![istanbul f1 2012 istanbul f1 2012](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wlNajEVF2BA/maxresdefault.jpg)
On the positive side, Ferrari returned to the top three after a dire 2020 while McLaren won for the first time since 2012 and Alpine's Esteban Ocon celebrated a first win. There are concerns also that the sport has been changed by the hugely popular Netflix Drive to Survive documentary series, and is sacrificing integrity for entertainment. There are improvements to be made, not least in the consistency of decisions by stewards and the role of race director Michael Masi. The Briton came to the fore as a role model, sporting in defeat, and campaigner standing up for equal rights and diversity. The jury remains out on that but not on Verstappen - winner of 10 races this year and on the podium a record 18 times in a single season - or Hamilton, who remains a fearsome and outspoken competitor at 36. Next season will see revamped regulations and new-looking cars designed to improve overtaking. and the amount of new fans that we've welcomed into the sport has been astounding." Formula One's popularity has gone through the roof. "I don't think even a Hollywood scriptwriter could have come up with the ins and outs of this year. Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who had his own battles with Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff, had no doubt the sport owed him plenty.Īsked about Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali's first year in the job, Horner told reporters: "I think he needs to buy Red Bull an enormous Christmas hamper for the excitement, for the racing, for the drama that he's had in charge. The closest of battles went down to the very last lap of the last race, Red Bull's Verstappen and Mercedes' Hamilton level on points and going wheel-to-wheel seven corners from the final chequered flag. The season that ended seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton's reign and handed the crown to Dutch youngster Max Verstappen amid raging controversy was one that had it all and just kept on giving.
![istanbul f1 2012 istanbul f1 2012](https://e0.365dm.com/20/11/2048x1152/skysports-f1-turkish-gp-istanbul-park_5167163.jpg)
LONDON: Formula One will be bigger next year, with a record 23 races including a first in Miami, but it will be hard pushed to be better than 2021 for drama and excitement.