The Saudi Arabian F1 Grand Prix has concluded and it was a bizarre race. There were two red flag periods, and some squabbling between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. At one point, it looked like there would be a penalty incoming after the first red flag. This was because the two had their first of many clashes, resulting in Max cutting the corner. During the red flag, Red Bull began trying to negotiate with the FIA. Admittedly, Bubba Wallace and a few NASCAR personalities found this amusing.
F1 negotiates penalties with the teams?!?!
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) December 5, 2021
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Wallace tweeted, “Can we all just imagine the conversations with Steve O’ Donnell and some of our sports grizzly voices for the teams while discussing penalties”. Other prominent journalists like Jenna Fryer, Jeff Gluck and Davey Segal, were also quite incredulous.
Gluck admitted that if this sort of situation happened in NASCAR, social media would have a field day. In the end, Red Bull’s negotiations did not work out. Instead, a delighted Esteban Ocon started at the front, with Hamilton and Verstappen right behind him.
Can we all just imagine the conversations with Steve OD and some of our sports grizzly voices for the teams while discussing penalties 🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/hGfVQvD70q
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) December 5, 2021
What happened during the F1 race?
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In the end, Lewis Hamilton won the inaugural F1 race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. However, that win came with a few controversies, as the gloves were well and truly yanked off. It was like witnessing a catfight, the only difference was that the combatants had cars in their arsenal. There were questionable tactics, particularly from Max Verstappen, but defending champion Hamilton was able to prevail.
I know I'm gonna get killed for this tweet ("THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT SERIES!!!"), but just for fun…can you imagine NASCAR officials making an "offer" to teams to sort out a penalty? Holy shit, NASCAR Twitter would absolutely melt down.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) December 5, 2021
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Meanwhile, Verstappen himself finished the F1 race at Jeddah, in 2nd, ahead of Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas. The Finn just about managed to beat Alpine’s Esteban Ocon across the line to snatch the final podium spot. Now, Hamilton and Verstappen head into the final race weekend, level on points. So, everything now comes down to which of them can finish ahead of the other.
READ MORE: WATCH: Dejected Max Verstappen Walks Out of the Podium Ceremony at Saudi Arabian GP