THE STORY
During the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 12, a late-race safety car period led to a contentious restart. Race director Michael Masi allowed only the lapped cars between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to un-lap themselves, while others remained a lap down. This decision permitted Verstappen, on fresher tires, to overtake Hamilton on the final lap, securing his first World Championship. (formula1.com)
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, FIA
WHY IT MATTERS
The FIA acknowledged that 'human error' by Masi influenced the race outcome, leading to his removal as race director. The incident sparked widespread debate over race director authority and safety car procedures. (thescore.com)