F1 News: FIA President Confronts Abu Dhabi '21 - "Overwhelmed With Problems"

The controversial finish of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix posed significant challenges for Mohammed Ben Sulayem in his new role as FIA President.

The 2021 Formula One season culminated dramatically with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen vying for the Championship in the final race - the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - sparking considerable controversy and criticism towards the FIA. The aftermath of this contentious race was a significant challenge for Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who assumed the FIA presidency shortly after.

Key Takeaways:

• The Abu Dhabi 2021 Grand Prix Outcome: The race concluded with Max Verstappen overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the final lap, leading to his championship win. This occurred following the conclusion of a safety car period, raising questions about the fairness of the result and the decision-making of the race director, Michael Masi, who was later relieved of his duties.
• Ben Sulayem's Initial Reaction and Approach: Newly elected FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed his initial hesitation to delve into the controversy, stating in an interview with Motorsport-Magazin.com, "I thought to myself: wait a minute, let me first see what is going on. I just won the election. Let me enjoy that first!"
• Structural Changes and Future Planning: Ben Sulayem acknowledged the overwhelming challenges he faced, emphasizing the need for proactive planning and revealing structural improvements in the single-seater department to mitigate future issues. He noted, "We have a better structure...so there will be fewer problems."

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The 2021 Formula One season concluded in a storm of controversy at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The heart of the issue lay in the race's final laps. After a late-race crash brought out the safety car, race director Michael Masi made the contentious decision to allow only some lapped cars to unlap themselves, setting up a one-lap showdown between Hamilton and Verstappen. Verstappen, on fresher tires, was able to overtake Hamilton, leading to his championship victory.

This decision was heavily criticised for its perceived inconsistency with standard race procedures, and it significantly impacted the championship outcome with Max taking home his first championship win, blocking Lewis from getting what would have been a historical 8th championship victory. 

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, stepping into the role of FIA President amid this contentious backdrop, openly acknowledged the event's flaws: 

"I will never say that everything went well in this race [GP Abu Dhabi]. I always look at areas to improve," he remarked.

"I thought to myself: wait a minute, let me first see what is going on. I just won the election. Let me enjoy that first!"

The essence of Ben Sulayem's strategy was to shift from being reactive to proactive:

 "I hate being reactive," he admitted. "I always say: if you don't plan, you fail. Have a plan for everything! I was overwhelmed with problems. I wondered what was going on.

"We have a better structure with the strengthening of the department in the single-seaters, so there will be fewer problems. But drivers will always demand things."

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