Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Bahrain International Circuit, 2018

Verstappen: I left Hamilton room, he drove into me

2018 Bahrain Grand Prix

8th April 2018, 17:159th February 2024, 16:54 | Written by Keith Collantine

Max Verstappen said the stewards should have taken action over the collision between him and Lewis Hamilton in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver retired from the race following the lap two clash between the pair which left him with a puncture.

Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Bahrain International Circuit, 2018 — **Bahrain Grand Prix in pictures**

“I had a good run onto the straight,” Verstappen told the BBC. “Going for the inside, at one point under braking I was next to him. Going into the corner I was ahead.

“And then of course you always try to squeeze each other a bit. But i think there was still enough space on the left. He drove into my left-rear, gave me a puncture and also destroyed the diff.”

Asked if he felt the stewards’ decision not to penalise Hamilton was correct he said: “From my side, not. But at the end of the day even if they would do something my race is anyway finished.”

The stewards did not investigate the incident as they felt no driver was wholly or predominantly to blame, according to race director Charlie Whiting.

Both Red Bull drivers retired from the race within the first laps as Daniel Ricciardo dropped out when his car abruptly shut down.

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Keith Collantine

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109 comments on “Verstappen: I left Hamilton room, he drove into me”

Chaitanya
8th April 2018, 17:20

What was Max smoking? It was a good call by stewards.
1. Nathan Builder (@nathanbuilder)
  8th April 2018, 17:23
  
  Hamilton was:
  a) behind
  b) outside the racing line
  c) on the outside of the corner
  That was definitely Hamilton’s fault.
  1. Blazzz
    8th April 2018, 17:56
    
    Listen. The only other option was for Hamilton to leave the track. Max should have left more room and maybe he would have seen the chequered flag. Max still has alot of maturing to do even on the race track.
    1. Nathan Builder (@nathanbuilder)
      9th April 2018, 0:42
      
      Dude, I may be wrong, and I am ok with that, but Hamilton did EXACTLY the same thing to Rosberg in this very track two years in a row, and Rosberg went off track. Everyone was like “tough but fair”. I said “bullcrap” because Rosberg was on the racing line both times. And alongside Hamilton completely on the first year.
      
      Also, look at Canada 2011. What happened with Button and Hamilton? How Hamilton was considered to be at fault? I don’t know. I may be wrong. But your argument doesn’t explain anything.
      1. Sun Siyuan (@peking901)
        9th April 2018, 7:12
        
        Well said. They just don’t have logic consistency at all.
  2. Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
    8th April 2018, 17:57
    
    F@nb0y5 going to bicker now. People change sides like one changes underwear. Max was too aggressive, as usual and sometimes like today and yesterday and Melbourne and Spain and … it backfires. Ham’s not one to back down and luckily he got out of there unscathed. I’m angry for the fans, 2 RBs out and that incident on the pitlane were really bad for the spectacle. I hope the mechanic is alright. Honestly F1 races on pit stops but not on the track. If we had fixed time pitstops the biggest danger in f1, (not the halo) would’ve been mitigated.
    1. glynh (@glynh)
      8th April 2018, 18:09
      
      Got to disagree about the pit stops they’re one of the most interesting, competitive and unique things in F1. Fixed times would ruin them.
      1. mmertens (@mmertens)
        9th April 2018, 15:46
        
        I agree with you as well. But I think a compromise should be made. Maybe to bring back the lollipop mechanic, that will keep the competition factor , but in a safer way.
  3. matt90
    8th April 2018, 18:19
    
    …and then Verstappen cut across the front of him despite easily having the room not to. Like Rosberg vs Ricciardo in Hungary 2015.
  4. Wonderbadger (@wonderbadger)
    8th April 2018, 18:53
    
    Just because a driver is on the outside of the racing line doesn’t mean the driver on the inside has the right to push the other off the circuit so Max should have left room for Lewis to make the corner and stay on the track. In previous years there was a specific rule about pushing another driver off the track but at least now stewards are allowed to decide if an investigation is needed based on if it’s predominantly one drivers fault. Now at least drivers are allowed to race each other and “racing incidents” are something which now exist in the stewards vocabulary – there will always be animated discussions depending on who you’re a fan of but I do like the fact that stewards get more discretion now to let drivers get on with what they do. Todays incident came down to luck as to who got the puncture but it doesn’t mean that Lewis deserved a penalty, in the same way that if Max continued and Lewis got the puncture they should have penalised Max.
  5. Patrickl (@patrickl)
    8th April 2018, 20:53
    
    @nathanbuilder Wrong.
    
