Why calls for a Verstappen ban are ridiculous – For those who have watched Formula One over the decades, the ever creeping safety remit of the FIA has changed the sport without recognition. Add into this mix a bunch of TV presenters who know little about the tough world of wheel to wheel track racing and the modern image of the sport is becoming laughable when compared to many of its international rivals.

Once again at the Spanish Grand Prix the safety car deployed late in the race was on track for way too long given the task in hand was merely removing the broken down Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli from a large gravel trap area. No barriers required repair, yet unlike in Indycar where the track marshalls are deployed in an instant by race control, the F1 race director in Spain waited for two laps before the snake had formed behind the safety car before deploying the recovery vehicles and personnel.

With the track now clear, the safety car remained out for a further two laps to fulfil F1’s silly laws about back markers rejoining at the back of there pack, something Lewis Hamilton was unhappy with. “Way too long” he claimed over team radio, as the lights failed to go to on the safety car and one last snail paced circuit was begun for the snake of cars.

 

 

 

 

 

F1 now over cautious

The cultural difference between the management of the two different racing series is stark. In Indycar, the Marshalls are immediately deployed following an incident and cars who have not yet caught the back of the pack behind the safety car are expected to crawl through any section of the track where the AMC officials are in attendance.

F1 drivers clearly cannot be trusted to do this – or in days gone by have not been penalised strongly enough for failing to comply with the yellow flags – “slow down and be prepared to stop.” Whilst safety should always be a number one priority for any race director, there is always a ‘reasonable risk’ people take when going racing.

Another comparison with Indycar is the fussy nature of race control when it comes to driver incidents during the race. In North American single seater series, wheel to wheel racing it is expected and the cars will touch and wheels will bump almost from lap to lap, yet in F1 each of these incidents is placed under a microscope often with dubious penalties issued.

The FIA and the F1 drivers’ association have tied themselves in knots over the ‘driving standards code’ issued to the stewards each year, and now it defines in detail who has the right to a corner by way of some technical mumbo jumbo which appears to differ from one scenario to the next.

Cadillac pressure Aston Martin to test potential driver in Canada

 

 

 

Russell dithers in overtake

Three incidents surrounded the Max Verstappen on track gymnastics in Spain, the first being when he was being overtaken by Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver later admitted in the drivers’ cool down room he was “trying to push Max away” so he could avoid the marbles. Verstappen remained constant in his line down the front straight, resulting in Leclerc having a minor collision with the Red Bull driver.

As ex-F racer and driver expert Anthony Davidson explained, after the race he could find no blame for Verstappen having analysed this incident from a variety of camera angles. Next up was George Russell losing control into turn one, which pushed Verstappen wide. Under the current guidelines, Russell did not ‘own’ the corner and the FIA stewards admitted in their findings he had lost control of his F1 car. Yet no punishment was forthcoming for the Mercedes’ driver.

Verstappen is now boiling from the fact he has been given the slow, less grippy hard tyres for the final five lap sprint following the withdrawal of the safety car. He has been hit by Leclerc and Russell, neither of whom have been penalised, then his team advice him to give back the place, as was later proven un necessary as the stewards decided not action from Max was necessary.

Max was then clobbered with a ten second time penalty following the race for his collision with George on the approach to turn 5, notably one of the slowest corners of the Circuit de Catalunya. Whilst Max’s refusal to answer questions after the race over the incident and his subsequent apology appears to suggests he was in the wrong, Verstappen in reality merely tapped the Mercedes at slow speed whilst George dithered as to whether to accept the change of position on offer.

Why Max Verstappen snapped

 

 

 

Headlines scream “Verstappen Ban’

Headlines have appeared today in certain quarters of the F1 media, calling for Verstappen to receive race bans. “FIA must ban Verstappen – now” screams established publication Motorsports Magazine, a tone adopted by others across the continent of Europe. Yet in reality it was Max who was wronged under the strict ordinances of the “driving code of conduct.”

We expect racing drivers to come out and admit they are in the wrong, yet its difficult to find a group of stewards admitting they got their decisions wring during the race. Either F1 cars can or cant touch and Verstappen was nigh on assaulted by both Leclerc and Russell, both technically in the wrong.

Verstappen was hounded after the race over how he felt his role model position was affected by his behaviour, to which the world champion responded calmly, “that’s their opinion.” Having fought for what at time might have been the race win in Barcelona, something Andrea Stella admitted he was concerned about when Verstappen fitted his third set of tyres, Verstappen was clearly shattered by the events surrounding the safety car deployment ad tyre selection by Red Bull, his response whilst petulant was not dangerous in any way as has been suggested by a number of senior paddock individuals.

FIA stewards decided not to penalise Verstappen post race

 

 

 

‘Let the drivers race’

F1 stewarding is losing its way year on year, and as the definitions tighten on what is and isn’t allowed, more loopholes merely arise. Its time to allow the supposed F1 gladiators to battle it out as they do in Indycar, not treat them like spoiled brats and Molly coddle them in cotton wool as is presently the case.

George Russell could have defused the situation had he more life experience by simply putting down the incidents with Max as ‘just racing,’ his own unpunished misdemeanour included. The FIA stewards also have responsibility for the melting pot, their late decision to not required Verstappen to relinquish the place to George would have meant the scenario would never have arisen.

Yet for now, blind loyalty to other drivers and potential “hate” for the sheer genius Verstappen displays – something not seen since early Alonso years together with those of Schumacher – are in fact bringing our sport into disrepute. We should be lobbying for less stewarding interference and ‘let the drivers race’ should be the motto for F1 and its governing body the FIA.

 

 

 

 

MORE F1 NEWS – Red Bull BLAST  ‘absurd’ Verstappen conspiracy theory

Red Bull Racing has responded angrily to claims by former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher that Max Verstappen may have deliberately caused his collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix in order to invoke a contractual clause allowing him to leave the team.

Schumacher, now a pundit for Sky Germany, caused a stir in the paddock when he suggested that Verstappen’s frustration-fuelled lunge late in the race may not have been an accident. Instead, Schumacher questioned whether the Dutchman’s actions were part of a calculated strategy to scupper his world championship hopes — and, by extension, his long-term commitment to Red Bull.

The accusation was explosive, not just for its implications about Verstappen’s integrity, but also because it touched on growing speculation about unrest behind the scenes at Red Bull Racing. However, Christian Horner was quick to dismiss the theory as “utter nonsense”…. READ MORE