12/12/2021
NEWS STORY
Trump, Brexit, Global Warming, the pandemic... all have divided us in recent times, with no little help from that cesspit of anger, bitterness and hate, social media.
Now we can add to that list the 2021 Formula One World Championship, for whatever the outcome today, be the title decided on track with no incidents or a first corner clash that sees both title protagonists eliminated, there will be deep division between 'fans' of the sport and those with merely passing interest.
In the moments before qualifying a very close friend said that the shambles of Spa had benefitted Verstappen and that if those points were what ultimately decided the title it would be wrong.
In a comment in reaction to our race report, readers suggested that allowing Sergio Perez to give his teammate a tow in Q3 was wrong.
In other words, in the eyes of many (?) whatever happens today they will not agree with the outcome.
Add to this the media hysteria and bias and though this has been one of the most exciting and entertaining seasons in years it has become somewhat toxic.
Racing drivers are the most competitive people you will ever meet, and their determination to be the best is not confined to the race track. And as for all that talk about "the team" and "we", make no mistake, deep down each driver is out for himself. And in a way that is totally understandable.
Yet despite a largely thrilling season, and whatever might happen today, it will be good to get it over with, for all too often the wrangling, the behind the scenes machinations, the politics, the bile, the tinkering, the hyperbole, the 'for the cameras' approach has become too much.
With the news early this morning that Nikita Mazepin has had to withdraw from the race after testing positive for COVID, at least that particular corner of social media will remain quiet, but rest assured the mob will soon find someone else to target.
Other than the title, there remains the little matter of 'best of the rest', though with a 38.5 point advantage, McLaren would need a score-line of Monza proportions to overhaul its Italian rival. Then again, with Lando Norris starting third...
Alpine has a 29 point advantage over AlphaTauri, which again isn't impossible, while the remaining positions appear settled.
As we say Sayonara to Honda, we also bid farewell to Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, while Valtteri Bottas makes his final outing for Mercedes and George Russell prepares t leave Williams. We also say goodbye to the current generation of race car... and 13 inch tyres.
Each, especially the Iceman, brings back good memories, which, for a while, takes away the bad taste that has been there for much of the latter stages of the season.
Having shocked everyone by taking pole - and what a fabulous lap that was, surely the lap that would have been in Jeddah - Verstappen faces the problem of starting the race on softs - as do six others in the leading ten - which means that though he has the advantage off the line and in the opening laps, things will then swing in Hamilton's favour.
While Mercedes will look to an aggressive tyre strategy, Verstappen's best hope is an early safety car or VSC, as at Jeddah, thereby giving him a free stop.
Although the Yas Marina circuit now has a faster and more flowing layout that puts more lateral energy through the tyres than before, a one-stopper is still the fastest way to approach the race.
Both medium to hard, as well as soft to hard, are about as quick as each other over the full race distance. Starting on the soft helps to enable a quick getaway - which could be an advantage on a circuit where track position is still important - but starting on the medium gives a bit more flexibility around the pit stop window.
A two-stopper is slower but might play a role if there is a safety car. In this case using all three compounds could be an option or (for the drivers with two medium sets available) an opening and closing stint on medium with a middle stint on hard.
While Lando Norris admits to being nervous and not wanting to become embroiled in the battle ahead of him he has little choice, what with 16 cars starting behind him, not least Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
Under parc ferme conditions, the RHS front brake caliper blanking panel and RHS rear brake duct drum lower tri-dair receptical have been replaced on Hamilton's car, while the RHS front trackrod anti-rotation bracket and engine oil pipe bolt have been changed on Verstappen's
43 minutes before the start, Hamilton is among the first to climb into his car before making his way to the grid.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to head out.
Air temperature is 25.2 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30.9 degrees. There is 0% chance of rain.
"Everything OK with the car," Verstappen is asked. "All good," he replies.
As they head off on the formation lap, like the Mercedes pair and Tsunoda, Stroll, Giovinazzi, Vettel, Latifi, Russell and Raikkonen have opted for mediums, while Alonso and Gasly are on hards and Schumacher on softs.
