The FIA has released what it calls an “executive summary” of the findings of its report into the controversial finish to the 2021 Formula 1 world championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Events around the restart for a final lap of green-flag racing after a safety car period led to an outcry, an inquiry, the departure of race director Michael Masi and changes to F1’s whole race control set-up for 2022.
Key findings from the summary report include:
* A conclusion that while Masi had acted contrary to the sporting regulations by calling the safety car in without completing an additional lap, he was acting in “good faith” and with reference to F1 stakeholders’ “preference to end races under green flag racing conditions, rather than behind a safety car, when safe to do so”.
* The decision to only allow the lapped cars that were between leader Lewis Hamilton and his title rival Max Verstappen unlap themselves but not others that were a lap down was described as “human error”.
* It makes clear the 2021 Abu Dhabi and championship results are “are valid, final and cannot now be changed”.
* An admission that there is “ambiguity” in the wording of the regulations around restart procedures and lapped cars.
* It reveals that the recovery process of Nicolas Latifi’s crashed Williams was slowed by the car’s brakes catching fire, setting up the touch-and-go situation over whether racing could resume or not.
* Radio communications from teams to the race director “had a negative impact on the smooth running of the final laps”.
* Its main recommendations – a new race management team, a separate remote virtual race control, changes to unlapping procedures and the end of direct communication between team chiefs and the race director – have all been implemented already for 2022.
You can read the full summary here