    Hamilton was:
    A) In front at the braking point and through most of the corner
    B) Being pushed off track further and further away from the racing line
    C) Trying to stay on track since he has that right when he’s not contesting the racing line
2. David BR (@david-br)
  8th April 2018, 18:07
  
  Verstappen left no room, Hamilton stayed on track, Verstappen got a puncture. Case closed.
  1. Alonso (@alonshow)
    9th April 2018, 17:04
    
    Yeah, I’m quite baffled at all the fuzz about it. It’s a very clear case: You have to leave a car’s width when there’s a car besides you, and Max didn’t, so he’s at fault.
    At the same time, it’s not like Max did something super dirty, he was just a little bit too aggressive, and even if he didn’t follow the rules 100%, that kind of aggressiveness is great for the show.
    Regarding the stewards, maybe the perfectly correct thing to do would be to give Max a penalty to carry over to the next race. However, he already got his race ruined, common sense says that’s penalty enough, even if the rules say otherwise.
    Summarizing: Fair play to all of them, so let’s move on and hope they keep giving us that kind of great show.
Nathan Builder (@nathanbuilder)
8th April 2018, 17:22

That was definitely Hamilton’s fault, but I can’t say I’m surprised to see the stewards not penalize Hamilton. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Verstappen penalized for it either, the stewards are so all over the place.

Remember in Canada 2011 when Hamilton tried to overtake Button and took himself out of the race? Remember how it was Hamilton’s fault then? Well, that was a WAY more complicated and nuanced incident than this one. This one was simply: you’re on the outside of the corner, you’re behind, you get pushed out if you don’t slow down to let the car in front through. It’s common racing etiquette, and those who drive like Hamilton did are the ones who get penalized.
1. Blazzz
  8th April 2018, 17:58
  
  What are you on about? Canada 2011 Button squeezed Hamilton and contact was made. Today Verstappen squeezed Hamilton and contact was made. Look how much room Verstappen had on the inside- he didn’t need to push Lewis off track as the pass was pretty much done. It goes down to this- its racing. Why should HAM jump out of the way for VERS? He is entitled to hold his ground and stay on track. Racing incident.
  1. socksolid (@socksolid)
    8th April 2018, 19:19
    
    The thing is in today’s f1 it is perfectly legal move to push the car off the track if it is outside of you in a corner. I don’t agree but it is what it is.
    1. lee1
      8th April 2018, 23:03
      
      That is not the case at all. If you are holding the racing line then you are clear to keep that line, however you are not allowed to simply drive into someone because they have the audacity to not put their car on the grass. Max did not have the racing line as they had exited the corner. He had plenty of room, Hamilton was letting him take the position and Max kept going to the left. If max had held his line the accident would not have happened and he would have completed to overtake.
  2. Nathan Builder (@nathanbuilder)
    9th April 2018, 0:43
    
    Hamilton was considered at fault in 2011. It might have been Button’s fault. But it wasn’t what the stewards saw to be the case.
2. Sundar Srinivas Harish (@sundark)
  8th April 2018, 18:03
  
  I think there was no penalty due to the fact that Max had already retired at that point.
  
  Although, I must argue in Hamilton’s favour here. He had left sufficient space, and Max did get in front. After that, it was purely a racing incident, where the guy in front had to stabilize after finishing the attacking move, and the guy behind had to stabilize after the defensive move.
3. paulguitar (@paulguitar)
  8th April 2018, 18:37
  
  @nathanbuilder
  
  Canada 2011 Button did not see Hamilton and pushed him into the wall.
  
  I think you may have mixed this up with another incident?
  1. Nathan Builder (@nathanbuilder)
    9th April 2018, 0:44
    
    No, I mean that precise incident. I personally think Button should have seen Hamilton and shouldn’t have pushed him into the wall, because Hamilton was already alongside Button. But apparently, because Button was on the racing line, the stewards decided that Hamilton was at fault and it was on Hamilton to make a clean overtake since he was overtaking through the outside.
    
    I don’t know, I just can’t see how that happened like that and today it’s Verstappen who is at fault.
4. Patrickl (@patrickl)
  8th April 2018, 18:43
  
  Remember in Canada 2011 when Hamilton tried to overtake Button and took himself out of the race? Remember how it was Hamilton’s fault then?
  
  Oh come on, that was in no way Hamilton’s fault. The stewards only put blame on Button, but they didn’t penalize him for it because Button claimed he hadn’t seen Hamilton. Plus of course Hamilton and Button were on the same team and McLaren obviously wasn’t looking to get their race winner penalized.
  
  It’s bizarre, but that’s how it often goes. A driver goes off line on a straight, rams someone into the wall and gets away scott-free because he “didn’t see him”.
  
