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After a controversial ending to the British Grand Prix, many fans harkened back to the drama surrounding the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Due to Max Verstappen’s crash late in the race, Charles Leclerc’s British Grand Prix win came under a safety car.
Entering into the final lap, the race graphic said that the safety car was ending, only for it to stay out till the end of the race.
What are your thoughts on the British Grand Prix ending behind the safety car?
Of course, it should be noted that there is no official rule that says lapped cars must catch the field during safety car conditions, which makes the decision to end the race under a safety car all the more perplexing.
Fans aren’t having any of it from Formula 1, with some even suggesting that the ending at Silverstone has vindicated Michael Masi’s controversial decision at Abu Dhabi 2021 that determined the result of that year’s title race.
READ MORE: What David Croft saw British GP fans doing from commentary box after safety car stayed out
F1 fans claim controversial British GP ending proves Michael Masi was right about Abu Dhabi 2021
After the British Grand Prix, several fans took to X to share their frustration over the end of the race taking place under safety car conditions.
Many fans pointed to the controversy surrounding Michael Masi’s decision to allow only the five lapped cars between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to unlap themselves so they could resume the race after the safety car had been introduced.
Interestingly, these fans claimed the ending of the British Grand Prix was exactly what Masi didn’t do, with one fan writing, “Ironically they followed the rule they failed to follow in Abu Dhabi ’21!”
However, other fans believe this race ending vindicated Masi, as another fan said, “Just shows how correct 2021 was and that crash was with many more laps to go than today!”
“With each passing day, Abu Dhabi 2021 becomes more valuable. Michael Masi, you did nothing wrong,” claimed a third aggrieved F1 fan.
A fourth fan went a more hostile route by claiming, “Everyone that criticized Michael Masi in 2021 is responsible for this horrible display today!”
“Somewhere, Michael Masi is saying at least he gave everyone a lap of racing,” added a fifth fan left disappointed by the end of the British Grand Prix.
A sixth fan summed it up by noting, “Last time someone ‘let them race’ you guys crucified him and got him fired!”
READ MORE: Martin Brundle and David Coulthard agree on Lewis Hamilton penalty at British Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc wins the British Grand Prix! Was he lucky, or was it fully deserved?
Toto Wolff also references 2021 controversy after British Grand Prix ending
While speaking to Sky Sports after the race, Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff couldn’t help but joke about the situation in 2021.
“I would have preferred it had happened in 2021, but it was good to see the rules being followed.”
Of course, Wolff famously protested the decision from Masi during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as it resulted in Hamilton losing the world championship to Max Verstappen.
But he wasn’t the only one to make this point, with Anthony Davidson suggesting the events of Abu Dhabi played a part in the decision today.
“Everyone is very sensitive after Abu Dhabi 2021, and everyone wants to make sure that that kind of mistake never happens again.”
Unfortunately for Lewis Hamilton, he finds himself on the losing end of a controversial safety car decision for the second time in his career.
In the days to come, there is bound to be a lot of discussion surrounding the ending of the British Grand Prix, as it played a huge part in the result.
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