While many want Lewis Hamilton to be awarded the 2021 driver's title, others believe he should be stripped of his 2008 crown. Picture: Getty Images
I was raised in a home where literature was very important. Reading and writing were paramount and are responsible for my love of collecting books.
I am sure many of you experienced the works of Edward Lear, the author and poet renowned for his “literary nonsense” and, of course, Lewis Carroll, with tales such as Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Wonderful nonsense and fantasy.
I believe the word “ludicrous” sums up both – and is currently a word that can be applied to certain current aspects of F1.
The first that springs to mind is Abu Dhabi 2021, a date to be remembered by so many, all with great divisions of thought and opinions, not least those of Sky F1 presenters.
One is Ted Kravitz, who has been vocal on the subject and is still harping on, as he demonstrated in Melbourne by vehemently questioning why former FIA official and enemy No 1 Michael Masi was allowed in the pit area at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix.
Perhaps the fact he is an Aussie and still an official in local motorsport has something to do with it, and Kravitz’s personal issue should remain just that, and not assume global proportions.
Then there is fan dissatisfaction of that infamous race. Started in the UK, a petition has been raised to insist the result of the 2021 finale be reversed, allowing Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton to receive his eighth F1 world title and relegating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to an also ran. So far this petition has collected more than 100 000 signatures in the UK.
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This has spurred ex-F1 driver Felipe Massa to consider contesting Hamilton’s 2008 title victory in Brazil due to the infamous “crashgate”, where Nelson Piquet Jnr crashed his Renault under team orders.
Piquet was quoted as saying: “It was a team order to help someone within our team, not to harm Felipe Massa – nothing like that”.
Team-mate Fernando Alonso went on to take the win, influencing the points table.
Massa’s claim is the result of information from Bernie Ecclestone, former F1 supremo, admitting he and FIA president Max Mosley knew about the deliberate crash.
Where does this all stop?
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Maybe we should contest the 1956 European Grand Prix in which Peter Collins handed his car to Juan Manual Fangio, who suffered mechanical issues and was stationary in the pits, allowing the Argentinean to continue and take second spot to win the drivers’ title.
Ah, the wonderful, seemingly totally lost, era of sportsmanship.
After a four-week break, F1 returns in Baku on 30 April at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
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