Max Verstappen’s decision to block Daniel Ricciardo’s run towards the inside of turn one made the crash between the pair inevitable, according to Formula One’s head of motorsport Ross Brawn.
While Brawn said the stewards’ decision to reprimand both drivers was “the right course of action”, he believes the loss of downforce Ricciardo experienced following Verstappen’s move meant he could not avoid hitting his team mate.
“Once Daniel had settled for his line, and Max had changed direction blocking that line, the Australian became a passenger,” said Brawn.“The downforce loss experienced by Ricciardo in the wake of Verstappen’s car would have made it unstoppable. We often think of downforce applying in cornering, but the impact the extra grip has in braking is huge. Take away that grip in braking and what happened on Sunday was inevitable.”
Brawn said the case was another example of why F1 car design must be addressed to improved racing. He praised yesterday’s agreement of rules changes for the 2019 F1 season aimed at allowing cars to follow each other more closely.
“Whilst this was a very severe example, it did highlight once more the need of finding a way to develop the rules to make the cars more ‘raceable’ in these conditions,” he said.
“The decision of the Strategy Group and the F1 Commission taken yesterday, sanctioned by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, to approve a number of aerodynamic modifications, aimed at promoting closer racing and more overtaking for the 2019 season is definitely an important step.
“It’s also important to note that the decision has been taken after an intense period of research into the FIA’s proposals, which were made with the support of Formula 1 and, conducted by a majority of the teams. It showed good spirit and a good way of working together for a better and more spectacular Formula 1, which is what the FIA, Formula 1, the teams, and most importantly, the fans want.”
2018 F1 season
- ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
- Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
- Ricciardo: Baku “s***show” was Red Bull’s fault
- “Drive to Survive Episode 1: All to Play For” reviewed
Kim Philby (@philby)
1st May 2018, 18:26
Race ban, make it happen, what more did Grosjean did to deserve it? In reality he did less but he is not a high profile driver and was am easy scapegoat.
Patrick (@anunaki)
1st May 2018, 18:56
It was a racing incident, get over it
Kim Philby (@philby)
1st May 2018, 20:13
Formula1.com made a video of Verstappen incidents, too many I am afraid.
erikje
1st May 2018, 21:33
Only if you see every “”incident”” as his fault. That’s not the case.
In fact RIC should have backed of but was already commited to his course of action. Both are at fault and VER still is one of the pearls of F1. ( for years to come, so get used to it or get a very difficult f1 viewing career ;)
ajaya
1st May 2018, 23:55
yeah, a perl of F1 who cannot finish a race!
ivz (@ivz)
2nd May 2018, 1:11
People trying to defend Max are typical of being blind and bias. Who is the driver constantly involved in collisions? There is no doubt that he is an unbelievable talent, but that doesn’t give someone the right to fight dirty like Senna and Schumacher. Some may say that is what sets them apart, but the facts are most race fans want to see great drivers do the right thing. If Ricciardo attempted to pass any other driver on the grid at that moment, 9 times out of 10 there would be no incident. It’s clear that Max moved (while only a small movement) initially right and then to the left.
erikje
2nd May 2018, 9:03
@iviz
But only people who defend him off course ;)
Haha.. you made me laugh, so that’s good.
Ed
2nd May 2018, 19:37
Verstappen is not a “pearl” of Formula 1 and is not even close to be.
This kid has been involved in so many accidents and incidents, we better start treating him as the Maldonado he is at the moment, not someone who can win a WDC because he is not.
Red Bull gave them the car to be on the top 5 or better consistently. Ricciardo did it 2 times that would be 3 if not for the failure in Bahrein.
Verstappen did NONE if four races and is already more than fifty points behind.
It’s time to stop treating this guy like he is already WDC material. He is not even close.
Ed
2nd May 2018, 20:02
The only driver Verstappen can fight as hard as he did is Ricciardo, who, being his team mate, was avoiding contact at all costs while trying a clean overtake, not closing the door on the approach to turn 2 numerous times despite being touched by Verstappen on one of the attempts.