  Schumacher tried the same excuse when he tried to put Barrichello into the wall, but the stewards saw that he was looking in his mirror waiting for Barrichello to move.
  1. Sonics (@sonicslv)
    9th April 2018, 3:22
    
    @patrickl Regarding Canada 2011, “not seeing” is very acceptable excuse because it was wet and water sprays everywhere. Imagine how hard it already is to see anything with F1 mirror and combine that with sprays, you really can’t see anything. It also obvious Button is not doing any defensive move so he correctly not penalized.
    
    Schumacher on the other hand, is very obvious he doing that to defend position and well aware where the other car at.
    1. Patrickl (@patrickl)
      9th April 2018, 16:59
      
      @sonicslv Well, Button had a very poor exit out of the chicane and Hamilton had been catching him alreasdy. So he should have known Hamilton would go past.
      
      Still, the excuse was more successful yes :)
5. lee1
  8th April 2018, 22:54
  
  I am sorry, you are totally blind to reality. I really like verstappen and normally defend him but this was totally his fault. Hamilton left him plenty of room and dropped back to let him through. Verstappen then moved far to far to the left and had absolutely no need to do so. Hamiltons only other option at that point was to leave the track but to be honest I am not sure he expected Verstappen to do what he did given that Max had plenty of space to race in. Hamilton held his line to the left of the track, Verstappen was the one to move across.
hyoko
8th April 2018, 17:27

Now is when the stewards summon the crane to get 44 first
Julian (Mr. Sakura) (@xiasitlo)
8th April 2018, 17:52

Here we go again. Even if he’s right, even…. You don’t go fighting the world champion immediately in the race, especially that close. Not on this track, not in this formula. Just wait a while.
This is was experts mean with ”he is too wild”, but then again people behind certain coloured glasses will flock here again. Keep the karma coming.
1. hahostolze (@hahostolze)
  8th April 2018, 18:01
  
  What an utterly ridiculous comment. If anything, if you aren’t in the best car but it’s close enough, and you have completely valid belief in your ability to match ‘world champions’, then you do go for it. And he was past him. Hamilton if anything was being the ‘old guard’ he so dislikes being, he didn’t accept Verstappen passing and he caused a small touch.
  Keith didn’t add this article to the daily round-up this week but you ought to read it. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/heart-max-verstappen It might help you understand the situation better. And it also might have you understand that in 2007 you would have LOVED this move by Hamilton on any of the others.
2. David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
  8th April 2018, 18:15
  
  You don’t go fighting the world champion immediately in the race, especially that close.
  
  I think he probably should’ve driver differently at that move, but that wouldn’t be a good reason.
  1. Julian (Mr. Sakura) (@xiasitlo)
    8th April 2018, 18:45
    
    Btw, that guy calling 2007 – I didn’t love that move, but it’s 11 years ago? So people change and now roles change.
    
    But on to; @davidnotcoulthard
    Maybe you’re right, but remember Malaysia last year? He went to Hamilton and went poking fun at him how he passed him, Hamilton quickly replied ”I could’ve defended harder”. That gents, that is what Max needs to watch again. Lewis remembered.
    1. adb (@adbb)
      8th April 2018, 22:28
      
      Lewis remembered? Lewis misjudged and almost put an early end to his own race. He just got away with it, it wasn’t masterful defending, it was a misjudgement and luck on Lewis’ side.
3. Zeus_m3 (@zeus_m3)
  8th April 2018, 18:21
  
  Why are we watching if drivers just yield to “world champions?”
4. Patrickl (@patrickl)
  8th April 2018, 18:46
  
  @xiasitlo I agree that Verstappen needs to learn when to apply maximum aggression and when not. The way he always goes for the extreme either when he is overtaking or defending means he’s going to get involved in incidents.
  
  When there is no need to take that risk then just don’t.
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
8th April 2018, 17:55

This was absolutely Hamilton’s fault, but there’s a guilty third party too: Verstappen was clear of Hamilton, but had to slightly adjust his throttle because Alonso was doing – I don’t know what he was doing, but he was going weirdly slowly just at that moment which forced Verstappen back into Hamilton. Hamilton and Alonso at fault here: Verstappen bold but maybe a bit too bold for such an early stage.
1. David BR (@david-br)
  8th April 2018, 18:12
  
  No, it was absolutely not Hamilton’s fault. It’s a lesson for Verstappen. He got a wrong line and was boxed in by Hamilton, so he tried to force his way across track, and Hamilton off it. Hamilton – very, very wisely – didn’t cede position or give in to Verstappen’s barging maneouvre, as he was entitled to do. Either could have come out if it badly, it ended up being Verstappen.
  1. David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
    8th April 2018, 18:16
    
    very, very wisely – didn’t cede position or give in to Verstappen’s barging maneouvre, as he was entitled to do. Either could have come out if it badly
    
    that’s not my idea of very, very wise.
    1. David BR (@david-br)
      8th April 2018, 18:32
      
