SAKHIR, Bahrain — The FIA has stated “human error” contributed to the controversial end ultimately yr’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix however insisted former race director Michael Masi acted in good religion all through.
A report into the ultimate laps of the race was offered to the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on Saturday, which got here to the conclusion that the results of the championship was “legitimate” and “can not now be modified”.
Masi incorrectly utilized the security automobile process on the finish of the title decider between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi. His actions, which have been taken to forestall the race ending behind the security automobile, arrange a one-lap dash end that helped Verstappen catch and go Hamilton on the ultimate lap.
In dashing the restart process in Abu Dhabi, sure elements of the FIA rulebook have been both ignored or ignored, together with an inconsistency within the communications to lapped vehicles to unlap themselves earlier than the restart.
The message was solely exhibited to the 5 vehicles between Hamilton and Verstappen somewhat than all lapped vehicles. It was this miscommunication that was described as “human error” by the WMSC, explaining that the messages to the vehicles have been despatched manually somewhat than by an automatic system.
Nevertheless, precisely how the “error” took place and why it occurred when a number of groups and drivers believed on the time that every one lapped vehicles can be allowed to overhaul was not communicated.
Masi additionally restarted the race a lap sooner than the foundations say, which supplied Verstappen with the chance to go Hamilton for the lead on the ultimate lap and win the title.
The report pointed to strain from groups by way of radio communications as a cause for Masi’s actions in addition to a want to adjust to a casual settlement inside the sport to not finish the race behind the security automobile.
It added that the foundations relating to the security automobile restart process have been open to interpretation and must be clarified.
Masi has since been faraway from the place of race director and the FIA has promised to offer extra assist to his replacements, together with a Video Assistant Referee-style evaluation system.
It has additionally clarified its guidelines on security automobile restarts to say “all” unlapped vehicles should unlap themselves earlier than a race can resume, somewhat than “any”.
The WMSC confirmed software program has now been developed to automate the messages to vehicles to unlap themselves previous to a security automobile restart “resulting from the truth that guide interventions typically carry the next threat of human error”.