Verstappen takes his place on the grid as his 18 colleagues slowly take their places.
The grid forms.
They're away. Despite his harder tyres, Hamilton gets the better start and leads Verstappen into Turn 1. Behind, Perez and Norris are side-by-side, the Mexican having the inside line. Norris runs wide in Turn 1 but hold on to fourth, rejoining just ahead of Sainz as teammate Leclerc moves ahead of Bottas.
At Turn 6, Verstappen is on the inside of Hamilton and as he asserts himself the Briton has to take avoiding action and runs wide. Cuting the corner hje rejoins ahead of Verstappen.
As Verstappen claims the Mercedes driver will have to hand back the position, Hamilton heads off into the distance.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Hamilton, Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Norris, Leclerc, Norris, Tsunoda, Bottas, Ocon and Ricciardo.
Mercedes tells Hamilton to hold station confident that Hamilton did not gain an advantage. Indeed, the stewards say no investigation is necessary, which will not go down well with Red Bull.
Red Bull complains but Michael Masi insists that Hamilton slowed down enough to give back any advantage gained.
Verstappen is told the decision and advised to "keep his head down". "It's incredible," he responds, "what are they doing?"
After 5 laps, Hamilton has a 1.7s lead, as he and Verstappen trade fastest sectors.
Ocon warns that his tyres are "hot".
Lap 7 sees Hamilton post a new fastest lap (28.550) as he extends the lead to 2.3s. Perez is 3s down on his teammate but 8s clear of Sainz. Bottas is 8th, 20s down on his Mercedes teammate.
The camera cuts to the Red Bull garage where Jos Verstappen appears to have left the building.
"Rears are starting to struggle a bit," warns Verstappen on lap 9.
"We can push more on the front tyres now," Tsunoda, currently 7th, is told.
Lap 10 sees another fastest lap from Hamilton (28.216) as he builds a 3.2s comfort cushion.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Yas Marina, here.
Alonso is told his tyre temperatures are stabilising.
"My rear tyres are really struggling," warns Verstappen again. Norris is also having issues.
"These are great laps," Hamilton is told, "just keep it going."
"We keep losing gears, this might continue to happen," Norris is warned.
On lap 14, Verstappen pits, rejoining in 5th, behind Norris. Indeed, as he rejoins, Leclerc runs wide just ahead. Moments later, Verstappen passes Norris for fourth.
Next time around Hamilton pits and like Verstappen switches to hards. The Briton is second, behind Perez and ahead of Sainz.
Perez is 11.3s ahead of Hamilton and therefore too far ahead to be able to back the Briton up.
At which point Perez is told "Plan B", which we assume is to stay out and slow the pace.
Leclerc and Ocon both pit at the end of lap 15, rejoining in 16th and 18th respectively.
On his fresh hards, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (27.833), as Verstappen makes a mistake and runs wide in Turn 15 as he harries Sainz.
Another fastest lap for Hamilton as he closes to within 6s of leader Perez.
Norris pits at the end of lap 17, as does Giovinazzi.
Verstappen finally passes Sainz in Turn 6 to take third, the Dutchman now 8s down on his title rival.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 18, the Australian rejoining in 15th.
"We'll be looking to hold up Lewis," Perez is told, "we expect that in two laps."
In fact, the Mercedes is just 05 behind. Hamilton passes Perez but the Mexican retakes the position. Hamilton then passes the Red Bull again, but the Mexican isn't having it and retakes the place. Perez is doing a superb job for his team.
Hamilton finally makes a move that sticks, but by now Verstappen is just 0.2s behind the pair.
To wild applause in the Red Bull garage, Perez is told to "back off". "Checo's a legend," says Verstappen as his teammate finally pits. He rejoins in 5th as Stroll and Raikkonen also pit.
So, after 21 laps, Hamilton leads Verstappen by 1.798s with both on the hard tyre.
Tsunoda is third ahead of Bottas, but both have yet to stop. Perez is ahead of Alonso, Gasly, Sainz, Vettel and Norris, though Alonso, Gasly and Vettel have still to stop.
