‘F1 Is Manipulated’: Fans Lash Out at FIA President’s Double Standards as Lewis Hamilton’s Controversial Abu Dhabi Defeat Grabs Limelight Again

Michael Andretti faced much resistance to entry into F1 from the currently competing teams. A new team’s entry meant less prize money for everybody. Then, the FIA said that they could not stop new teams from entering. But what brought calmness back in the paddock was F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali’s assurance that no more than 10 teams would participate in the sport. However, a recent contradicting statement from the FIA president, Muhammed Ben Sulayem has caused a stir among fans, bringing Lewis Hamilton’s controversial 2021 season finisher back to light.

The 2021 Abu Dhabi GP was a problematic one. Title contenders Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were tied in the WDC. The Safety car was deployed in the closing stages of the race. Hamilton was in P1 and Verstappen was in P2, separated by 5 lapped cars in between them. But a strange call from Michael Masi, the then-Race Director, allowed the 5 lapped cars between them to unlap themselves. And as a result, Verstappen, on a new set of Softs, overtook Hamilton in the last lap and won the WDC.

After such an instance, the FIA was criticized multiple times. Now, #F1xed and #AbuDhabiScandal has been trending again on Twitter after Sulayem’s recent statements on new F1 entrants. Sulayem said, as quoted by Racefans.net, “There are still regulations there and we cannot shut the application down and say no because we have another choice and we cannot also say no to them if they fulfil the application.  Also we’re not breaking the rules.”

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Fans were left flabbergasted after such hypocrisy and came in support of Lewis Hamilton.

Fans Bash the FIA and Come to the Rescue of Lewis Hamilton

The FIA has time and again been at the center of controversies. Some decisions cause minor problems while others cause widespread distress to teams and fans. Sulayem’s latest comments on the issue of new entrants to F1 have not gone down well with fans. They have poured scorn on him and the FIA for destroying the sport. Let us take a look at some of the fan reactions.

A few fans even questioned Max Verstappen‘s caliber and authenticity.

This is the 2nd time in the same month that the FIA has come under scrutiny for the same issue. Earlier, the same hashtags started trending when Gareth Bale commented on the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP and how he stopped watching F1 after that incident. If the FIA continues making decisions this way, the sport might lose viewers and it will be detrimental to all stakeholders.

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