      Because he can’t let Verstappen simply push him off track when they have equal amounts at stake.
  2. hahostolze (@hahostolze)
    8th April 2018, 18:21
    
    Did you actually see the manouvre? It was an overtake, as clean as you would like. Boxing in by the person on the outside line – that’s a new definition of racing. Nice to see the goalposts shifting because it’s Hamilton
    1. David BR (@david-br)
      8th April 2018, 18:39
      
      @hahostolze Yes I did see it, and just again. Did you see it? You’re sarcasm is unjustified: Alonso pulls across to the right, blocking Verstappen’s line. So he had to shift left, towards Hamilton, or brake behind Alonso. Having decided to push left, he drifts right across, aggressively, to claim the entire corner. And the incident happens. As the steward evidently decided. But hey, maybe you know better than everyone?
      1. MacLeod (@macleod)
        8th April 2018, 19:42
        
        IF Alonso wasn’t there then Lewis in the fault and would be penaulized but stewards saw Alonso there Max had to steer left so racing incident end of story.
      2. David BR (@david-br)
        8th April 2018, 19:45
        
        @macleod No, Verstappen had the option of braking and following Alonso through the corner or swerving left. I’m just explaining how he found himself ‘boxed in’ as @hahostolze was having trouble with the idea.
      3. lee1
        8th April 2018, 23:06
        
        There was plenty of room for all 3 cars. Verstappen was fine to both overtake hamilton and alonso, Hamilton looked like he spotted that so left more room for Max but for some reason Max kept going left. No idea what hamilton could have done, he already backed off and stayed to the far left of the track…
    2. matt90
      8th April 2018, 18:40
      
      It makes sense, he seemed mid-corner to be boxed in by Alonso and Hamilton.
    3. David BR (@david-br)
      8th April 2018, 19:43
      
      And even his team boss disagrees with you. Though maybe Horner is shifting the goalposts because it’s Hamilton too?
2. glynh (@glynh)
  8th April 2018, 18:15
  
  Agreed, if it had been a crash it would have been Hamiltons fault as he was behind but I think racing incident covers it.
  I’m sure Hamilton would, and has, expected drivers in his position to let off the throttle but verstappen should have known he was going against an equally uncompromising driver.
  1. glynh (@glynh)
    8th April 2018, 18:16
    
    Agreed with @hahostolze that is
  2. Patrickl (@patrickl)
    8th April 2018, 20:56
    
    Hamilton was in front when they were braking and through the corner. The only reason Verstappen ended up “in front” by the time they touched was because Verstappen wasn’t turning in for the actual corner.
    
    It’s the same dirty move Rosberg pulled on Verstappen in Hockenheim 2016 and Verstappen was none pleased with that move. Rosberg got a penalty.
    1. Ruben (@)
      9th April 2018, 7:02
      
      Oh come on, Rosberg didnt left any room as Verstappen did.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MLK6FXdA94
      Pause @ 16 sec and you see that Hamilton is still on track.
      
      What I noticed is that Hamilton is steering even more to the right when the Verstappen is with his rear left at Hamilonts right front. You can see it @ 14 sec.
Jere (@jerejj)
8th April 2018, 17:59

No, you didn’t, LOL.
John Toad (@)
8th April 2018, 17:59

MV is having a dreadful start to the season and so the finger pointing starts as it obviously can’t ever be the ‘annointed ones’ fault.
Max has been paying too much attention to the pundits and is simply over-driving to try and live up to the hype.
1. Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
  8th April 2018, 20:43
  
  Yeah, he was blaming the car in Australia, the car again for qualifying this weekend and now Hamilton for getting him a puncture. All I see is an erratic driver spinning left, right and center and who has 8 points after 2 races in a top 3 team…
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
8th April 2018, 18:00

Both drivers aren’t averse to driving into others, so yeah, move on.
Blazzz
8th April 2018, 18:00

Sorry but Max made his bed. Pass was pretty much complete and no need to keep squeezing. IMO this is why Max is far from the finished article. You don’t win the race on the first few laps.
1. Todfod (@todfod)
  9th April 2018, 5:51
  
  I’d have to agree with you. Max made the move already. He squeezed down the inside and was ahead by the apex. Although he does have the right to squeeze the driver on the exit, it’s an unnecessary risk that will more surely than not backfire. Hamilton had to go off the circuit completely to avoid contact, which he didn’t do, and there was contact. I would put it down as a racing incident, but it was a racing incident that could have been avoided if Max wasn’t unnecessarily agrressive.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
8th April 2018, 18:11

Silly move by Max and way, way too aggressive. You can the difference between Lewis and Max. Lewis made a fantastic start but had to avoid crashes so he avoided getting hit and lived to fight another day. He even tried to get out of Max’s way but Max clipped his front wing.

