Carlos Sainz believes the way the 2021 Formula 1 season ended was good for the series, despite the controversy with race management over the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen was crowned world champion for the first time at Yas Marina after beating title rival Lewis Hamilton on the last lap. The Dutchman took advantage of the safety car caused by Nicholas Latifi to mount a set of soft tires with which he overtook the Briton’s Mercedes.
The controversy arose from Michael Masi ‘s decision to resume the race leaving some drivers to split up, but the decisive overtaking was clean and the clash between the title contenders that many speculated did not materialize.
The Ferrari driver admitted that it was a relief, because this did not happen and it all happened naturally. “I think the championship has come to a good end after everything that could have happened in that race.”
“I think, and it is my personal opinion, that it has been a great battle at the front, and they have managed to keep it clean, without clashing or contacting each other. A great fight that this sport deserved for the last appointment,” said Sainz.
“The first thing I did was congratulate both Max and Lewis on the podium, because I think whoever won that weekend would deserve it because they drove amazingly, and they would have won fairly.”
“For me, the important thing is that nothing dirty or strange happened on the track, they were both very clean,” he acknowledged.
Sainz, however, said Masi’s decision to resume the race with only a few split drivers caused a strange scenario. This affected the Spaniard, who was in third position and did not have the opportunity to contest the position with Verstappen and Hamilton in the last lap.
The Madrid native, in addition to not being able to fight with the leaders, stated that this almost cost him the fourth podium in his first year with Ferrari: “It was something strange for me, because I was fighting for a podium with Bottas and the AlphaTauri, who were behind me on a medium tyre, while I had worn out hard ones.
“At first they told me that the cars in front of me were not going to unfold,” said the Ferrari man. “Then they decided yes they could, I think there was an Aston Martin and a McLaren between my car and the leaders.
“I had never experienced this before restarting the race, with two drivers fighting in front of me. I admit it was a bit strange, and maybe it should be investigated, because it almost cost me the podium, to be honest.
