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I don't think Merc/Toto are "bad sports". They are taking the same steps any other team would take in the same situation. If the positions were reversed, i.e. Max had lead from the start and was passed on the last lap by Lewis who boxed for softs under the safety car and Masi ignored the safety car restart rules, then RB/Christian would be protesting.
Michael Masi has 2 options within the rules, to leave lapped cars in place and bring in the safety car on that lap or let them unlap and bring in the safety car on the next lap. Masi opted to ignore the rules and allow only the lapped cars between Ver and Ham. Now they first had safety cars in formula 1 in 1973. I started watching F1 in 1974 and I've never seen this type of restart procedure used in any other race.
If the rules were followed, Merc knew that if the lapped cars were allowed to pass then the safety car couldn't come in until the lap after the last lapped car passed the safety car, so the race would end under the safety car and Lewis would win the championship. If they left the lapped cars in place, they might get a racing lap but there would be 5 cars between Ver and Ham so even with old tyres Lewis would likely win. If Merc boxed Lewis he would have rejoined after Max and so if the race ended under the safety car, Max would have track position and win. The only strategy for Merc is to keep Lewis out on the old tyres.
Formula 1 has rules for safety and to provide a predictable environment for drivers and teams. Teams use the rules to make strategic decisions during the race.
Then Masi let half the lapped cars through and brings in the safety car 1 lap early, outside the established and agreed rules.
He actually broke his own rules. When Masi was criticised for not allowing racing to resume quickly in the Eifel GP in October 2020, he defended himself and said: “There's a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave all the lapped cars past.”
Michael Masi can't have it both ways.
Not only was Lewis' race compromised, Sainz was sitting in 3rd behind Verstappen. Masi left Stroll and Ricciardo (lapped cars) between Sainz and Verstappen. So Sainz had no chance to improve his position. He might also have been able to pass Hamilton and take 2nd in the race.
I don't think Masi will be Race Director in 2022.
Chris
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