The actual confrontation between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen was sublimated today at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and it was only a matter of time. They knew it, their respective teams knew it, everyone imagined it.
Today, in Jeddah, the two contenders for the 2021 Formula 1 Drivers world title began to draw their weapons, attacking each other, defending strongly, making contact in a rather violent way when Hamilton tried to overtake Verstappen in Turn 1, but the Dutchman took out the 7-time world champion to defend his first position.
At that point Michael Masi, F1 race director, suggested that Red Bull hand over the position to Verstappen. To do this, the Dutchman chose the starting straight, so that he could immediately resume Hamilton’s slipstream and use the DRS to get back in front of his rival.
Hamilton, aware of the possibility of his rival, slowed down and was partly surprised by the maneuver of Verstappen, who remained at the center of the track. At that point the two made contact, with the W12 number 44 which collided with the RB16B number 33. The contact damaged Hamilton’s front wing conspicuously, with Lewis opening the radio and communicating to his garage. to have received a break test from Max.
Max, for his part, complained that he was hit by Hamilton. A contact destined to generate a lot of controversy, so much so that at the end of the race Helmut Marko – super consultant of Red Bull – did not mince words to describe what happened and, above all, to underline what in his opinion is an unequal treatment. by the Race Direction against Red Bull with respect to Mercedes.
“Our engineers prepared documentation showing how Max was braking steadily, he didn’t do the brake test in Hamilton. Then Lewis hit Max. The contact between the two caused 2 cuts to one of Max’s two rear tires. and he was no longer able to attack. The race was extraordinary, but we are not happy and we do not accept the decisions. “
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Another point on which Red Bull intends to make a complaint is what happened at the last start, with Hamilton keeping a distance of more than 10 cars from Verstappen, therefore, according to Red Bull, going beyond the regulation. At this point, then, Marko clearly pointed the finger at the Race Direction.
“The second aspect occurred at the second start, with Hamilton taking a distance of more than 10 cars from Max before reaching the grid. Vettel was penalized in Budapest when he did the same thing. But with that maneuver Hamilton was preparing his cars better. tires for the start “.
“Then Lewis also pushed Max out, who didn’t react. So we feel we are not being treated in the same way as Mercedes.”
To conclude, the super consultant of Red Bull talked about Abu Dhabi, the last act of the season, which will take place next week in Yas Marina. According to Marko, Verstappen shouldn’t change his way of running at all.
“I honestly don’t see any reason why Max should race less aggressively in Abu Dhabi. It’s the fight between Mercedes and Red Bull and the fight between Max and Lewis. It’s a matter of remembering what happened at Silverstone, so. it happened in Budapest. Let’s not forget those episodes. “
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