Outgoing FIA President Jean Todt wants F1 to Celebrate the Exciting Season Rather than Continue the Hamilton-Verstappen Drama


Outgoing FIA President Jean Todt wants F1 to Celebrate the Exciting Season Rather than Continue the Hamilton-Verstappen Drama

The 2021 Formula 1 season has been an exciting one, to say the least, as the Lewis Hamilton vs. Max Verstappen rivalry took the world by storm. Yet, it had its fair share of drama and controversy, with several of the FIA’s decisions being debated over the season.

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The last lap controversy at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix decided the World Champion was one such race. The much-debated topic got Mercedes to raise two complaints, both of which were promptly rejected but left a question about the decision-making process of the FIA.

Yet the outgoing President of the FIA, Jean Todt, thinks it is time to put these things aside and celebrate the exciting season that F1 has had this year. Todt will be replaced by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who was elected President of FIA last week. 

“We need to celebrate rather that seeing the controversy,” Jean Todt on Hamilton-Verstappen drama

Jean Todt
Jean Todt

After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Mercedes was unhappy to say the least, as the team boycotted the event in Paris. They instead sent James Allison to collect the constructors’ trophy on behalf of the team. “We left Abu Dhabi in disbelief of what we had just witnessed,” a Mercedes statement said. “Of course, it’s part of the game to lose a race, but it’s something different when you lose faith in racing.”

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Todt doesn’t think that Hamilton should be fined for missing Thursday’s official FIA prize-giving gala in Paris. “I think we should celebrate rather than get into any controversy,” said Todt to AutoWeek. Todt also admitted that he will not miss the drama as Sulayem takes over his role from next year.

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