Verstappen is so amateurish i can’t imagine him doing what Bottas did to Vettel at the restart waiting for him to overshoot the corner without moving from his normal line. Verstappen would position himself on the middle, change directions as he always does, cause contact or cause Vettel to avoid him. That’s the only way he races.
elvira
3rd May 2018, 4:13
Ric should not have backed off – he had a short lived tyre temp advantage sure to be gone next time back at the ‘cleanest’ place to overtake … Max had already shown that he was happy to make contact rather than be passed anywhere on the track.
bogaaaa (@nosehair)
1st May 2018, 22:34
Max deserves a Race ban for his lack of racing skill and judgement over the last 3 races, l think crashing into Dan earlier in the Baku was worse than the change of direction move.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
1st May 2018, 19:55
Are you saying Grosjean’s crash was caused by downforce he lost in 2012 due to aerodynamics at play in 2017?
Kim Philby (@philby)
1st May 2018, 20:21
@phylyp
What I am saying is constantly crashing is subpar driving which means that you don’t belong in F1.
erikje
1st May 2018, 21:35
The number of “”crashes”” is a bit over the top. The HAM pass was no crash.. The Vet incident was no crash.. etc..
Every contact seems to stack up as a crash is VER is involved. it’s not.
AdanFinnell
1st May 2018, 21:40
Very well said.
CuCkoo
1st May 2018, 23:12
@philby
Do you remember the year 2011? If not, let me remind you.
HAM, who already had 1 title and was on his 5th season in F1, was involved in a series of incidents throughout the season. In some cases identical, more or less, and in other cases even worse than what VER did so far. Active and former drivers were highly critical of him and Maldonado has less points deducted from his license than Hamilton had that year.
The difference between them is that VER sometimes has the dignity to say “I am sorry, I did a mistake”, which wasn’t the case with HAM, especially with the idiotic incidents with Massa.
Yet today HAM is considered as one of the “greats” of the sport.
Would you like to comment on this please?
Kim Philby (@philby)
2nd May 2018, 8:55
I remember all too well the series of idiotic crashes between those 2. So what was the outcome Hamilton getting beaten by Button in the standings and also Alonso in an inferior car which won only once to Mclaren’s tally of 6 victories!
It was subpar driving by Hamilton and the same applies here for Verstappen. The only contrast that makes Verstappen worthy of a race ban is that his incidents are not just slow corner scrapping and poor wheel to wheel combat (like he had in Bahrain and China, Hungaroring 2016,2017) but also 200mph illegal blocking (Spa 2016, Baku 2018) therefore he is not only clumsy but downright dangerous.
Having a bad year of crappy driving is reflected in the driver’s standings as was the case with Hamilton in 2011.
I suggest the race ban for endagering people’s lives not races, something Hamilton didn’t do in 2011 and also Magnussen did to Gasly in Baku.
DrG
2nd May 2018, 9:30
Certainly.
LH while having a bad year won three races and took the only none RB pole of the year.
Despite this his team were never in contention. Neither was his team mate who seemed only interested in beating him. An understandably irritating year.
Add to this a Massa (most of the incidents were with Massa with LH at fault one more than Massa was) seemingly determined to never allow an overtake again led to clashes.
The F1 club spotting weakness coupled with off track issues that distracted him, turned on him.
This is absolutely not the same as MV.
Frasier (@frasier)
2nd May 2018, 9:46
Most certainly.
2011 was the year that LH finally realised that he was not going to be given the benefit of the doubt in a 50:50 incident. This was most notable in the Monaco incident with Maldonado, who was not then the pantomime villain that he subsequently became. PM turned into St Devote so early he had all 4 wheels over the inside kerb, which is why LH was so frustrated in the post race interview. PM drove into LH, later races would confirm this as his ‘go to’ defensive manoeuvre.
LH has decided that finishing races is better than having silly incidents with other drivers who think they will get away with it. Less exciting, but it wins championships.
MV is currently in that period where he is ready and willing to go for the 50:50 move. Unlikely to win the championship, he thinks he has little to lose, but come the day when he is in contention, that’s when we will see whether he has the maturity to make the right decisions.
DR is the most clinical overtaker in F1 right now, he was, as Brawn said, left with no chance by MV. Shades of Max’s dad ramming Montoya under braking at Interlagos, wonder if that was used in the post race father-son debrief?
Todfod (@todfod)
2nd May 2018, 9:46
Don’t muddle your facts to prove a point. Hamilton was involved in a lot if incidents in 2011, but a lot of them were not his fault. Hamilton taking Maldonado out at Monaco 2011 was definitely his mistake, for which he got a penalty as well, but most of his incidents with Massa was Massa’s fault more than his. Felipe can be stubborn as a donkey and is entirely capable of poor race craft on Sundays.
