in a lap earlier than it should’ve done, at least according to the rulebook.
The F1 rule book explains that should cars be allowed to un-lap themselves, then an additional lap should be completed by the Safety Car.
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In this instance, that additional lap would’ve been the final lap, meaning the championship would’ve ended under neutralised conditions.
Had this happened, then Lewis Hamilton would’ve claimed an unprecedented eighth title and Max Verstappen wouldn’t have completed his last lap overtake for his maiden crown.
When allowing the cars to un-lap themselves as well, only a select few were given permission to do so, despite the fact it’s a case of either all are allowed or none at all.
Following an investigation, the FIA come to the conclusion that Masi made a ‘human error’, whilst he was also made to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
A recent incident in the Premier League has caused the 2021 finale to enter discussions once again, after Liverpool had a legal goal wrongly ruled out, following an error by the officials.
The Premier League officials have since released audio of what led to the error, something which the FIA have been called to do in regard to Masi’s mistakes.
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“I have to ask why the FIA didn’t release any audio from the FIA race control room in Abu Dhabi 2021 and instead made Michael Masi sign an NDA,” @F1_Jordan wrote on Twitter/X.
Several fans agreed with this view, whilst others slammed Mercedes for not being brave enough to release a statement demanding answers from the FIA.
“Honestly, because Mercedes didn’t have the spine to put out a statement or take the necessary actions as Liverpool did, which put PGMOL under pressure,” commented @MrRamimAhmed.