When Lewis got the chance, he passed 3 pretty quick cars.

I actually would love for Max to carry a penalty into the next race – obviously Max hasn’t learnt his lesson if he’s saying that it’s Lewis’ fault.

How much space does Max need – should everyone else be racing in China when he’s racing in Bahrain? That should give him plenty of space.
TdM (@tdm)
8th April 2018, 18:12

Yeah, this was an error by Max. There was no way that Hamilton was going to disappear there and it was an extremely clumsy attempt to close the door. Max knew he was still there and just poorly managed the squeeze.

As others have said, this is what Max needs to learn, the best drivers can get side by side and know when they can and can’t squeeze and when they are still racing and need to give space. Max is too aggressive and not measured in his approach. It works for him a lot of the time and it’s what makes his racing look so ‘special’ but as predicted many times and as has been seen throughout F1 history, sooner or later, they all learn to drive more sensibly.
GechiChan (@gechichan)
8th April 2018, 18:13

Max did well, a great driver goes for the dive and pushes the other wide, but with Hamilton you need to be more careful as
he is always a tough opponent to squeeze. So, really, just a racing incident in my view. Too bad this ended the race for VER which might have been a super recovery.
Andre Furtado (@f1andy83)
8th April 2018, 18:16

Not a Hamilton fan at all here. But oh boy that max’s fault 100%.
1. Egonovi
  8th April 2018, 18:45
  
  there’s the 3rd option – racing incident; case closed.
  1. Makana (@makana)
    8th April 2018, 20:48
    
    Think so too.
Pete (@petey84)
8th April 2018, 18:23

Not Hamiltons fault just like 2014 Belgium was not Rosbergs
1. Asanator (@asanator)
  8th April 2018, 20:42
  
  +1
2. Patrickl (@patrickl)
  8th April 2018, 20:57
  
  Completely unrelated situations. But I understand you are just trolling, so here is your feeding …
Patrick (@anunaki)
8th April 2018, 18:23

Racing incident. Both drivers could’ve avoid it maybe. Lewis got lucky, Max not.

The gap was there, Lewis defended but Max still made the pass. Max came across to the outside of the corner ahead and Lewis hit him anyway.
Neil (@neilosjames)
8th April 2018, 18:24

That was pretty much the definition of ‘racing incident’. The kind of thing that happens when two drivers who don’t back down go up against each other.

Verstappen could have left more room and Hamilton could have slowed… obviously neither of them did, but that’s not a bad thing. Hard, fair racing should be encouraged, not whinged about.
1. Matteo (@m-bagattini)
  9th April 2018, 9:06
  
  @neilosjames agreed. It is in fact encouraged since none of them was sanctioned.
GtisBetter (@)
8th April 2018, 18:31

Hamilton did leave enough room, he steered to the outside to avoid him, but max was aggressive and just couldn’t make it work. Racing incident. Though in the end not a smart move by max. He should pick his battles and this one was not worth the risk.
Michael Brown (@)
8th April 2018, 18:31

When you’re used to pushing drivers wide and then you encounter a driver who isn’t going to just let you push them around.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
8th April 2018, 18:35

I really can’t understand why so many are defending Verstappen. Yes, Haminton could have gone wider. But he had no right to al all. He left Verstappen plenty of room. Verstappen could have easily gone tighter and started to turn right after the corner far sooner to allow Hamilton more room. But he actaully puts on more trottle and keeps going wider. It was this point where the contact was made. He knew Hamilton was there. I agree with the decision that it was a racing incident as the driver who I believe was at fault was the one who retired. If Hamilton retired instead with the exact same thing happening, I am pretty sure Verstappen would have got a penalty. Channel 4 and especially Ben Edwards is clearly a huge fan of Verstappen and he blamed him. DC and Webber are now reviewing it on Channel 4 and they also can’t see that Hamilton did wrong. He could have gone wider yes but he will have still been at the edge of the track further round which Verstappen didn’t really leave enough room for a driver to be there without contact. Verstappen has had 2 bad weekends.
David BR (@david-br)
8th April 2018, 18:43

Verstappen is simply getting an actual taste of what it’s like to be competing for a championship. The end of last season was great, nothing to lose, a competitive car, his rivals unwilling to risk as much and letting him past. But not this season. He needs to reboot his mindset.
1. Sundar Srinivas Harish (@sundark)
  9th April 2018, 1:19
  
  Well said. He needs to understand tact and patience. Currently, he has neither. All he’s doing is painting a target on his back that Dr.Marko will be more than happy to shoot at.
Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
8th April 2018, 18:53

Room???
KaIIe (@kaiie)
8th April 2018, 18:55

This kind of contact is what happens with this generation of racers: when squeezing someone on the exit of the corner has become the normal thing to do, suddenly when someone decides not to give up we have a collision.
Matn
8th April 2018, 18:57

Opinions all over the place… my favorite driver is not to blame level… what does the rules say?

