Max Verstappen: “F1 doesn’t need to see the full FIA report on Abu Dhabi”
The last highly controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix continues to be talked about. For the one who won it, reading the full FIA report isn't of great interest, but they still hope for an improvement in the procedures.
During the final round of the 2021 season, Nicholas Latifi’s accident on the 53rd lap caused a yellow flag just five laps before the finish. The safety car came out, but here’s the thing, the overtaking rules were interpreted in an… unexpected way. Indeed, the race director, not wanting to see the GP end under the safety car, left enough space for Max Verstappen, who had fresh tires, to catch up to Lewis Hamilton. And you know what happened next, Verstappen attacked the British driver and won the Grand Prix.
Happy winner of a controversial Grand Prix, the Dutchman Max Verstappen has spoken out about the FIA report. Because while these events have taken their toll on Michael Masi, relegated to the background, they are also the source of a report about to be released.
« I don’t think we need a comprehensive report,” said Max Verstappen. « Of course, it’s good to discuss what happened in the previous season every year, isn’t it? You always analyze what you do. So yes, we will look at it, and if there are things that can be written more clearly or more comprehensibly, then yes, it’s useful. But we’ll see.
A view shared by some.
Furthermore, he is not the only one who had to answer this question. And while Guanyu Zhou refused to comment, others have also expressed their opinion, mostly stating that the main points will be enough and that we must avoid repeating the same scenario at all costs.
So, Lando Norris remained very aloof in his response: « I don’t care whether I read it or not. As long as there is a positive outcome for the future, I’ll be happy,” he confided.
The Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was also questioned on this subject. « It’s really important for us to have this transparency and have the possibility to read it. Now, will I do it? I don’t think so, it will probably be too long. But yes, it’s important to have at least the main points and the conclusion in order to evolve and better manage this kind of situations in the future », explained the Monegasque.
At Haas, Mick Schumacher shares the same opinion. « It’s in the past […], but it’s good to know what comes out of the analysis and the results. But above all, we have to look forward and obviously, avoid something like this happening again. »
