Season 2021

A crazy and mad season, that is how the 2021 Formula 1 season can best be described. The title fight was in Verstappen's favor for a large part of the season, however a few races in which Verstappen did not cross the line (sometimes with a little help from Hamilton) and strong races from Hamilton (Brazil) meant that Hamilton and Verstappen with equal points to the last race. Hamilton got off to a strong start and managed to expand a lead over Verstappen. The championship looked lost for Verstappen until Latifi put his Mercedes-powered Williams into the wall with six laps to go and a safety car came on track.

Nothing controversial up to that point, but the controversy came when race director Michael Masi decided to let the cars between the leading Hamilton and the now on fresh soft tires Verstappen pass. At that point Hamilton became an easy target for Verstappen who passed Hamilton with two laps to go. Verstappen had pitted under the safety car for new rubber, a decision that worked in his favour, Hamilton could have done this too, but then Verstappen would have stayed out and taken the title if the race had ended under the safety car.

The season was thus decided by racecontrol, Michael Masi was kicked out because of this decision, not because he should not have made it, but because there was so much controversy that his position became untenable. Let's hope a season is never decided this way again.