Well it would have been hard to written have the plot for this years racing and the ups and downs have been dramatic to say the least. Having enjoyed the racing particularly from Silverstone in the summer we have seen quite a number of debatable moves and decisions.
The one thing I saw yesterday that I found strange was race director Michael Massi holding negotiations as to which way a team wished to follow either lose a place or face the stewards decision. Surely the Stewards should be the ones to decide, or what’s the point in having them?
Whoever you support it’s set up for a season finale like we haven’t had in years.

Yes total confusion with the stewards options of change or be judged, but it added much drama along with two restarts, contact and Max's slowing to let LH pass etc etc, brilliant racing which really sets it up for next weekend, best season ever I feel, down to the wire, love it

By lap 43 I was starting to become a nervous wreck when watching the race, but the 10 second penalty for brake testing Hamilton sets a precedent to Max that he can pull that stunt again if he wants. I really really don't want the final race to be Max punting Hamilton off and winning by default because he has had more wins over the year

Last year was a kind of prelude to this season, with different venues, triple headers, substitute drivers and the strong feeling that Red Bull had finally cracked it.
This season has just been beyond words. Even without the once-in-a-generation clash of two unbelievably talented and polar opposite drivers, there's been so much other drama in the supporting cast: the midfield is tighter than a gnat's chuff,. so good to see McLaren finally reviving, Gasly consistently punching above his weight, Ferrari having to earn every point and eat a bit of humble pie. Alonso, Vettel, Kimi all ex champions but struggling to make an impression. And next season could be... dare we hope... almost as good! Can't wait to see Russell in the Mercedes, quite possibly coming into conflict with team orders (specially if Hamilton comes off second best next weekend).
I was all over the place watching last night, screaming at the telly. Could barely watch at times. Got into a text fight with one of my best mates! Testosterone off the scale! Very undignified, but so lucky to have this battle to watch.
Next weekend could be another epic. Or it could be over at turn 1.
Wow.

I really hope Max doesn't use his current championship position to do a race ending manoeuvre, it would be a shame regardless of what the stewards would then have to decide in terms of championship winner. Yesterday was nerve racking but at the end of the day Lewis would probably have won even without the incident and Max being told to move over - his tyres would have given a good advantage at the end. I think the red flag rule needs refining though, maybe no changes allowed to the cars unless the weather has changed substantially between wet and dry.

If they did away with the street circuits, and returned to circuits where the gravel starts the other side of the stripey kerbs, we might see some drivers actually trying to keep the wheels between the white lines, and none of this nonsense... you fall off, you stay off with a radiator full of rocks.

But nonetheless, next week - and next year - look interesting.

If only it were possible to watch it legally in Germany without going via Sky

Never been one for F1 to be honest but after watching 'Drive to Survive' on Netflix I've changed my opinion. Probably one of the most compelling documentaries I've watched EVER. Intrigue, double dealing, driving gaffs but an appreciation of driving on the limit. Grosjean's escape from his fireball crash was as dramatic as it gets on TV .. Hopefully Flix will be doing a 2021 season

There will definitely be a Drive to Survive IV next spring before the season kicks off. F1 has highly tuned instincts when it comes to self publicity!
Drive to Survive is excellent in terms of entertainment and introducing F1 to a fresh audience - it's worked miracles in the traditionally F1-averse USA. But it does have some uncomfortable issues and it definitely has its agenda in terms of narrative.
Max Verstappen has already said he won't be involved in it because he believes it invents stories by selective editing.
That is undoubtedly true, but I can't help thinking Max would be better off on the inside, not the outside!

Well I'm sure they are going to paint him as the pantomime villain for this season, along with Christian Horner too. Been reading that CH said after the race that Max did not brake and have the telemetry to prove so, FIA report comes out saying Max did use the brakes to generated 69PSI & 2.4G of braking effort, CH then out with some more tribe saying yeah, he had slowed down a lot before using the brakes
You can take advantage of a VPN to a country where the F1TV app is allowed to stream the broadcast (E.G Poland) and then you can use Google Pay to pay for a monthly subscription to F1TV. Come race day, connect VPN to Poland and watch live. UK commentary is provided by Sky though, but do have other languages being broadcast too

It was certainly heck of a race and sets up quite a tense finale.

Alexis, I have a similar antipathy to Googlepay as I do to Sky... but I still have a UK address and bank account so I can do it from there (here!) I think. With a VPN.

In the meantime I'm getting by with frustrating ten minutes best-of from F1 on youtube.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...482655021073B064051D48265502&q=super max f1&shtp=GetUrl&shid=06d65175-3b4a-4c02-a781-43055914003f&shtk=UGl0c3RvcCBCb3lzIC0gU3VwZXIgTWF4IEYxIGZhbnMgTWF4IFZlcnN0YXBwZW4gKG9yZ2luZWxlIHZpZGVvKQ%3D%3D&shdk=VGhhbmtzIGd1eXMgZm9yIG1ha2luZyBvciBzb25nIG92ZXIgMy41MDAuMDAwIHZpZXdzISEhISBXZSBsb3ZlIHlvdSEhIFdlIHB1dCB0aGUgZW5nbGlzY2ggc29uZ3Rla3N0IGRvd24gYmVsb3chIFZvb3IgYWxsZSBmYW5zIHZhbiBNYXggVmVyc3RhcHBlbjogU1VQRVIgTUFYLiBTdHVkaW86IExvbmdzdHJlYW0gTWVkaWEgKE5pZWxzIExpbmdiZWVrKSBDYW1lcmE6IFRoaWpzIHZhbiBoZXQgUmV2ZSAmIEtldmluIFByaWVrYWFyIE1vbnRhZ2U6IFRSIEJyb2FkY2FzdGluZyBNZXQgZGFuayBhYW46IFR1Y2Nlci5ubCBLYXJ0YmFhbiBPbGRlbnphYWwgSGVucnkgRWxmZXJpbmsgSG9yZWNhZ29lZGVyZW4gLi4u&shhk=hpMvTGksL%2BDqpWqbTDo8v4vW2O8m0TtE0qjvkj1uZ%2B0%3D&form=VDSHOT&shth=OVP.JPlEZgPKUd4sWWh6yKmh9AHgFo

Channel 4 in the UK are now showing the race live Neil so that may work easier with a VPN?

Neil is in the UK this weekend Ashley.

Oh ok i take it he still widgeting with Joe in that case. Even easier to watch then

This phrase is a new one on me

I’m very jealous of my daughter being in the paddock at Yas Marina to take in all of the atmosphere and excitement. George Russell did a fabulous short video message to Eve’s consultant (who is a huge Merc F1 fan) thanking him for all that he does and for helping Eve.

Drive to Survive will be great too. Eve has to host them about as part of her job. She might be in a few bits too.

I am sure Neil will explain all

Edited that for you, Ashley

Oi! I resemble that remark!

I'm at Joe's today programming widgets, also testing on the important car (i.e. my 16V).

The combination of C4's broadcasts and our journey from Carlisle to Folkstone on Sunday make it unlikely though just possible that I will see even the best-of; it would have been nice if they'd shown the best of at say nine or ten

Another trip with no news reports, then!

Neil

Wow! How fantastic! Last I heard, she was working with Billy Monger - what's her current role?

She’s now press officer at Williams Racing - normally looking after Nicholas Latifi but also responsible for the young drivers programme too. It’s her dream job and she loves it. She’s the person with the dictaphone when the drivers are being interviewed (amongst other things)

Interesting that Michael Massi decided to clarify options were available to deduct championship points for unsportsmanlike behaviour etc if felt necessary ahead of tomorrow’s race.

If nothing else the teams are now on notice to hopefully prevent any 1st corner incident

How awesome! Congrats to Eve!

Thanks, Jim - I’m very proud of her getting the job. 600 applicants!

That is a fantastic feat. Rightly proud dad!

Back onto the championship decider...

Pole for Max after a tactical masterstroke by Red Bull - hats off. But will the soft tyres give him enough of a lead to negate Lewis' more sustainable pace on the mediums? My worry is that Perez will sacrifice himself and any points deduction to assist Max...

Well in such a case Michael Massi could decide to take points away from Perez and give them to Hamilton? However the ending has already been spoiled a bit with arbitrary points decisions...

What a total farce! This 2021 F1 Season has been littered in questionable decisions but that safety car call is the last straw.
The FIA have lost control and legitimacy in a single stroke.

Agree 100%,