I agree that Verstappen is having a similar season to Hamilton was in 2011, but only that Hamilton had maybe 6 races out of 19 with racing incidents in 2011, as compared to 3 racing incidents out of 4 races for Verstappen/ already.
Regarding their attitude, I don’t think Verstappen’s attitude this year is any better than what Hamilton’s was in 2011.
Kim Philby (@philby)
2nd May 2018, 10:36
@CuCkoo
@CuCkoo
Hamilton in 2011 paid the price of his reclessness by being beaten in the standings by Button and Alonso in that mediocre Ferrari which won 1 race to Mclaren’s 6.
Verstappen ‘s driving is even worse than that, without any reliability issues he is being beaten by a Renault and the Mclaren!
But I don’t suggest being punished for that, I do for his illegal blocking at 200mph. Hamilton never did that.
Verstappen and Magnussen do and to my eyes is a punishable offence. And it is not like the first time they do it.
Kim Philby (@philby)
1st May 2018, 18:27
Plus one for Magnussen for good measure.
Azmo (@azmo)
1st May 2018, 18:41
These comments are getting old. Lets punish every driver actually trying to race and make a spectacle..
I applaud both Max and Daniel for their racing last sunday, it was awesome. Racing on the edge should be encouraged instead of punished
Kim Philby (@philby)
1st May 2018, 20:17
@azmo
How are they getting old when there is a refresher every race? Maybe to you F1 is just a spectacle for me it is first and foremost a sport and sports demand skill. Crashing doesn’t portray skill we should applaud precision not recklessness.
grat
1st May 2018, 20:55
So far, Max’s season has looked like this:
AUS – Unforced spin / lost places
BHR – Contact with Hamilton
CHN – Ran wide / lost places, hit Vettel (10 second penalty)
AZE – Collided with teammate twice, second collision took both RB cars out
He’s lost the team points in 4 out of 4 races so far this season– and I know they aren’t all his fault, but he’s the only driver in the top 3 teams who’s had an incident every single race. The stewards are going to get tired of seeing his name come up.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
1st May 2018, 21:08
@azmo I commented about this elsewhere, there’s a difference between racing hard and racing smart. Ricciardo and Verstappen were so concerned about tripping over each other that even before the crash, a podium chance had gone away from them. Both of them (especially Max) slowed their own races.
Also, hard racing might be a spectacle for you, but think about all the guys in the factory and on the pitwall, who’ve worked so hard to push the top two teams. Instead of celebrating a strong finish, they’re left to see their hard work in tatters and answer questions from the media for no fault of their own. Spare a thought for them.
Max said after the race that he was sure the battling was good for TV. That’s worrisome, a driver’s top priority shouldn’t be just to put up a spectacle, but to ensure maximum points for himself and his team.
Patrick (@anunaki)
1st May 2018, 21:48
Why do you think spectacle is his top priority? Getting the best result is. The reason Max had to defend hard is the huge tow plus DRS that kept RIC in his gearbox lap after lap. What do you expect drivers to do? Just give up? The same goes for RIC: he could’ve backed up as well but why should he? They’re racing drivers fighting for positions not chess pieces used by a team.
It’s racing, sometimes it doesn’t work out. And we move on
Mickey's Miniature Grandpa
2nd May 2018, 1:01
If getting the best result is Verstappen’s priority, he’s doing a lousy job. The reason he defended hard is because red mist descends and he doesn’t think about what he’s doing. His race would have been considerably faster had it occurred to him to think of the team, let Ricciardo go and use his slipstream to save fuel for a bit and maybe have a go later in the race, instead of fighting tooth and nail for lap after lap over a position he was bound to lose eventually, costing them both a lot of time in the process. But no, not Verstappen. He’s the Golden Boy. Nobody’s allowed to overtake The Great Verstappen.
Ask yourself this: if you were Mercedes or Ferrari team principal, would you hire Verstappen right now? I sure as hell wouldn’t. He’s a liability – fast but homicidally reckless, consistently throwing away good results. I’d rather stick with Bottas or Raikkonen, at least they can bring home a fistful of points. Ricciardo, on the other hand, I’d hire in a heartbeat. If Verstappen doesn’t get his head in the game soon he’ll have no future in F1 when RBR finally tire of his impulsive and foolish antics.
erikje
2nd May 2018, 9:08
@mickey…
he is doing a lousy job. But sometimes racing is about trying and he had a lot of bad luck.