“The attacker takes an inside line, gets alongside the defender in the braking zone, and beats the defender to the apex. If the attacker is ahead at the apex, there is no dispute over ownership of the racing line. The defender must yield, it is generally accepted that the attacker must be at least halfway alongside the defender when they reach the apex to have a reasonable claim to this piece of track.”

It’s a very clear case, Verstappen was ahead and therefore Hamilton has to yield, according to the rules no racingincident but worth a penalty…. regardless who’s you favorite driver.
1. George (@george)
  8th April 2018, 19:58
  
  Hamilton wasn’t on the racing line though, Verstappen left the racing line to push him further wide.
  
  Out of interest, where are you getting that quote from?
  1. Matn
    8th April 2018, 20:40
    
    Rules of racing, it’s a nice article that explains the rules with real life events, very learning.
    
    Another funny thing is, going into the corner the attacker who is in front may choose each line he prefers, the driver up front makes the raceline.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
8th April 2018, 19:15

He drove into my left-rear, gave me a puncture and also destroyed the dif

What comes around goes around btw, he used to do the same to other drivers. He should think twice next time before expecting a 4x WDC like Lewis Hamilton to be intimidated by that kind of move.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
8th April 2018, 19:49

Verstappen took a totally different line to the normal. He took a different line to all 5 drivers in front of him even before the contact. He carried more speed into the corner and continued to use his throttle and kept going wider. Hamilton didn’t choose to leave the track or back off, (maybe a risk but not wrong). This was before the contact. It was partly because Hamilton didn’t choose to back off but mainly because Verstappen went wider than virtually every other driver… just look at the line Alonso took infront. If Verstappen had gone that tight, this won’t have happened. He carried more speed than necessary, resulting in a collision.

I certainly agree that it was just a racing incident. But as the one at who I believe was at fault suffered, I think that is the reason why no further action was taken. People may say the rules are inconsistent, but no incident is ever absolutely identical. If it was a racing incident, we can’t say the driver who survived was predominantly to blame. If they were, they would have been penalised. The driver who basically got a penalty was Verstappen. So I personally believe that they either don’t blame one more than the other, or more likely blame Verstappen, but he suffered the consequences of his own risk. Given the decision that has been made, I don’t see how anyone can blame Verstappen more than Hamilton. I think Verstappen is just trying a bit too hard with everything at the moment. Just a bit overconfident.
1. Patrickl (@patrickl)
  8th April 2018, 21:23
  
  @thegianthogweed Hamilton was ahead at the breaking point (where it matters) and Rosberg got penalized twice for pulling this same stunt. So yes I can see why people blame Verstappen.
  
  Hamilton ahead even when through the corner (slightly, but still)
  https://i.imgur.com/PyF9UiP.jpg
  
  Verstappen simply not turning in to follow the racing line (pulling a Rosberg)
  https://i.imgur.com/6Gx4yXz.jpg
  
  Verstappen sure blamed Rosberg when Rosberg pulled this move on him in Hockenheim.
  
  In the end Verstappen dug his own grave. Perhaps he will learn from that. Or more likely it’s one in a long line of incidents to come that will perhaps enlighten him at some point that this is not the way to go.
  
  I really hope Horner and Marko will sit him down and
  1. Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
    8th April 2018, 21:52
    
    Your 2nd image really shows why Verstappen was heavily at fault for this.
    1. Patrickl (@patrickl)
      8th April 2018, 22:17
      
      Yeah I thought so too. You really cannot just push other drivers off track like that. Not unless you are defending a racing line (if he had been ahead), but that line was nowhere near.
  2. Michael (@freelittlebirds)
    8th April 2018, 22:29
    
    How on earth can anyone defend Max here? I’m not getting it – it’s obvious that he didn’t just try to pass Hamilton but also tried to push him off track. He could have passed him easily if he hadn’t decided to clip him off at the same time…
    
    Everyone else is on the other side of the track but Lewis and Max are headed off track to god knows where:-)
  3. Todfod (@todfod)
    9th April 2018, 6:56
    
    @patrickl
    
    Got to agree with you. It’s a typical move of squeezing the driver on exit to make sure he loses momentum and can’t challenge on the next corner. Verstappen got the tow and braked on the inside, the corner was his, and now he got greedy by trying to squeeze the driver off the track. It’s a risk, as the only way Hamilton could have backed out of that move is if he slammed the brakes on the outside and nearly came to a standstill. There’s no way Hamilton was under any obligation to do so.
    