Tsunoda and Vettel both pit at the end of lap 23, rejoining in 10th and 16th.
Bottas is third, 18s down on his teammate and still to stop. Will Mercedes run him long in a bid to do a Perez.
Replay has Toto Wolff complaining about Perez' antics, only for Michael Masi to insist that it was "hard racing".
Meanwhile, out comes the yellows after Raikkonen has a spin at Turn 6 following a brake issue. He manages to get going again and heads back to the pits.
As the Finn arrives back at the pits, Russell reports that he's lost drive.
As Russell slowly makes his way back to the pits, Raikkonen climbs from his car. his race, indeed his F1 career, at an end.
"It's a long way for these tyres," admits Hamilton, as Red Bull ask Verstappen about his front wing and whether he's happy with downforce levels.
While Verstappen posts a PB on lap 29, Hamilton responds with a fastest lap (27.484) as he extends his lead to 4.2s.
"One more lap, everything you've got," Bottas is told as Russell climbs from his car.
The Finn pits at the end of lap 30, rejoining in 9th, 51s down on his teammate.
All bar Alonso and Gasly have stopped.
Bottas is all over Leclerc but the Ferrari driver refuses to yield.
"I think the car is better now that at the beginning of the race," reports Alonso as Hamilton posts another fastest lap (27.444).
"You are doing a good job, a really good job," Leclerc is told as he continues to keep Bottas at bay.
Finally, the Finn nails the Ferrari driver at the hairpin to take 8th.
"No shifting, no shifting," Giovinazzi is told as he slows just off track at Turn 9. However, it is almost a minute before the VSC is deployed.
Among the first to pit is Leclerc, while Hamilton is told to stay out. Shortly after, Verstappen also stops as does Perez.
"Michael, please no safety car," pleads Toto Wolff, as Alonso and Gasly stop.
Wonder how Wolff would react if Verstappen was leading.
"Are we going to be in trouble," asks Hamilton. There is no response.
As the VSC is withdrawn, Verstappen is 16s down on Hamilton but has fresh tyres.
Hamilton is told that Verstappen will need "eight-tenths a lap". At which point Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (26.321). This, of course, assumed Hamilton doesn't stop again.
Meanwhile, Alonso accuses Tsunoda of trying to push him off track. The stewards do not agree.
"I won't be able to keep this pace up the whole way," warns Hamilton as the gap is reduced to 14.9s. "Bit of a risk leaving me out," he adds.
To add to Alonso's frustration he is passes by Gasly and thereby demoted to 9th. Teammate Ocon is tenth.
Hamilton and Verstappen continue to trade fastest sectors, the Briton taking a mighty gamble.
"It's a long way for Hamilton to go," Perez is told.
"We've got a group of four cars ahead," Hamilton is warned, said four being Leclerc, Ricciardo, Ocon and Alonso who are fighting for (9th) position.
Having passed Leclerc, Hamilton sets about the remaining three.
Hamilton is told to "ignore the dash", after the Briton asks how many laps are remaining.
"How many laps," Hamilton asks again. Told that is it 12, he asks for the gap to Mercedes. Told it is also 12 (seconds) he doesn't understand how Verstappen has made up the ground.
Norris pits having suffered a slow puncture, the youngster rejoining in 8th.
News of the puncture is passed on to Hamilton, the Briton advised to avoid the kerbs.
At which point the timing system fails.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Yas Marina, here.
The gap is down to 11.6s but it appears too little too late.
At which point Latifi crashes into the barriers thereby bringing out the safety car, with 5 laps remaining.
Hamilton stays out again while Verstappen pits, for softs.
Hamilton is told that Verstappen has pitted as he had a free pit stop and that if he had followed suit he would have lost track position. "There are four laps remaining when you cross the line so the field has to bunch, then let the lapped cars through."
"That's unbelievable man," sighs Hamilton. The Briton is assured that the race might not even resume, but the Briton is not confident. If the race does resume, Verstappen will be right behind on softs.