If he did what RIC did with BOT in Bahrein, the critics were all over him. If he did what Alonso did in that same race he would have received a penalty ( as should Alonso)
If he did what magnussen did to Gasly.. the world was to small for VER. So you see, different measuring is standard in social media.
Patrick (@anunaki)
2nd May 2018, 13:11
Mickey
What you do in this reply is assuming you know what is happenings in Max’s head. But you don’t. It’s just what you think he is doing.
And you say he should let RIC pass because fighting cost him too much time. But you could argue the same for RIC who is faster only because of the tow plus DRS he he’s on the 2.2 km straight. After all their cars are the same. Why should RIC be the one in front? Max passed him fair and square early in the race.
Imho you’re just biased against Max and that’s ok with me. But it doesn’t really make sense
ram (@)
1st May 2018, 18:36
Then why didn’t the sleepy stewards take appropriate action at the Grand Prix?
Optimaximal (@optimaximal)
1st May 2018, 20:51
Because both cars were out of the race?
ram (@)
1st May 2018, 21:28
Because “Verstappen’s change of line made crash with Ricciardo inevitable “
David BR (@david-br)
1st May 2018, 21:02
If you think about, Brawn’s point is something else entirely. He’s saying that over-reliance on downforce and its loss as Ricciardo drove right behind Verstappen made the crash unavoidable, thus being counterproductive to racing. So by implication he (Brawn) is arguing that rule changes could mean that the kind of block Verstappen made wouldn’t necessarily result in collision.
James Bond (@jamesbond)
1st May 2018, 23:09
Well said! +1
René (@renevdkooij)
2nd May 2018, 6:29
This, exactly this! I blame Racefans for a clickbaitish title, which is a first as far as I know. Hope it doesn’t continue in that direction…
René (@renevdkooij)
2nd May 2018, 6:36
Ricciardo’s loss of downforce caused the crash would be the better title, albeit a lot less enthralling.
Nick (@nick101)
2nd May 2018, 6:58
Yes, his loss of downforce due to Max pulling in front of him with his SECOND move.
LifeF1
2nd May 2018, 9:04
Definitely not a first.
The titles (and quotes out of context) have been blatant clickbait for at least year or so.
Maybe longer, but that’s when i started noticing it
Gabriel (@naylamp)
2nd May 2018, 12:26
this isn’t even a quote. brawn never said that exactly. the ‘brawn’ after the hyphen makes it look like a quote, but it isn’t. it’s just a word play based on brawn interview.
BasCB (@bascb)
2nd May 2018, 16:25
Excellent point there @david-br
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
2nd May 2018, 1:49
The Stewards didn’t need to make a decision because Chris Horner was going to deal with the problem.
Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
2nd May 2018, 8:32
That’s a weird way to officiate imho. Stewards should judge an incident by driver A and driver B as an incident between two drivers, no matter what colour their car has.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
1st May 2018, 19:11
Maybe we can just focus on Brawn’s specific points about the loss of downforce in this incident, and how it relates to the work the FIA and he are doing? Instead of going on about blaming either/both/none of the drivers and rehashing the same arguments? I mean, we have the earlier article for that.
Patrick (@anunaki)
1st May 2018, 19:14
Imho that’s why Brown is saying this. To support the rule changes he’s pushing.
Joao (@johnmilk)
1st May 2018, 19:16
Exactly @phylyp that’s the point of the article. Tje accident gave us the perfect example on how dirty air affects the following car, of course it is an extreme example as said by Brawn, bit that is the point he wants to make.
The crash has been debated plenty already.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
1st May 2018, 19:33
@anunaki @johnmilk – I agree, its the comments preceding mine that I was referring to, as well as trying to head off potential future Crashtappen-style comments, which would detract from the point Brawn’s trying to make.
I can see how my comment came across in a different way (i.e. critical of the article) and that wasn’t my objective.
Patrick (@anunaki)
1st May 2018, 19:35
I was actually supporting your comment. Maybe I should’ve put a +1 in my reply to be more clear
Phylyp (@phylyp)
1st May 2018, 19:48
Cheers, Patrick
Patrick (@anunaki)
1st May 2018, 20:17
Cheers
Phylyp (@phylyp)
1st May 2018, 19:59
That said, I do have to object to the selection of a sensationalist soundbite from Brawn’s overall comments to create the headline. If anything, that is responsible for a lot of comments in this article that are missing Brawn’s overall point.
