Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

FIA accepts ‘human error’ behind 2021 Abu Dhabi finale controversy

by Fergal Walsh
3 years ago
A A
FIA accepts ‘human error’ behind 2021 Abu Dhabi finale controversy
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The FIA has released its report from its investigation into the controversial finale to the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi.

It has accepted that “human error” was behind the Safety Car restart procedure that saw Max Verstappen overtake Lewis Hamilton to win the 2021 World Championship.

Williams’ Nicholas Latifi crashed in the closing stages of the race, causing Race Control and ex-Race Director Michael Masi to deploy a Safety Car.

After Latifi’s stricken car had been cleared from the track, the lapped cars that were positioned between Hamilton and Verstappen were given permission to overtake the Safety Car and unlap themselves. The cars behind Verstappen were not given permission to do so.

RelatedPosts

Kimi Antonelli is still positive of a good result in the Italian GP despite spinning in FP2

Kimi Antonelli maintains confidence is ‘high’ despite F1 Italian GP practice spin

8 hours ago
Oscar Piastri was placed under investigation by the stewards

Oscar Piastri would’ve been ‘surprised’ by penalty after F1 Italian GP FP1 pit lane breach

9 hours ago

After the fallout, the FIA confirmed ahead of the 2022 season that Masi had been removed from his post as the sport’s Race Director.

In the report, it acknowledged that Masi “called the safety car back into the pit lane without it having completed an additional lap as required by the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations (Article 48.12)”.

It also said that “that there could be different interpretations of Article 48.12 and Article 48.13” which likely applied to the procedures and that previous discussions between F1 stakeholders regarding a preference to finish races under a green flag rather than behind a Safety Car were likely considered. 

The report also finds that Masi was acting in “good faith”, while also highlighting the pressure he was operating under due to the number of laps remaining in the race and the comments being sent to him over the radio by the teams. 

Ultimately, the FIA says that “human error” was behind the decision of not allowing all lapped cars to overtake the leaders. 

In response, it was developed a software which is pledges will “automate the communication of the list of cars that must un-lap themselves.” In addition, the 2022 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations have been updated to clarify that “all” and not “any” cars must be permitted to un-lap themselves.

The FIA has also confirmed that it has set up a Remote Operations Centre in Geneva, similar to the Virtual Assistant Referee in football, to help Race Control replay and review incidents.

Tags: AbuDhabiGPF1FIA
Share206Tweet129Share

Related Posts

Kimi Antonelli is still positive of a good result in the Italian GP despite spinning in FP2
Formula 1

Kimi Antonelli maintains confidence is ‘high’ despite F1 Italian GP practice spin

8 hours ago
Oscar Piastri was placed under investigation by the stewards
Formula 1

Oscar Piastri would’ve been ‘surprised’ by penalty after F1 Italian GP FP1 pit lane breach

9 hours ago
Lando Norris topped FP2 for the F1 Italian GP
Formula 1

Lando Norris tops FP2 at Monza for F1 Italian GP

9 hours ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
16Italian GP05-07 September
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September
18Singapore GP03-05 October
19United States GP17-19 October
20Mexico City GP24-26 October

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri309
Lando Norris275
Max Verstappen205
George Russell184
Charles Leclerc151
Lewis Hamilton109
Andrea Kimi Antonelli64
Alexander Albon64
Nico Hulkenberg37
Isack Hadjar37

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Kimi Antonelli is still positive of a good result in the Italian GP despite spinning in FP2
Formula 1

Kimi Antonelli maintains confidence is ‘high’ despite F1 Italian GP practice spin

September 5, 2025
Oscar Piastri was placed under investigation by the stewards
Formula 1

Oscar Piastri would’ve been ‘surprised’ by penalty after F1 Italian GP FP1 pit lane breach

September 5, 2025
Lando Norris topped FP2 for the F1 Italian GP
Formula 1

Lando Norris tops FP2 at Monza for F1 Italian GP

September 5, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd