For the first time since the infamous Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, former race director Michael Massi returned to the Formula One paddock at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix. So, it was inevitable that a late race crash, and the subsequent decisions made by the FIA and race stewards, would dominate the race headlines.
Michael Massi’s controversial and incorrect decisions at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021 unfairly changed to race result and destiny of the Driver’s World Title that year. But all the decisions on Sunday in Australia were made correctly and in line with the rules. However, this didn’t stop the controversy and confusion.
To set the scene, the Australian Grand Prix looked like it was drawing to a low-key conclusion as Max Verstappen comfortably led the race from Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. That was until Haas driver Kevin Magnussen crashed, resulting in the debris covering the track and initially causing a safety car to be deployed. With only a few laps remaining–and with the new post-Abu Dhabi 2021 intention to always try to end a race under racing conditions–a red flag was brought out, and the race was halted on lap 56 of 58, leaving two laps to complete the race once the track was clear.
But that was just the start of the controversy and confusion.
On the subsequent re-start, drivers sought to make the most of an unexpected opportunity to gain places and earn extra points. There were numerous incidents with drivers going off-track and multiple collisions. Most notably, Carlos Sainz crashed into the back of Fernando Alonso, spinning Alonso around and causing him to drop to the back of the field from 3rd place. Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Estaban Ocon also collided and crashed out. The damage and debris caused by the incidents brought out another red flag to stop the race with just one lap remaining that would have to be run behind the safety car.
The issue? What was the correct finishing order? When the red flag was waved, apart from Max Verstappen still leading and Lewis Hamilton still in 2nd place, the re-start order had been completely changed. Fernando Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll had dropped from 3rd and 6th place, respectively, and Pierre Gasly was now out of the race after running in a solid 5th place. Nico Hulkenberg in the Haas now found himself in a surprising 4th place, with Carlos Sainz ahead in 3rd, facing a possible penalty for the incident with Alonso.
The argument from Aston Martin and the teams that had lost places after the re-start was that a timing sector had not been completed before the red flag waved, meaning that there was no official way to determine the new race order. They used last season’s British Grand Prix as an example. After a significant turn-one crash involving George Russell and Yuki Tsonoda, the race re-started after the red flag stoppage in the original starting order, minus the cars that had crashed and could not continue.
The argument from any teams that had moved up the order after the re-start was racing had taken place. The lap would be officially recorded as a ‘racing lap,’ so the order cars returned to the pit lane for the red flag period was a ‘racing order.’
Eventually, the FIA and race stewards deemed that the race would be completed behind the safety car with cars returning to the same order they were in at the previous re-start, minus the cars that had too much damage to continue. By the rules and regulations and based on previous events, that was the correct decision. However, how the decision was made is where the controversy lies.
The first issue was whether there should have been a red flag in the first place. Many felt that if the incident had occurred earlier in the race, it would have been cleared under safety car conditions, and the red flag was only brought out so that the race did not finish behind a safety car. Although there is no official rule for this, most fans agree that (when possible) races should be concluded under full racing conditions and that this is only being queried in hindsight due to the crashes that took place on the re-start.
The next issue was the time to decide and the needless final lap from the pit lane to the finish line behind the safety car to complete the 58-lap race. Regarding the last lap behind the safety car, although common sense would usually suggest this should not take place, unfortunately, in line with the official race procedure, a final and 58th lap did need to be completed, and this was the only way it could happen.
Ultimately, the chaotic end to the 2023 Australian Grand Prix was a poor look for Formula One as a spectacle for all fans, both at the circuit and watching around the world. However, the correct rules and procedures were applied, and a fair result occurred.
Unfortunately, that outcome can’t always be achieved in an ideal way. Still, if any lessons have been learned from Abu Dhabi in 2021, it is that however long it takes to get there, the most important outcome must be a fair result. Translation … races and world titles should not be decided on drama and entertainment value.