When I first saw the headline in isolation, I was wondering why a Liberty/FOM employee was weighing in on something that the FIA had already ruled on, but reading the article clarified it – he was using it purely as an extreme example of the need to improve the ability of cars to follow one another closely.
erikje
1st May 2018, 21:39
Agreed,
happy
2nd May 2018, 1:04
for me, a key point here is Verstappen knows by shifting across he would unload Ricciardo’s front end, his thinking is, ‘go for it if you like but if you do we both crash and I’m ok with that because you will have run into me.’
John H (@john-h)
1st May 2018, 19:51
Two moves. Regardless of whatever the rules say these days, it’s just disrespectful to your competitors (teammate or otherwise!) to drive like that.
I used to really like Max but these days not so much. We know he has previous with this, I look forward not to seeing a car launched into the skies Webber-style anytime soon.
There is such a thing as driving aggressively and with respect.
Zongo
1st May 2018, 23:54
Agreed! Hes pushing the envelope well beyond respect!
Newfangled (@newfangled)
1st May 2018, 19:59
Cue Kimi saying, ‘I told you so’.
JohnH (@johnrkh)
1st May 2018, 20:56
OK no comment on Vestappens accidents. Lets see how he goes in Spain.
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
2nd May 2018, 8:30
@johnrkh should by Kimi’s or Valtteri’s turn in Spain
Mark (@blueruck)
1st May 2018, 21:58
Ric & Ves were racing hard the entire race and Ves was not giving an inch. I have watched Ves make the double move ever since joining F1. He makes the double moves small so they don’t draw a lot of attention and makes him drive unpredictable.
If I was asked to assign blame, I would have assigned at least 51% to Ves.
If I was Red Bull would I change anything? No, the guys will figure it out just a Force India & Mercedes have done over the last couple years.
PR_Aero
1st May 2018, 22:06
How come dual moves in braking zone dont give points when opponent are the teammate, is it his life is less in danger when colours in impact are the same?
I thought this specific rule was about safety concerns, and not who did it to who?
Anybody know why this is so, since this cant be a coincidence?
Same exception with MAX going over gras into RIC taking him out last year, no points applied.? Same colour rule?
Same with the FI duo brothers in SPA, nearly taken MAG out at topspeed? Colour same same?
And didnt the FI brohers also clashed here last year, no points?
“Parking” in the middle of a straigth after a corner is also quite safe, as long colours are the same:)
Did MAS get points squezzing MAG´s wheels towards the wall at top speed last year, nope, and they were not even teammates, so the against the wall is also no consistent regardless of teammates
erikje
2nd May 2018, 9:14
There was no dual move IN the braking zone.
He moved once halfway and back before the braking zone. Look at the onboard and you will see RIC hit VER when his DRS was still open. So no braking at that moment.
StefMeister (@stefmeister)
2nd May 2018, 12:47
Not true.
This is the frame where Ricciardo starts braking & his DRS closes which is clearly before he hits Verstappen & before Max makes his final move.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/956/41847091511_3b7b5524fb_o.jpg
erikje
2nd May 2018, 19:42
.. Look at the onboards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36YFQTFzZwU VER even let 1 cars widht open at the inside line!
StefMeister (@stefmeister)
2nd May 2018, 0:10
I get & agree with Ross’s view on the cause, But I don’t think F1’s reliance on downforce & complex front wings was necisarily the primary reason for it because i’ve seen the same thing happen due to the same reasons in formula with significantly less reliance on downforce & significantly less complex front wings.
An incident between Paul Tracy & Bruno Junquiera in Champcar comes to mind. PT was been lapped & backed off early to let Bruno past with Bruno ten cutting across him in the braking zone resulting in PT driving into the back of him due to the air been taken off the front of his car.
This in the same car that allowed PT was able to drive around Toronto one year with half the front wing missing while maintaining similar lap times he’d been doing with a whole front wing.
https://youtu.be/GX1m9ebAH0E?t=49m58s
Rick (@richardk)
2nd May 2018, 5:08
Totally agree with Brawn on this, Max may do small moves with his weaving but it’s enough to make the overtaker swerve during braking which is why he does it. If the FIA don’t nip this in the bud there will ‘as Kimi says’ be a big accident.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
2nd May 2018, 5:37
So the teams agreed to have even bigger rear wings… more drag more drs, and what about downforce? Who wants more downforce the big teams do, why, it makes racing easier for them.
RB14
2nd May 2018, 10:48
Tough times for the Maxfosi.
