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Abu Dhabi 2021 Part 2? FIA under pressure ahead of F1 title showdown
I believe we all hope that the exciting title battle of this year will be decided on the track through some amazing racing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, but what if it doesn’t?
Let’s consider a scenario where Lando Norris is in fourth, Max Verstappen is leading, and the FIA stewards allow lapped cars to pass between Norris and the racer in third during a safety car period – but only those lapped cars.
Even though the reference to Abu Dhabi 2021 is very specific and unlikely to recur without Michael Masi, the former ‘lunatic’ race director, if a controversial penalty, akin to Oscar Piastri’s at the Brazilian GP, prevents a driver from contending for the title, could we anticipate changes to driver standards guidelines by 2026?
Before the Qatar GP, the FIA affirmed that no alterations would be implemented for the last two race weekends this season after conversing on the Piastri penalty and other incidents, following a meeting with all 20 drivers. Thus, everything is fair and agreed upon before the title showdown, placing the onus on drivers if they incur a time penalty.
Given the heightened scrutiny on the FIA during the first final race title showdown since the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, where Verstappen secured the title from Hamilton, the race stewards must exercise precision in their decisions with three drivers vying for the championship – a rarity since 2010.
