‘Ridiculous’ F1 didn’t follow own rules in Abu Dhabi - Stroll

The FIA is investigating the controversial conclusion of the Yas Marina finale in which Lewis Hamilton lost the championship to Max Verstappen after FIA race director Michael Masi did not properly apply the rules during a late Safety Car period. 

Masi has come under intense scrutiny for allowing only the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves and not all drivers who fell a lap down, including Aston Martin’s Stroll, before restarting the race. 

Hamilton was left exposed to Verstappen - who had pitted under the Safety Car for fresh tyres - on old rubber and was overtaken on the last lap by the Red Bull driver, who went on to clinch his maiden world title. 

Speaking to media including Crash.net at Aston Martin’s 2022 car launch on Wednesday, Stroll expressed his frustration at how events unfolded. 

“It’s ridiculous that we didn’t go back racing in the way that we should have gone back racing,” he said. “We can’t change the rules halfway through, or at the end of a race, tell half the cars they can overtake. 

“Unfortunately I was part of the group of the other half of the cars that couldn’t overtake on brand new soft tyres with the opportunity to pass and maybe do something, not necessarily, but whatever. It’s just never been done before, and I think it’s important that we keep rules consistent. 

“I understand that it’s great to go racing and everyone wants to see the last lap of the race and the two drivers fighting for the world championship go head-to-head with one lap to go. But we can’t be making up rules at the end of a race like that. It has to be set in stone.” 

Stroll called for more consistency and says he felt F1 ultimately put the show before the sport. 

“I think Abu Dhabi was just not right,” he explained. “The rules are the rules. When there’s a Safety Car, lapped cars get to overtake the Safety Car and then we go racing. 

“There’s nothing that says half the cars can overtake, and half the cars have to stay behind, and then we’ll go racing. Those things can’t be modified during a race, just to put on a show. 

“I’m not going to get into further detail with other things, but for sure, definitely that was an example of I think just poor consistency. The rules are the rules. You can’t be changing, modifying rules for entertainment. 

"It has to be sport first, and if there’s something Formula 1 or the FIA maybe did wrong or could have done differently, then that’s something to review in hindsight. But I don’t think it’s right that happened in Abu Dhabi.” 

And Stroll is expecting further talks to take place before the start of the 2022 F1 season. 

“There’s been talks, but everyone kind of disappears after Abu Dhabi,” he added. “So I’m sure we’ll touch on it some more as drivers with the FIA and Formula 1 and all of that leading up to the first race.”