Just like cutting a corner in Austin last year, i’m afraid this is clear cut against young Max. But the defensive arguments will go on and on and on. But it was Max’s fault.
Jonathan Parkin
2nd May 2018, 11:16
I’m quite sure that if it wasn’t a Ferrari that Max overtook in Austin he wouldn’t have got the penalty. I can still remember Sebastien Bourdais getting a penalty for overtaking Massa when he was coming out of the pits. Different scenario but same outcome
RB14
2nd May 2018, 11:25
He completed the move of going entirely past another competitor off the track..
As in started behind and ended infront. Off track.
It’s the simplest penalty in racing, he could have overtaken a Torro Rosso and it still would have been applied.
Patrick (@anunaki)
2nd May 2018, 13:15
Why is the Austin move relevant here? That was against the rules and max got a penalty for it. The move in Baku was within the rules and there was no penalty.
The rest is made up by the fans
RB14
2nd May 2018, 14:51
@anunaki just referencing a previous incident where the Maxfosi point blank refused to see logic in the argument against the new messiah that’s all. Austin has nada to do with this of course.
Ed
3rd May 2018, 19:11
It is not within the rules! The guy changed directions 3 times!
It shouldn’t be that hard!
Martijn (@)
4th May 2018, 12:41
I love the Max bashing. Just confirms he’s on the right path..
People have very short lived memories..
Niki Lauda
“What Hamilton did there goes beyond all boundaries”. “He is completely mad. If the FIA does not punish him, I do not understand the world anymore. At some point, there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this – as it will result in someone getting killed.”
Jackie Stewart
“Lewis is having too many collisions with too many drivers, and he can’t blame the stewards, because there is a different set at every race.
“I’m a great supporter of Lewis, but I think he’s hiding under blinkers at the moment. You can’t keep going for gaps that don’t exist, and if he’s blaming the car and the team, that’s just unprofessional. No driver had the perfect car.”
Stirling Moss
“Lewis is going a bit too far in some cases, his handling of himself is not that good. His father is no longer his manager, which is a problem. If they could get together, it would be a good thing.”
Mark Webber
“clumsy, I think he thought the chequered flag was in Turn Three”
JS (@js)
2nd May 2018, 11:08
Hello,
Here’s a short story: when I was a teen, I remember that each time there was a truck on a track, the former pilot (and GP winner) commenting would say: “I hate to see those on tracks, one day a pilot is going to hit one”. It was almost a ritual, as he never missed a single opportunity to say and underline this. We all know what happens 30 years later.
Nowadays, I hear the former pilot (and world-champion) say, every time it happens, that a driver should not change line in the braking zone. I am afraid the ending might be the same.
Regarding the last race, we saw pretty bad defending moves from a pilot: first he cut a corner in the early stages of the race to defend against, I think, PER. I must say I do not understand this: the base is the stay within the limit of the track. That’s where the whole fun is, even if you drive a small R/C car! I do not understand FIA’s take on this point.
Next, when his team mate left a whole lot of space in the inside, he braked too late and ended up hitting his team mate, which is why he could pass the corner. Remove the team mate and the first car would not have passed the corner. That is not driving: of course it’s easier to brake later when you don’t need to make the turn…
The last defending move included zig-zagging.
Regardless of who did what, this is not what I call racing and not what I like to see… (and just for information: I support/“dissupport” no one, I’m the one applauding the last car in the last GP3 race on track and I enjoy the races much more since I stopped supporting anyone (many many years ago): give it a try ;-) ).
JS (@js)
2nd May 2018, 11:09
“what happens” -> “what happened”, sorry!
JS (@js)
2nd May 2018, 11:29
and “I am the one” -> “I am among those” (fortunately I’m not alone!)
johnny Five
2nd May 2018, 13:32
@js I applaud you sir! I wish you were the FIA permanent race director.
JS (@js)
3rd May 2018, 7:03
Thanks Johnny Five!
erikje
2nd May 2018, 16:07
@js look this and be objective:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D9cYz4C0I8
JS (@js)
3rd May 2018, 7:08
Thanks for the link Erikje; didn’t have time to watch the whole thing yet. It’s interesting but I do not agree with the analysis on lap 12. Locking up and hitting another car is not what I can call a good defending move. Of course braking as late as possible and compromise your opponent’s line is worth a try, but if you hit your opponent then, given that the opponent let so much room, it means the attempt is a failure.
