It is the mark of a true Champion and a mature person, that he would only rather reluctantly accept a 'gift' to which he cannot, in good conscience, attest to having 'won', and won fairly.
So is the dilemma which confronted Max Verstappen, a veritable and courageous racer, who was gifted not only the P.1 finishing position of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday 12th December 2021.
But also the 2021 Formula 1 Drivers Championship.
Max, probably understandably, was elated with feelings of joy which probably took him to the heavens and back.
Yes, the same 'Heaven' where we might imagine the "Racing Gods" whom Christian Horner beseeched to send down "a miracle" to rid Red Bull and Max of their tribulations.
As they chased after the, until 'the miracle', seemingly winning and pending Eighth Times Drivers Champion, Lewis Hamilton, increasing his distance ahead of Max.
A "miracle" which, in their mysterious ways of working, 'The Racing Gods' appear to have used the Race Director to apply a peculiar and imperturbable logic and reasoning, to restart the race in the 57th lap, in a manner which was fated to snatch, in one fell swoop,
Hamilton's impending victory and World Championship from him, and gifted it to Max Verstappen.
And so it was, that Christmas came very early for Max this year. So it was that, Max did not have to fight for either the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix win, nor the 2021 Drivers Championship.
Just as how Hamilton did not, was not required to 'lose' either the race nor the Championship.
Not with the race between these two contenders, by virtue of the machinations of the Race Director and the FIA, having been brought to an end at the beginning of the Safety Car intervention, when Latifi, in a moment of loss of control, was embraced by the walls of the Yas Marinas Circuit.
Yes, Max and Team Red Bull was elated by feelings of euphoria, even when prudence, humility and self-respect might have called for a more restrained celebrations.
After all, unless one takes the view that, 'winning' is 'winning', irrespective of the manner in which one wins. Then, where is the pleasure, the honour in having that 'win' given, gifted to one.
While knowing that it was not the outcome of a fair competition between the 'winner' and the 'loser'?
Surely, irrespective of the unrestrained congratulations that Max and Red Bull has been showered with, there is a certain hollowness, a certain, poignancy, a certain cringing about their 'win.'
Max Verstappen has been showing all the required credentials and attributes of becoming a veritable Formula 1 Drivers World Champion.
Arguably, however, this is a very poor and inauspicious way for Verstappen to begin his Championship career, by being 'given', 'gifted' his First Championship.
It would have been better, more fitting for him to have won it competitively on the Circuit, which was not the case.
How, then, can I congratulate Verstappen on 'wining' the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the 2021 Championship, when he had been placed in a position by RD and FIA where he could not have properly won them?
How can I offer Lewis Hamilton and Team Mercedes, commiserations for having 'lost' the race and the Championship?
When they had been placed in a position by the RD and FIA, where they were hamstrung and had all their fought for race advantage nullified?
So that Verstappen, in the final lap of a by then non-race, could place himself in a position of being 'declared' the winner?
That would not make any sense; it would be illogical, consequently, I am not in a position to congratulate or to commiserate.
Nevertheless, what I will say is this, that the FIA should, in all decency and fairness, seek to redress the terrible injustice they have done to Hamilton and Team Mercedes, by making Hamilton the Joint Formula 1 2021 World Drivers Champions.
This, surely, is what the Racing Gods would have wanted; the justice and fairness should prevail.
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