Boxster Coupe GTS:
FIA official response...
...this may, of course, be subject to appeal at the "Final Final Final" hearing in Paris?
Stated before, they are not going to hang Masi out to dry. As the Race Director, he is entitled his interpretation of the rules.
Masi wanted a 'race' finish. Of course he knows full well what 'might' happened. But he isn't biased one way or another.
Even with 'biased' decisions before in the season, it wasn't him that decides the final resolutions, that's the stewards.
Had Latifi crashed one lap later, the situation could have been very different, the race could have finished under yellow.
His primary job function is to conduct a race in a safe way. Being fair or not is really not up to him, incidents the are reported to the Race Director are pretty much being passed onto the stewards, who are the actual judges. The other race where he gave advice to Red Bull is just reminding them their options, either give up the place or get referred to the stewards.
Mercedes can try all they want, appeal all they want, but there isn't an interpretation in the rule book that allow the race to be rewinded to a convenient earlier state. Race results are either certified or invalidated. Either option won't get Hamilton the title.
FIA however could update the wording on the rule book over the winter break however. They are going to have their hands full writing however. The cat is out of the bag that one can drive like Max and get away with stuff. Leclerc, Norris and Russell could benefit driving like Max. In America people like NASCAR because of all the crashes and fender benders at speed, F1 seems to be heading that way in order to cater to the American market. Max is well positioned now as the poster boy with him crashing and banging on his way to his first championship.
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