Brian (@bealzbob)
2nd May 2018, 13:41
Verstappen’s line change may well have rendered Danny a passenger, but that’s Danny’s fault for putting himself in that position. It was Max’s road. Max had position. The move he made was negligible. Even the stewards noted it was a very small move. Danny relied upon an opening that was never there, and was never likely to be there. I’ve been as hard as anyone on Max this season but this one is not on him. Just because he has previous doesn’t mean you can lump everything on him.
Robbie (@robbie)
2nd May 2018, 14:20
@bealzbob I agree. I tend to think of Max’s move(s) as more of a feign then a block. He only ever moved by inches, and while I completely get that that can be what makes the trailing driver decide on a direction, DR only ever just followed Max, like he was expecting or assuming Max would suddenly open up a lane for him. DR could have taken himself out of Max’s slipstream and given himself more downforce, and did more feigning himself, if he wanted a lane to open up. He could have forced Max to have to make such a blatant second move that he (Max) simply would have known another move would have been a penalty worthy block. But DR never got beside Max with even an inch of his car and only trailed almost directly behind him the whole time, I’m assuming because he thought he’d do his favourite dive bomb on the inside.
Anyway Brawn’s point about aero is well taken and I am extremely stoked for the future of F1 with his kind of talk….from everything he has said since he took this job.
Garns (@)
2nd May 2018, 14:56
@bealzbob
Correct, just because his last few races had errors you cant pin it on him. But he changed directions twice, you cant do it- period. You say the ‘move he made was negligible’, but it was a move. He cant weave around like he thinks like Schumi did in the 90’s. Watch from Daniels in board camera – its pretty back and white, even to those wearing orange I would think.
BasCB (@bascb)
2nd May 2018, 16:29
Yeah, Max was not the guy to try that move on and not at that moment. It works when you have a clear advantage, and the guy ahead knows you will get ahead sooner or later anyway and just “cuts his losses” and gives room.
vjanik (@vjanik)
2nd May 2018, 13:58
Verstappen has been doing this since he entered F1. I remember in 2016 with Raikonnen they were lucky not to have a major crash when max moved twice in the breaking zone. If everyone did this we would have no overtaking whatsoever. There are so many memorable overtakes that would never have happened if drivers used Verstappen’s defending tactics.
I would understand it maybe in a title fight decider or something. If he was fighting with Ric for the championship. But 4th and 5th places in Baku. Common.
He needs to accept that sometimes you will be overtaken in a race. It happens.
erikje
2nd May 2018, 16:05
Very objective and good analysis of the art of defending in baku.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D9cYz4C0I8
vjanik (@vjanik)
2nd May 2018, 18:15
:-) I was just about to post the same thing
Mauro (@)
2nd May 2018, 18:51
I love the spectacle until the crash.
I love both drivers agressive driving, but there are some things about Verstapppen personality, or even his racing moral (pretty much like Kvyat). Look lap 3. He took a shortcut across a curve defending position from Perez (i think). The rule says to keep the car in the racetrack. Lap 12 now, when him an Ricciardo have a little rubbing. Verstappen inboard camera really shows a dirty racing from him. He clearly steers to the right when they are side by side after turn 1, trying to not leave track space which caused the contact. Shame. Now the lap where they colided. Right after turn 20, he moved the right line, since it will be the outside on turn 1 from where Ricciardo passed him previously (I think this should count as 1 deffending move), but then he realised Ricciardo was not that close, he went back to the left. When Ricciardo dummy him he started to move to the right (2nd deffensive move), and probably it would give him advantage to make the turn 1, then he saw Ricciardo going to the left (inside), then he steer (very small move according to the stewards) to the left (3rd deffensive move). That is my take on it.
rpiian (@rpiian)
2nd May 2018, 19:35
I agree completely. It was a great example, an astonishing moment, but Danny licked the stamp and sent it, and Max effectively shut the door. Milliseconds later came the impact. Both were aggressive moves but the stewards called it right as a racing incident. Ross makes an excellent point with the loss of downforce under braking. We need more of these moves without the potential of rear ending each other!
Balue (@balue)
4th May 2018, 2:45
Brawn’s point about the downforce loss aside, the lack of condemnation for the illegal double move that was the main cause of the crash is baffling.
Martijn (@)
4th May 2018, 9:36
Where in the rule book is it stated?
Dave
26th December 2020, 20:26
This crash made me betray Verstappen.