What?  But... that’s exactly what F1 does ever safety car.  The only difference this time is there were 3 cars they made stay put.  They should have let them all through and let them through earlier, then we wouldn’t be having this discussion, but the result would be the same.

IIRC, NASCAR definitely lets the lapped cars unlap themselves under a full-course yellow. Have done for close to two decades now.

So it was a band-aid for an engineering problem.

Which is exactly why it sucks. 

I don’t think F1 can call itself a sport in the 21st century if drivers can still easily buy their way into the world championship.

F1 hasn’t been a sport since DRS was added. 

By the way, I didn’t really have a favorite. I saw it as a battle between Lewis, the cool and gracious master racer and strategist, and Max, the brash, often rude and too aggressive, but superbly talented racer. Lewis and Mercedes were a little too cool and not willing to take a risk and they paid for it.

“Neither title contender deserved to lose this year’s championship, especially not in an unforeseen manner like this.

If you think F1 is no longer a sport because of questionable officiating decisions, I'm afraid you don't watch many sports.