"Is he right behind me," asks the Briton. "He will be once they've sorted out the order," he is told. Again he is told he would have lost track position had he pitted.
Shortly after, at the end of lap 55, Perez drives into the pits and retires.
"Lapped cars will not be allowed to overtake," warns race control. The news is passed to Verstappen whose title dream appears to be over. "I'm not surprised," he half-laughs, who has five cars between him and his rival.
The 'race' continues behind the safety car as Christian Horner queries why the lapped cars are not being ordered out of the way.
"Why aren't we getting the lapped cars out of the way," asks Horner of Masi. "Give me a second," he replies. "My main concern is to get this (Latifi) incident clear." "We only need one racing lap," urges the Red Bull boss.
"Lapped cars 4 (Norris), 14, 31, 16 and 5 to overtake safety car," says race control of the cars separating the title protagonists
The safety car is withdrawn at the end of lap 57 (of 58) moments after Vettel has passed the safety car and behind Verstappen is suddenly side-by-side with Hamilton.
"Michael this isn't right," Wolff tells Masi.
Into the final corners before the race resumes, Verstappen remains alongside the Mercedes, the Dutchman on softs his rival on well-worn hards.
Hamilton leads into Turn 1, but Verstappen is all over the back of his car. through. Into Turn 5 and Verstappen is through on the inside. The crowd roars.
As Hamilton fights back, corner after corner, Toto Wolff is still complaining to Masi. "No, no, Michael, this is not right!"
Heading towards Turn 9, Hamilton has a tow from the Red Bull, he pulls out to pass the Red Bull but Verstappen stays ahead.
The onboard from the Mercedes seems to capture Hamilton's spirit deserting him as his rival heads towards victory.
Verstappen takes the flag and the title but again there is a very bad feel about this. Something is very, very wrong.
"Speechless Lewis, just speechless," Pete Bonnington tells Hamilton. The Briton climbs from his car, and in a superb display of sportsman ship goes to give his rival a hug.
"We were in the right place at the right time," says Sainz in the trackside interviews. "I really enjoyed it. I was very strong today, from qualifying yesterday, the car felt really good. They are two great drivers, putting on a great show."
"It's insane," says the Dutchman. "The guys at my team, at Honda, I love them so much. Finally, a bit of luck for me. And I have to say a big thank you to Checo, he drove his heart out today."
"My goal when I was little was to become a Formula 1 driver," he adds. "You hope for wins, podiums, to hear the Dutch national anthem.
"And now to be here, as world champion, with my Dad here. My family, my friends, the one's who pushed me to be better, they are all here.
"To see all this orange here, all over the world, the way they have supported me is incredible and I hope I can do this for them for a very long time.
"Lewis is an amazing driver and an amazing competitor. We've had tough times but it's part of sport, everyone wants to win. Next year we'll come back and try and do it all over again."
"Firstly, a big congratulations to Max and his team," says Hamilton, the Briton still clearly in disbelief. "I think we did an amazing job this year, we worked so hard. We gave it everything, we never gave up and that's the most important thing."
Long before the podium ceremony, social media is buzzing, with trends like "cheating", "rigged", "robbed" and "farce".
What should have been a great moment for the sport is once again mired in controversy, with a number of dubious decisions over the course of the afternoon, not just from Michael Masi but the teams.
In his wildest dreams, the late, great Mike Lawrence couldn't have dreamed up a scenario for Turk Thrust whereby following all the shenanigans that went before, a safety sees the race restart with one lap remaining and the title protagonists side-by-side.
No matter who you support, you have to admit that that whole thing appeared scripted, a soap opera for the masses, one that will be talked about for weeks, months.
At a time we should be celebrating a new world champion we are instead what appear to be the death of our sport, or at least as we know it.
As we said at the very beginning of this report, today's race was certain to divide opinion, however, we never expected anything as outrageous, indeed, might we say, as obvious as this.
Of course, when you have a media company running the show what else do you expect, this wasn't sport, this was a movie, a drama, and not a particularly good or well thought out one.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Yas Marina, here.