British journalist, Will Buxton believes Abu Dhabi GP debate is focused more on Lewis Hamilton’s loss than legitimacy of rules

British journalist, Will Buxton believes Abu Dhabi GP debate is focused more on Lewis Hamilton’s loss than legitimacy of rules

Michael Masi and Will Buxton

Formula 1 is all set to host the 2022 season and teams already started to launch their challengers but the drama regarding the season finisher in Abu Dhabi is yet to settle. Max Verstappen secured his maiden world title after he overtook Lewis Hamilton in the last lap of Abu Dhabi GP tanks a controversial unlapping decision from race director Michael Masi, which is under FIA investigation.

A recently resurfaced audio, part of the F1TV Inside Story: 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, features Michael Masi executing decisions as suggested by Red Bull member, Jonathan Wheatley. The audio, which wasn’t part of the original live broadcast, has caused waves among fans and calls for Michael Masi’s dismissal from race director roll is on the rise.

Find out what is “Drive to Survive” narrator Will Buxton’s  opinion on the resurfaced audio

Will Buxton
Will Buxton

Will Buxton tweeted in his official handle shared his opinion that the majority of the debate surrounding the Abu Dhabi GP is rooted in the Result other than how the rules were applied as he doesn’t think there would have been this much controversy if Lewis Hamilton was able to retake the lead from Max Verstappen in turn 9.

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“One thing I’ve been asking myself a lot over the last month is whether there’d have been as much of a furore over the final laps of AD had Lewis managed to take the lead back at T9. The debate should be about the application of the rules. But much of it seems rooted in the result,” Will Buxton tweeted.

Fans were quick to react to Will Buxton’s comment as one individual commented that he is missing the point on the debate asking “Why should he have needed to take the lead back when it was lost illegally? Seems to be missing the point, Will.”

Will Buxton replied to the comment saying it’s just an opinion and added that the F1 community should wait for the FIA investigation on the legality of the decision. He added that if no rules are found broken there should be a clear discussion on rewriting the rules to avoid such instances in the future.

“This supposition comes from opinion though mate. As I’ve said, and as I believe, first we have to wait to see whether there’s a determination the rules were broken. If they weren’t then clearly there needs to be a discussion over if and how the rules should be changed,” Will Buxton replied.

Also read: ‘Old scars need some healing,’ Mark Webber suggests Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to take a year off from F1