@Londonlivingg
In very simple terms:
The race director departed from the established regulations with regards to safety car procedure in a way that massively favoured one driver (Verstappen), who subsequently won the race.
Mercedes challenged the decision, arguing that had the regulations been followed correctly, Hamilton would have won the race.
The race organisers decided that, though they admit that the procedure was not followed properly, the race director has the final say on the use of the safety car and so they decision would stand.
This is a good summary. It comes after a full season of the FIA (the governing body of the sport) and the race director being consistently inconsistent with their application of the rules. People have been calling them up on it for a long time because it’s a bit ridiculous the way they run things at the moment.
The biggest mistake yesterday was saying that lapped cars should stay where they are (fair enough, that’s one of the options they have). Then shortly after that, they backtracked on that decision and said that a few cars could unlap themselves (that means to go back towards the end of the queue as they were out of position when the safety car was first deployed). That’s against the regulations, which say either all or none of the lapped cars may overtake. At the same time, there is one article in said regulations which made the decision ‘legal’, because the race director can basically do what he likes. Which isn’t really aligned with the spirit of the sport, but there you go.
People are debating whether the call to let cars unlap themselves should have been made earlier, thus allowing for a normal restart in undisputed circumstances. Or whether they should have simply finished under the safety car. Both being much better options than the circus the FIA put on last night.
This whole thing has become overly dramatic due to it being the championship-decider race, as both Lewis and Max were level on points coming into the weekend (with Max ahead on countback, he had more wins this season). This has only happened twice in the history of the sport, ever since it started in 1950. People feel it was a farce very disappointing for race control to have intervened the way they did, simply because it was such a crucial moment in the championship.
And I say this as a Max fan who has watched every quali and race this season, and been closely following the sport for decades. Last night was yet another inconsistent application of the rules by the FIA, the fans and especially the drivers, didn’t deserve that. I hope the FIA are held accountable for what they did.