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
4 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

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his gratitude to fans for goodwill messages after the death of his dog Roscoe

Lewis Hamilton ‘amazed to see the support’ from F1 world after Roscoe passing

4 hours ago
Oscar Piastri has shrugged off his Azerbaijan GP error

The lessons Oscar Piastri has learned from F1 Azerbaijan GP disaster

5 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
Share208Tweet130Share

Related Posts

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his gratitude to fans for goodwill messages after the death of his dog Roscoe
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton ‘amazed to see the support’ from F1 world after Roscoe passing

4 hours ago
Oscar Piastri has shrugged off his Azerbaijan GP error
Formula 1

The lessons Oscar Piastri has learned from F1 Azerbaijan GP disaster

5 hours ago
Christian Horner is looking to make a return to F1
Formula 1

Haas makes startling Christian Horner revelation after F1 approach

6 hours ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
18Singapore GP03-05 October
19United States GP17-19 October
20Mexico City GP24-26 October
21São Paulo GP07-09 November
22Las Vegas GP20-22 November

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri324
Lando Norris299
Max Verstappen255
George Russell212
Charles Leclerc165
Lewis Hamilton121
Andrea Kimi Antonelli78
Alexander Albon70
Isack Hadjar39
Nico Hulkenberg37

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his gratitude to fans for goodwill messages after the death of his dog Roscoe
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton ‘amazed to see the support’ from F1 world after Roscoe passing

October 2, 2025
Oscar Piastri has shrugged off his Azerbaijan GP error
Formula 1

The lessons Oscar Piastri has learned from F1 Azerbaijan GP disaster

October 2, 2025
Christian Horner is looking to make a return to F1
Formula 1

Haas makes startling Christian Horner revelation after F1 approach

October 2, 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