    It’s unfortunate for Max, but over aggressiveness does come with a price.
George (@george)
8th April 2018, 19:55

I’m fine with the stewards’ decision on this one. The onus is on the overtaking driver to make a clean pass and Verstappen squeezed Hamilton who didn’t adjust his position. However, even if the damage ended up the other way around I think it would still fit under the classification of racing incident, just, as Hamilton could have avoided the contact.

This is Verstappen’s inexperience telling, he goes for every move like he’s going for the race win. Exciting to watch, and it will get you race wins, but over a championship you can’t afford DNF’s like this.
1. Patrick (@anunaki)
  8th April 2018, 20:04
  
  You can use the same argument the other way around.
  
  Lewis could avoid it as he was already overtaken by a quicker car. He could easily have lost his wing and damage his car heavily. Why take this risk so early in the race?
2. Patrickl (@patrickl)
  8th April 2018, 21:02
  
  @george Rosberg pulled the same dirty move twice in 2016 and got penalized on both occasions. Verstappen should have turned in to actually make the corner.
  
  @anunaki Hamilton wasn’t overtaken. He was rammed off track. Hamilton was ahead when they started braking and was ahead and alongside Verstappen through the first half of the corner. Then Verstappen just drove straight on off track not even bothering to turn right like all the other cars did.
  
  Two clips of the same type of offense and in both instances a penalty was awarded to the “Verstappen” in this situation:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKbQsV1M43k
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixmGVL4dedI
  1. George (@george)
    8th April 2018, 21:15
    
    @patrickl
    It’s not quite the same since Verstappen didn’t completely miss the apex by driving straight on, rather he opened his steering after the apex to track-out earlier. I would describe what Rosberg did as ‘blocking’ and what Verstappen did as ‘squeezing’.
    1. Patrickl (@patrickl)
      8th April 2018, 22:08
      
      @george Well going by your last sentence, it is exactly the same. Hamilton was ahead when they went into the corner and got blocked from taking the corner.
      
      That’s how Verstappen, just like Rosberg, ultimately got “ahead”.
      
      It’s only squeezing when you are squeezing the other driver off the racing line (to which you have the right). The technical term for what Verstappen did is “deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track”.
Nerrticus (@nerrticus)
8th April 2018, 20:11

The lucky part for Hamilton was not avoiding a penalty (I think it was a racing incident as well) but that parts of his wing didn’t break off with the contact. I was surprised he got out of that unscathed.

That would have messed up his strategy and his race and cost…well i’d say a bunch of points but he probably would have still been 3rd anyway. Zero chance to win though.
Silfen (@silfen)
8th April 2018, 20:27

Verstappen trying to do a Hamilton signature overtake (by pushing the other driver to the outside) gets taken out by Hamilton.. What irony!

I agree with racing incident but it was definitely not Verstappen fault as some claim here as he had the right to the racing line being in front on the inside as the overtaking driver.
1. Patrickl (@patrickl)
  8th April 2018, 21:04
  
  @silfen Now go and look for a replay and see where the racing line goes … I’l wait.
  
  Are you back? So you saw that Verstappen wasn’t defending the racing line huh? Not at all. Verstappen wasn’t ahead either until when he just ran straight and failed to turn in for the corner.
  
  Hmmmm
  1. Silfen (@silfen)
    8th April 2018, 21:14
    
    @patrickl May be you should look again. He was ahead at the apex (which is what counts) and thus can choose his own line.
    
    And you might as well watch Hamilton’s pass on Hulkenberg where he did exactly the same but fortunaltely Hulkenberg had the sense to back off, unlike Hamilton.
    1. Patrickl (@patrickl)
      8th April 2018, 22:14
      
      @silfen No, the stewards look at who’s ahead at the braking point. Otherwise people could just not brake and they would be ahead.
      
      Besides, they never were near the apex since Verstappen simply didn’t turn in. What on earth are you talking about? You clearly didn’t watch the clip.
      
      Since you are too lazy, here Hamilton is still (slightly) ahead even when they are going through the corner:
      https://i.imgur.com/PyF9UiP.jpg
      
      And no that pass on Hulkenberg was NOT the same. You need to understand where the braking starts and where the racing line is:
      https://i.imgur.com/6Gx4yXz.jpg
      1. Silfen (@silfen)
        8th April 2018, 22:37
        
        @patrickl Apparently you don’t know about the rules of racing. It is about who is ahead at the apex, not at the braking point, because that is not the same for each car (and braking late would not be possible).
        
