F1 has a hangover 😣

The mess at the end of the last race last year hasn't gone away. Whatever view you have in the result of that race, the rules certainly weren't applied in the normal way. The FIA are the rule makers, but they're not showing any signs of urgency in dealing with the concerns of... well, everyone in the sport and everyone who watches.

OK, one person probably isn't too bothered. Max Verstappen is often seen as the one who bends or disregards the rules. But although a race win fell in his lap, and a championship with it, nothing he did was at all dubious.

Lewis Hamilton has been uncharacteristically silent, posting nothing on social media since the morning before the race. There are any number of rumours and speculation in the press. He has (or hasn't) threatened to walk away. It depends on Michael Masi being replaced as race director (or it doesn't). Who knows? Mercedes' posts on Twitter have concentrated on George Russell, with very little about Hamilton.

Meanwhile, pundits have speculated about who else could be race director. If Masi goes, someone pretty forceful would have to replace him. There aren't many names. No one seems to be suggesting who drives for Mercedes if Hamilton goes. Kimi Räikkönen's available 😉.

So I predict a political fudge. The FIA and Hamilton will play brinkmanship as pre-season testing approaches. Then there will be a promise that "something will be done" but nothing will really change. Masi will stay in his job. There might be a switch to permanent race stewards, but I guess not even that. A form of words about a rule review will be found so that Hamilton and Mercedes don't look too stupid.

#F1

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