The conclusion to the Italian grand prix - under a safety car called in the dying laps to fetch a stricken car - had several parallels with last season's farcical finale at Abu Dhabi.
The safety car finish denied thousands of red-clad tifosi fans a grandstand finish between championship leader Max Verstappen - who won the race - and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
It also brought back some unhappy memories for Lewis Hamilton, who was effectively denied an outright record-breaking eighth championship because of a decision not to end the race under the safety car.
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Hamilton, who had started from the back of the grid because of penalties, was not involved in the fight for first and the Mercedes driver crossed the line in fifth.
“It always brings memories back,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. “That is the rule that it should be, right? So only one time, in the history of the sport, that they haven’t done the rule.”
At Abu Dhabi last December, a crash by Nicholas Latifi triggered the safety car late on and gave race director Michael Masi a decision to make. The season-ending race and championship could be decided under yellow, or the track could be cleaned for one final lap of racing.
Masi opted for the latter and Verstappen passed Hamilton to win the race and the title. It was a decision that eventually cost him his job.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also alluded to last season’s incident when asked his opinion on the race's conclusion.
“The race direction’s corner has been under critics but this time they followed the rules,” he told Sky.
“Maybe they could’ve done it a lap earlier … but they followed the rules and accepted the race ends under safety car.
https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/status/1569042009783934978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw“This is how it should be.”
The safety car came out shortly after Daniel Ricciardo pulled up with six laps remaining. Most drivers pitted for fresh tyres in anticipation of a restart but the race remained under safety car conditions to the end.
Leclerc conceded it probably wouldn’t have changed the outcome.
“I wish we could have ended up racing, but unfortunately we were second at that place, because of what happened before,” he said.
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The conclusion to the Italian grand prix - under a safety car called in the dying laps to fetch a stricken car - had several parallels with last season's farcical finale at Abu Dhabi.
The safety car finish denied thousands of red-clad tifosi fans a grandstand finish between championship leader Max Verstappen - who won the race - and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
It also brought back some unhappy memories for Lewis Hamilton, who was effectively denied an outright record-breaking eighth championship because of a decision not to end the race under the safety car.
AS IT HAPPENED: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain wins the men's final of the US Open
READ MORE: Sharks big winners from brutal Souths win as trench warfare shapes week two of finals
READ MORE: Will Power wins 'surreal' second IndyCar Series crown for Team Penske
Hamilton, who had started from the back of the grid because of penalties, was not involved in the fight for first and the Mercedes driver crossed the line in fifth.
“It always brings memories back,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. “That is the rule that it should be, right? So only one time, in the history of the sport, that they haven’t done the rule.”
At Abu Dhabi last December, a crash by Nicholas Latifi triggered the safety car late on and gave race director Michael Masi a decision to make. The season-ending race and championship could be decided under yellow, or the track could be cleaned for one final lap of racing.
Masi opted for the latter and Verstappen passed Hamilton to win the race and the title. It was a decision that eventually cost him his job.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also alluded to last season’s incident when asked his opinion on the race's conclusion.
“The race direction’s corner has been under critics but this time they followed the rules,” he told Sky.
“Maybe they could’ve done it a lap earlier … but they followed the rules and accepted the race ends under safety car.
https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/status/1569042009783934978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw“This is how it should be.”
The safety car came out shortly after Daniel Ricciardo pulled up with six laps remaining. Most drivers pitted for fresh tyres in anticipation of a restart but the race remained under safety car conditions to the end.
Leclerc conceded it probably wouldn’t have changed the outcome.
“I wish we could have ended up racing, but unfortunately we were second at that place, because of what happened before,” he said.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
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