Formula 1, Moto GP, WSB, 2021 Season

[st13phil]

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Nikita Mazepin tests positive for Covid

Haas driver Nikita Mazepin tests positive for Covid-19 but will not have a "wider impact" on the title-deciding Abu Dhabi GP, says Formula 1.

www.bbc.co.uk

According to the article, "Haas driver Nikita Mazepin testing positive for Covid-19 will not have a "wider impact" on the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix".

[Sarcasm Mode]
I beg to differ: It means there's less chance of a Safety Car or Red Flag to deal with his (almost) inevitable spin / crash.
[/Sarcasm Mode]

More seriously, I wish him well and a speedy recovery.

 

[Steveml63]

Hi,
I drove from Abu Dhabi to Dubai this morning for a meeting.
As I drove past a few hotels - all I saw outside each hotel was a sea of orange clad Verstappen fans!
This was repeated in the numerous coaches that I overtook on the motorway - on my return journey to Abu Dhabi after the meeting.
I stopped for fuel & a bite to eat at the services and again - loads of really decent Dutch supporters on their way to the race!
I had a chat with one group - they had bought their tickets back in June - and had no idea back then how important today’s race was for them and their countryman!
I look forward to today’s race - hope it is exciting and a clean run to the title.
May the best racer win!
Cheers
Steve

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

This must be a big race because it’s the first one I’ve watched live for several years and it’s the only race I’ve ever paid for!

 

[Steveml63]

This must be a big race because it’s the first one I’ve watched live for several years and it’s the only race I’ve ever paid for!

Are you in Abu Dhabi?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Are you in Abu Dhabi?

I wish! I’m on my sofa! Pay per view on TV

I’d have messaged you had I been out there

 

[whitenemesis]

This must be a big race because it’s the first one I’ve watched live for several years and it’s the only race I’ve ever paid for!

Live on Ch4 right now, presented by Sky Sports

 

[E55BOF]

Hi,
I drove from Abu Dhabi to Dubai this morning for a meeting.
As I drove past a few hotels - all I saw outside each hotel was a sea of orange clad Verstappen fans!
This was repeated in the numerous coaches that I overtook on the motorway - on my return journey to Abu Dhabi after the meeting.
I stopped for fuel & a bite to eat at the services and again - loads of really decent Dutch supporters on their way to the race!
I had a chat with one group - they had bought their tickets back in June - and had no idea back then how important today’s race was for them and their countryman!
I look forward to today’s race - hope it is exciting and a clean run to the title.
May the best racer win!

It's a huge thing for Dutch F1 fans; they've never had a GP winner before Max Verstappen, let alone a world champion. I wish them well for the future, but not today...

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Live on Ch4 right now, presented by Sky Sports

I had no idea it was on Channel 4 - my wife just told me - I blooming paid a tenner for the first time too.

I must be in the mood for wasting money on events. I had bought tickets for a concert last night, and completely forgotten about it. I missed all but of the reminders on my phone and smart devices. The one I noticed was 30 minutes before the start time, and I was half way through cooling three filet steaks! The concert lost.

 

[Stratman]

Just let them race.

©C. Horner

 

[GeeJayW]

Just let them race.

©C. Horner

I thought Lewis was going to have to give the place back.

 

[190]

If Lewis had to give the place back then Max should have had a time penalty for forcing another car off the track. In that context the decision of no action was fair.

Max does this deliberately by going into the corner so fast he has no chance of getting round without pushing the other car out. He will winge and say he did nothing wrong which just proves that he will never learn to play fair.

 

[Steveml63]

Verstappen the cheat!

 

[Flyinspanner]

Well - an interesting (weird/possibly incorrect allowing only 5 cars past)
end to this years F1
-arguements to begin?

 

[T5R+]

First time that I have ever felt sorry for Lewis.

 

[Swotty]

Guys, what just happened there?

LH was 13 seconds ahead before the late safety car. Then the lapped cars were allowed to overtake the safety car and MV was immediately behind LH.

Where did those 13 seconds go?

 

[190]

Where did those 13 seconds go?

Shambolic race direction and possibly even against the rules in only allowing some cars to overtake the safety car.

 

[whitenemesis]

Not enough time to let all the lapped cars through and start racing again..
Perhaps the race should have finished under the Safety Car?

 

[GeeJayW]

‘Amazing’ decisions from race control today. I just don’t want hear anything more about how the FIA have got it in for Max or are favouring Mercedes and Hamilton. At least the actual ‘racing‘ was fairly clean.

 

[Londonscottish]

WTAF??

 

[Swotty]

Shambolic race direction and possibly even against the rules in only allowing some cars to overtake the safety car.

I don't understand the rules well enough but it seemed that there was a concerted move to make it an exciting and competitive last lap, despite LH's advantage built up throughout the race.

I don't have any great love for LH but my impression is he has been badly let down, even cheated.