Editorial: Are we on the road to recovery?

During the final lap of the last Grand Prix of the season, a duel worthy of a movie unfolded, but in real life. Will we ever recover from the suspense of the 2021 Formula 1 championship?

The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be remembered less for the spectacle on the track than for the way the sport's governing body handled a crisis that decided the fate of the championship. While Max Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to win his first title, the series of decisions leading up to that moment revealed the limitations of a regulatory framework pushed to its limits.

The season had already been marked by a perfect storm: a 22-race calendar, the imminent end of Mercedes' dominance, skyrocketing commercial stakes, and a global audience fired up by the Netflix series Drive to Survive. But nothing had prepared fans for the controversy that erupted when Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams on the first lap, causing the safety car to be deployed. What should have been a routine procedure turned into a procedural nightmare.

Normally, all cars behind the safety car must pass it and then rejoin the field in order. In Abu Dhabi, race director Michael Masi instructed the cars that had been lapped between Verstappen and Hamilton to pass the safety car while the others remained in position, which was a departure from the rules and gave Verstappen a clear track for the restart. The decision immediately sparked an outcry, with commentators and teams demanding an explanation for the inconsistency. The fallout was swift. FIA stewards were accused of breaking the rules “in a panic,” and the incident reignited longstanding criticism of inconsistent penalties throughout the year. Earlier, Hamilton's victory in Brazil had been called into question because of an improperly fastened seatbelt; other drivers had been penalized for infractions that seemed to change with the wind. The lack of a transparent and consistent framework led drivers and fans to question the legitimacy of the result. Beyond the procedural error, this episode highlighted the growing influence of entertainment considerations on the governance of the sport. With Drive to Survive transforming F1 into a binge-watchable drama series, the pressure to deliver a “climactic” finale may have subtly influenced the FIA's response. While Verstappen and Hamilton both delivered legendary performances—Verstappen's aggressive overtaking and Hamilton's relentless pace—their rivalry was ultimately framed by a governing body struggling to keep pace with a sport that has become as much a television product as a series of races.

Looking ahead, the controversy has already led to concrete proposals: eliminating virtual safety cars outside of practice, reviewing the deployment of DRS, and even reconsidering the suitability of the Abu Dhabi circuit for deciding the title. Some voices are calling for a return to stricter, pre-published regulations to avoid ad hoc decisions; while others argue that the sport must strike a balance between spectacle and fairness, so as not to alienate its core audience in favor of series such as the WEC or MotoGP. Ultimately, the 2021 season will be remembered not only for the spectacular duel between Verstappen and Hamilton, but also for the regulatory crisis that decided it. The FIA's ability to learn from this episode and restore confidence in its regulatory process will determine whether the spectacle of the sport remains a triumph of competition or turns into a scripted show.

Fans are sounding the alarm, arguing that Formula 1 must remain true to its roots and warning against a shift toward the spectacle-driven model seen in American motorsports. While purists revel in the high-octane spectacle on the track, they stress that the soul of the sport lies in its racing heritage, not in turning every Grand Prix into a NASCAR-style extravaganza. Amid this climate of debate, the two main protagonists of the season, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, have become the embodiment of what many cherish: raw talent, unwavering determination, and a rivalry that has kept the sport exciting. As the engines cool down for the offseason, both drivers receive sincere thanks from the community for delivering an unforgettable year of competition. The hope is clear: to preserve the essence of F1 and return next year with the same passion that drives its fans.