The Italian journalist Leo Turini is convinced that the final of yesterday’s Grand Prix in Monza would have been different if the race direction had decided to stop it with red flags, and after the evacuation of Daniel Riccardo’s car to start again – then all those who are gathered in the stands would see a brilliant fight in the last few circles. Although it did not affect the results in any way.
Last year in Abu Dhabi, Michael Masi had to stop the race with red flags. He didn’t, and it was a mistake – I wrote it right then.
But Masi was right about one thing: he did not allow the most interesting championship of the last twenty years to end up behind the safety car.
“It’s called motor racing,” he replied to critics at the time.
In Monza his successors forgot about it. Even if, as soon as it became clear that it was impossible to evacuate Riccardo’s car quickly, it would have been enough to show the red flag.
But the Grand Prix, held in the centenary year of the Monza circuit, ended at a snail’s pace, and this was wrong, first of all, towards all the fans who filled the stands of the track. And also in relation to anyone who has an idea of what normal motor sport should be like.
Although I don’t think the race results would have been different even if the scenario I am talking about had been implemented. Of course, the Red Bull car driven by Max Verstappen was faster than Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.
Among other things, all the controversy about the need to invite the Monegasque to the pit stop so soon or not, only for misunderstanding. Charles would have lost anyway.
There is no doubt that this year too the championship will have a worthy winner, and all those who booed Verstappen at Monza have only shown their ignorance.
But after this Sunday, the Formula 1 management must conclude that they have an obligation – and I insist it is their duty – to show respect for people who love motorsport. Obviously not at the expense of security.
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