The battle for the World Cup between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton took several steps forward in the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia . The experience in Jeddah confirms that both contenders are willing to go to the brink of the regulations if it is to get the scepter and in the case of Verstappen , the newcomer in these struggles, even to draw the line that marks the difference between what is legal and what is contrary.
The touch from behind by Lewis Hamilton after Verstappen’s braking was considered the fault of the Dutchman by the FIA stewards, after both were called to testify for what happened. The exposure of the pilots did not repair great news and it was the telemetry of the teams that ended up facilitating the verdict of the Formula 1 judges. Max’s sanction is not serious and is inert in the face of the fight for the championship, since that the ten seconds added in the Jeddah race do not take second place from him, but they do set a precedent for what may happen on Sunday in Abu Dhabi .
The statement issued by the FIA informing of the determination regarding what happened says the following. “The stewards listened to the driver of car 33 -Verstappen-, the driver of car 44 -Hamilton- and the representatives of the teams, reviewed the video evidence and telemetry and determined that the driver of car 33 was predominantly guilty,” he begins. the resolution. “At Turn 21, the driver of car 33 was instructed to return a position to car 44 and the team told him to do it ‘strategically’. Car 33 slowed down significantly at Turn 26. However, it was obvious that neither driver wanted to take the lead before the DRS 3 detection line. We understand why they did not want to be the first to cross the DRS line. Add.
However, the reason for the sanction, the stoppage of Verstappen , is considered key to the collision between the two championship contenders. “Sudden braking was determined to be erratic and the predominant cause of the collision, and therefore a ten-second penalty was imposed,” the statement said. ” To penalize car 33, the key is that it braked suddenly (69 bars) and significantly, resulting in a 2.4G deceleration).”
Verstappen’s nerves and Hamilton’s mischief
The event that occurred on lap 37 of an already bumpy race, including two red flags, was not the only controversial event between Verstappen and Hamilton . The Dutchman, very nervous throughout the weekend and on the edge in every way, as he demonstrated in qualifying, had to give up the position to Hamilton for overtaking him out of bounds and defending himself when he had been told that he had to be passed through his great rival.
However, Hamilton is not going to be in the public eye either, due to his recognized intention of staying behind Verstappen in the controversial action, despite the fact that the British driver saw that the Red Bull driver significantly slowed the car. Lewis acknowledged that he did not want to overtake him before the DRS zone, something that contributed to a collision that is already the history of the most even championship in the recent history of Formula 1. Yas Marina will dictate sentence.
