Former Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson feels that the sport is currently getting dangerously close to becoming a motorsport version of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), due to the events which took place in the final stages of the 2021 season.
The outcome of the 2021 championship was decided after one of the most incredible climaxes ever with Red Bull Racing Dutch driver Max Verstappen who seemed unable to catch rival Lewis Hamilton for the entire race at the Yas Marina circuit, but eventually took advantage of an unexpected chance in the final lap to overtake the Mercedes driver and win his first Formula 1 title.
While for the neutral fans it was a very intense and thrilling moment, it was also hugely controversial taking into consideration the fact that due to the fact that FIA Race Director Michael Masi seemed to ignore normal protocol in order to let the drivers race for one final lap, by allowing the five lapped cars between the two title rivals to unlap themselves under the Safety Car, while no others so that there would be enough time for a final lap in racing conditions.
Michael Masi’s call has led to many discussions and has divided opinion with some fans and part of the media praising him for creating such a thrilling spectacle, while others felt he did not respect the rules for the sake of entertainment. The Swedish racing driver who raced in Formula One for Scuderia Ferrari in 1985 and 1986, is very much part of the latter camp and is worried it’s becoming like WWE, the scripted wrestling competition.
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“In the end, I think both Max and Lewis deserved to win the title this year” – Stefan Johansson posted on his personal blog – “They both drove at such a high level and both their teams operated at equally high levels, and it would have been such an incredible ending to the year to have it decided fair and square on the racetrack. Instead, we now have this endless controversy and polarization. I’m sure the folks at Liberty are not complaining as this has lifted F1 to a whole new level in terms of people following. But, if this is the direction it will continue, where the entertainment comes before the sport, I think we’re getting into a very dangerous territory, I would hate to see F1 turning into the Motorsports version of the WWF [now known as WWE], where it’s just a show and the sport is secondary to the entertainment. The Netflix show has obviously helped lift the profile of F1 immensely, especially in the US. I know how many of the teams and drivers feel about it, but you still can’t deny the impact it’s had. Personally, I had to tune out after 15 minutes. I think it’s important to find a good balance going forward, I appreciate social media and marketing from every possible angle is important, but I would hate to see the drivers turning into some sort of comedians and clowns rather than brave young men doing their thing on Sunday afternoons.” – Stefan Johansson wrote.
The events in the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix were not the sole reason the former Ferrari F1 driver is worried about the future of the sport, with him also having concerns about the governing at the penultimate round in Saudi Arabia:
“The other thing I’m totally perplexed about is what happened in the Saudi race, where race control is suddenly starting a negotiation with the teams during a safety car period, where did that come from?! I’ve never in all my years of racing in just about every category worth mentioning ever seen that happen before. I didn’t know that was even possible, or legal for that matter. The only logical answer to me is that there may be pressure from above to spice up the show, which may also explain the equally illogical decision to finish the race the way they did in Abu Dhabi.” – Stefan Johansson concluded.
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