        But let’s agree to disagree because I see no point in continuing this discussion.
      2. Patrickl (@patrickl)
        9th April 2018, 17:22
        
        @silfen That is complete nonsense.
        
        Besides, when they actually near to the apex, Hamilton was ahead. I gave you the screenshots!
        
        So yeah, you better stop arguing, because you really make no sense at all.
        
        Verstappen was never trying to stay on the racing line. He simply rammed straight through and pushed Hamilton off on the other side of the track. That’s an offense which usually gets penalized. Rosberg got two of those penalties in 2016 and no doubt if Verstappen hadn’t ended his own race by that stunt, he would also have gotten the penalty.
        
        Butr again, just look at the pictures. It can’t be that hard to understand that that’s not allowed. Although Rosberg didn’t get it either, but then he was a cheat.
George (@george)
8th April 2018, 20:30

@anunaki
I agree with you, and I don’t know the answer, but the end result was he did get away with it. It could be that he didn’t expect Max to keep coming across, or that he knew his car could take the hit, I couldn’t say. I assume he was thinking about how to attack into turn 4 rather than surrendering the position.

I don’t mean to imply Hamilton is perfect either. He tends to get his elbows out against championship rivals, as with Rosberg when they ended up on track together, and he certainly sees Verstappen as a threat. The difference is Hamilton tends to be more patient in traffic generally these days, while Verstappen goes in with no compromise every time.

I don’t want to criticise Verstappen too much anyway. As I said I still consider it a racing incident, and he’s fun to watch, but these are the rough parts of his driving he needs to polish off as his career progresses.
1. Patrick (@anunaki)
  8th April 2018, 20:37
  
  I agree
  
  It’s just great to see these 2 guys racing against each other. It’s unbelievable if you think of the fact that max is still 2 years younger than Lewis was at his debut.
  1. George (@george)
    8th April 2018, 20:49
    
    @anunaki
    Yeah, it’s too much to expect him to be perfect when he’s still only been racing in cars for what, four or five years? He has incredible natural talent, all he lacks is some wisdom. We’re comparing him to a guy who’s been at the top for the past ten years and already learnt these lessons the hard way.
Jorge Lardone (@jorge-lardone)
8th April 2018, 20:46

Another dirty maneuver of Crash Max, the new spoiled child of the press … the heir of Alonso.
1. Benny
  9th April 2018, 1:05
  
  Except Alonso was never as reckless and a 2 time WDC.
  More of your anti Alonso rubbish.
Peeteybooy
8th April 2018, 21:49

Max = Takuma Sato
Ed
8th April 2018, 23:17

And again he gets a puncture after clipping someone else’s front wing.

And there were times he was lucky not to get, like Canada and Mexico last year with Vettel.

Time to understand and learn to avoid doing that again.
Ed Marques (@edmarques)
9th April 2018, 0:22

Crash kid delusional again.
But the teenagers fans will agree with him.
Larkin
9th April 2018, 0:27

Alonso and co had the apex I believe. Thats why mv went left to avoid them Lewis was already going round the outside at a slower speed. MV making too many excuses for his own erreurs of judgement. He should have kept his trap shut. I like him but he is fast prooving that maybe he doesn’t have what it takes.
medman (@medman)
9th April 2018, 0:28

Verstappen is quickly becoming the likeness of Pastor “Crashtor” Maldonado.
Urvaksh (@thedoctor03)
9th April 2018, 7:01

Surprising Max forgot Canada 2017 when he caused damage to Vettel’s front wing at the start…
1. Patrickl (@patrickl)
  9th April 2018, 17:25
  
  @thedoctor03 Nonsense. Verstappen was wrong here, but in Canada 2017 it was Vettel’s own fault.
  
  In Canada Verstappen was ahead of Vettel and therefore had the right to the racing line. Vettel decided not to yield and lost his front wing.
  
  In this case, Verstappen was behind, his overtake failed and instead he decided to push Hamilton off the track all the way on the other side of the track. Well away from the racing line.
Maikel
9th April 2018, 10:13

IMO MV fault, but racing incident. However when you get involved in race incidents, race after race, ruining races and championships (not for you but for others), is the moment for the big bosses to take a stand against the spoiled hyperactive brat.
iCarbs (@icarby)
9th April 2018, 10:24

I like both HAM and VER, however the previously posted picture: https://imgur.com/6Gx4yXz
clearly proves that VER left no space for HAM. VER lucky to not get a penalty.

But to be honest I’m get tired of VER’s early retirements…

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Keith Collantine

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