Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz has urged the FIA to review the procedures which allowed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to end in controversy. The Maranello team’s Spanish driver scored a podium finish at the at the Yas Marina circuit, after a last lap in which backmarkers were initially instructed to remain in formation behind the safety car before being permitted to unlap themselves one and a half laps from the finish.
In the confusion, only five cars were able to unlap themselves – the five between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen – with the rest remaining in-line. Whilst this situation affected the outcome of the 2021 Formula 1 drivers’ title, Carlos Sainz also wanted to point out that his race was almost adversely affected by the decision: “It was certainly a very strange situation for me,” Carlos Sainz admitted.
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“I was obviously battling with Valtteri [Bottas] and the AlphaTauri’s behind with a medium tyre whilst I was on a very used hard tyre. At the beginning, I was told they would not be allowed to un-lap themselves, the group in front of me, then it was decided to un-lap themselves and some people un-lapped themselves but there was still, I think an Aston Martin and a McLaren, Ricciardo, between the two leaders and myself. I have never had it before, having to restart the race with these two guys in front of me while fighting for a P3. I do believe it was a strange one and something to look at because it was just very strange to see and it nearly cost me a podium, to be honest.” – the Maranello team’s Spanish driver explained.
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