P1racenews AI automatic summary:
RacingNews365’s expert columnist and former Formula 1 Team Principal Paul Stoddart unpicks Ferrari’s eventful last couple of races in their battle for second in the Constructors’ Championship.
The last race in Abu Dhabi was not very exciting, except for the battle for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Unfortunately, Ferrari was unjustly denied second place in the championship due to questionable decisions from the stewards. The incident involving Perez and Norris was a racing incident and did not warrant a five-second penalty that cost Ferrari second place to Mercedes. Throughout the year, Ferrari was in a worse position than Mercedes, and the drivers’ eagerness to move on from the cars speaks volumes about their performance. Additionally, Carlos Sainz was unfairly affected by a drain hole cover in Las Vegas. The politics and interference in Formula 1 racing are detracting from the pure competition and skill of the drivers and cars. The stewards should focus on financial penalties rather than altering race results, unless the infringement clearly provides an unfair advantage. It is a contentious issue, but it is important to prioritize talent and machinery over politics and stupidity in determining race outcomes.
