The 2021 F1 Season: Was It Actually Rigged?

The 2021 Formula 1 Season had been one of the most competitive and thrilling seasons of Formula 1 history, up until the massive season finale in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Throughout the whole course of the season, two gifted drivers were clearly the main contenders for the championship. Two drivers with very different personalities, but the same determination to win. At one side: Lewis Hamilton, the 7-time world champion, aiming to be the greatest driver of all time by winning his eighth. On the other side: Max Verstappen, a rising youngster, aspiring to add his name to the champions of the sport, for the first time. The two drivers’ completely opposite but somehow similar personalities and clashing storylines, turned this fierce title fight into a sporting spectacle.

The season was full of controversy, with the championship lead constantly changing hands, creating a massive fanbase for both of the sides. However, the biggest controversy was about to be unveiled at the last race of the season.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was the race to decide the ultimate champion, the one who takes it all. Before the race, two drivers were tied at points, both standing at 369.5 points. When the race started, Hamilton quickly gained the lead and was later able to extend it to put himself in a comfortable position. However on lap 53, just 5 laps left to finish the race, one of the drivers at the very back crashed, resulting in a safety car. When the safety car is deployed, no overtakes would be allowed, but drivers would be able to close the gaps. Verstappen directly went into the pits and changed his tyres into soft tyres, which are the fastest tyres by a margin. Shortly after, the race director, Michael Masi stated that the 4 lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were going to overtake the safety car, so Verstappen got closer and closer to Hamilton, completely closing the gap at the end and immediately passing him when the safety car got out. 

In the end, Verstappen was the one to see the checkered flag first and took home the championship trophy. However, Hamilton and the whole Mercedes team were unhappy with the result. They argued that if the lapped cars hadn’t been unlapped, Hamilton would’ve easily won the race. They filed numerous objections to the FIA, stating that rules had been violated by the race director, and that the unlapping procedure was conducted improperly, let alone being unnecessary.

While it must’ve been hard to lose a championship like that, their arguments were completely proven to be invalid by Red Bull. According to the rulebook, as Red Bull stated in their defense, the race director had every right to interpret the rules, or even override them. This meant that there were no violations at all. However, the decision that Masi made that day is still discussed, and we still don’t know his logic behind it. Although it was within the rules, it was still a controversial move that caught massive backlash from the fans and even led Masi to get fired following the end of the season.

In a sport so dynamic like F1, there are infinite scenarios for every lap. This was why Masi had the authority of interpretation, but ever since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of 2021, the FIA has been constantly working to improve their rulebook and clear the grey areas. At the end, in spite of all the protests of Mercedes, Max Verstappen got the championship that would be the first to his four. This result is still being discussed to this day, but it is obvious that luck was on Verstappen’s side.