One of the biggest thefts in sports history? I think about it every day, says Toto Wolff about the Abu Dhabi VC. Do you agree with him?

Last year’s battle for the championship was one of the best Formula 1 has ever offered. From a pure spectator perspective, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was clearly one of the most controversial events not just in F1, but in sport in general. And it was to the grand finale of the 2021 season that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff returned in his statement.

One of the biggest thefts in the history of the sport – that’s how many fans interpret last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in which the world championship was decided. It was eventually won by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who deserved the title after a season of success.

No doubt about it. But if we look at the Grand Prix itself, the title was decided in a very controversial way. And former race director Michael Masi bears much of the blame. The 2021 grand final was recently revisited by Lewis Hamilton, a topic we covered in our recent article.

In it, you can recap in more detail what actually happened in the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, why fans have witnessed several controversies virtually all season, and also what the implications of it all are.

Wolff’s statement

In addition to Hamilton, the Mercedes boss also returned to last year’s last race of the season. For he has had events in the final minutes of the race constantly playing on his mind.

“I think about it every day. But I’m at peace with the fact that Max won the championship because he’s a deserved champion,” Wolff told Motorsport.

“I have certain values about fairness, especially sporting fairness. That’s why I love the sport. It just took a beating that day, ” he added.

Masi has not commented on the end of the season, the FIA has drawn a line under it

Masi was removed from his position after the new FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem took over, and two people replaced him. Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas – these are currently the two race directors who oversee the running of the F1 Grand Prix, and they rotate on an ongoing basis.

But the fact remains that Masi has not commented on the Hollywood ending of the 2021 edition. According to Motorsport, however, he had his reasons for doing so.

Masi was supposed to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the International Automobile Federation, whereupon it is almost clear that the FIA has decided to draw a thick line under this major embarrassment.

“The way Mohammed Ben Sulayem hires and recruits new staff, from my point of view, points to a completely different direction (of the FIA and F1 management – ed.). I think the main goal is transparency and the creation of a good governing body, and I think that is happening,” Wolff explains.

“There will certainly be some obstacles along the way, because Mohammed’s organisation and leadership style has yet to settle down. Everyone has to find their role. But I am happy with the way things are going,” adds the Mercedes boss.

Some of his decisions, however, have sparked a number of conflicting opinions in recent months. A good example of this is the fight against wearing jewellery in the race car, which Hamilton, who happens to be a Mercedes driver, most strongly disagreed with.

The long debates about budget caps or enforcing the rule about track limits even where they are not much needed again showed that Ben Sulayem often puts the interests of the FIA above F1 itself. Wolff, however, concluded by noting that the new FIA leadership is open-minded, not opinionated, has integrity and is transparent and honest.

Sources