© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Dutch former F1 driver Christijan Albers says if the situation in Abu Dhabi “had been the other way around, Red Bull or another team would probably have taken the same attitude”.
In a talk with De Telegraaf Christijan Albers gave his comments on the controversial ending of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which saw Lewis Hamilton lose the race and the 2021 title to Max Verstappen, after race director Michael Masi chose to ignore the rules of the Safety Car.
“Masi seemed a bit insecure during some races,” Albers said.
“I also thought he sometimes made confused decisions. But now the emphasis is on that last round in Abu Dhabi.
“He played a decisive role there. And you don’t want that, because you want the championship to be decided in a beautiful and fair way.”
The outcome of the race led to Mercedes threatening to launch a full-on appeal, but they later decided to drop it, after the FIA announced an intention to perform a review of the decision that have been made.
Lewis Hamilton, however, has not made any public statements since the race, and his future in Formula 1 is still in doubt.
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Albers says he understands how Mercedes and Lewis feel.
“I understand that Mercedes and Hamilton feel robbed. Let’s be honest, if it had been the other way around, Red Bull or another team would probably have taken the same attitude.
“Wasn’t it Red Bull team boss Christian Horner who had left after the penultimate race in Jeddah was still moaning and strongly criticising Masi?”
He adds that in his opinion Masi made a mistake in the final moments of the race.
“In Abu Dhabi, in my view, Masi made a mistake by only allowing the five cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves.
“Then you can of course say: it is about the championship, but it is not consistent.
“So the FIA will have to investigate not just that final round in Abu Dhabi, but that whole accumulation of inconsistency throughout the season,” Albers concluded.
