I'd guess Merc are hoping to get Max a 5 second penalty for getting too close/alongside/marginally in front under the safety car. I highly doubt their chances.
I suspect this is exactly what they'll want (the count back that is). Let's be honest, the race result is already tainted so they may as well try and get the win given to them, and I'm sure Mercedes only needed to score 17 points, regardless of what RB did, to claim the WCC so that's safe regardless.
Indeed, if Masi had let all of the lapped cars past - fine... If he'd let none of them past - also probably fine [if iirc not adhering to the letter of the regs]... It was the whole - no lapped cars can pass... ok we've changed our minds, they can, but only the ones between hamilton and verstappen so f1 and netflix can have their clip of it being won on the last lap of the last race... If it had been either of the first 2 outcomes i'm not sure merc would have grounds to complain...
They also would have possibly won under both scenarios.... Letting none past and the loosing team would have protested anyway as procedure wasn't fully followed The only way to end it was under the safety car or red flagged it until the danger was clear citing debris on track and have a restart. You would still have your show then
And even then, at least one of the teams would probably argue the race shouldn't restart having been red flagged so close to the end.... Red flagging it the moment Latifi hit the wall was, in hindsight at least, probably the least worst option as it would've left a 5 or so lap balls out sprint to the chequered flag with both on the freshest tyres they could muster and running on as little fuel as they could get away with [assuming they're allowed to touch the fuel under a red flag ofc].
probably tho at least Azerbaijan can be pointed to. We could also have looked forward to Lewis bringing "the magic" again
I was thinking more the likes of AT [though they'd not want to annoy the big brother bull] and Mclaren wanting to cement their results and not risk losing them on the restart...
I discounted them as the race had no impact for any team. Maybe a couple of drivers could have changed but at this point were probably already mentally pre season testing at this point anyway
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ there might've been a waffer thin chance of a swap in constructor places somewhere down the list...
I guess Schumacher could have won the race to leap Alfa (+13) and Williams (+23). Ferrari 307.5 +16 = 323.5 (40 ahead to begin) McLaren 269 +6 = 275 (120 ahead to begin) Alpine 149 + 6 = 155 (47 ahead to begin) Alphatauri 102 + 22 = 142 (25 ahead to begin) Aston Martin 77 + 0 = 77 (54 ahead to begin) Williams 23 +0 = 23 (both drivers out by safety car period) Alfa Romeo 13 + 0 = 13 (both drivers out by safety car period) Haas 0 (both drivers out by start of the season) You are correct Aston could have taken Alpha but would have required an insane swing. Don't think they were in the points at any point during the race
Masi making up the rules as he goes. Either no lapped cars should be allowed to pass or all. Disgusted.
Tweet— Twitter API (@user) date I can't see it being left at that tbh... i can't see merc letting this go
I can imagine several lawyers are rubbing their hands at potential earnings. I see Horner says Latifi (I always precede that with Queen in my head) will probably get himself a lifetime supply of Red Bull.
I hope not, Masi changed the rules to manipulate an opportunity to have the protagonists race to the line - however one driver was several disadvantaged. This just stinks - and I’ve been watching F1 since the 80s
