The most important weekend of this season has been in Jeddah. There was just a lot to do about that race. Let’s get straight to the action. There was a red flag due to a big blow from Mick Schumacher: the rule is that a red flag automatically appears when a crane has to come onto the track to repair the circuit. That rule was created by Jules Bianchi’s horrific crash a few years ago. And that red flag came at Mercedes very sour because they had just done a double pit stop.
To ensure that both Mercedes drivers could make a pit stop behind the safety car on the same lap, Bottas had to leave a gap to Hamilton. However, he did it so extreme that it really stood out on TV. That’s actually not allowed and that’s where the frustration started between the teams. Then you also see that the teams are going to help the FIA remember that the other is doing something wrong. A bit like asking for a football card. I also believe in karma and the double pit stop went wrong for Mercedes.
Mercedes played a dirty game
Verstappen was able to change his tires during the red flag and thus maintain the lead. It suddenly looked very rosy for Max. Unfortunately Verstappen had a really bad restart. But there was also a dirty game played there. Tire temperature is very important at the start. But Lewis dropped a big gap to Verstappen as the cars moved towards the starting grid.
That means Max’s tires were cooling, while Lewis still had some burnouts to do. That was certainly the reason that Verstappen had a worse start. Max tried on the outside at the first corner, but that was really a bit too optimistic. You just don’t make it. Good thing he got punished for that.
The second reboot
Immediately after that start we got the second red flag. Then negotiations about the starting position between Red Bull and the FIA started. Some people will find it strange that the FIA came up with an offer for where Max should start, but I actually thought it was a neat solution. Oddly enough, Ocon was suddenly on pole position, with Lewis in P2 and Max in P3. And there really followed a world start from Max. Red Bull chose to start on the yellow medium tires. He ducked on the inside past Hamilton and Ocon and it was just all or nothing. That was really fat.
So that third start was nice, but soon after it came brake test-incident. You think you’ve seen everything that day, but then it happens. I’ve now slept on it for a night and I think it’s double. If the race management tells you to return a position, do so as soon as possible. You want to lose as little time as possible with it. If you wait, it will be to your detriment.
Lewis misjudged the situation
You also try to do it in a place where it doesn’t punish you very much. You don’t want to go into a twisty section behind it and lose so much time. Red Bull and Max had therefore agreed in advance that he would let Lewis pass before the last corner if such a scenario were to occur. After that, you immediately have DRS and you can immediately regain the position. That is also possible. But because Lewis misjudged the situation, I had the feeling that he didn’t understand Max’s game. Afterwards he said he knew what was going on, but I didn’t think it sounded like that before.
The stewards saw afterwards that Max had pressed the brake pedal hard and slowed down by 2.4 G. That’s like going from 180 to 60 on the highway. Verstappen received an extra 10-second penalty for that. But Lewis also braked and eventually it got out of hand. I still think it was miscommunication from the teams. The punishment is therefore not necessary, because it does not change the situation. The penalty points on Max’s license don’t change either, because there is only one race left. It is a punishment without consequences.
Then I think you better stop with all those punishments. It mainly seems to be an example for the future, but just like everyone else, all those rules drive me crazy.
#Robert #Doornbos #Mercedes #Red #Bull #didnt #play #completely #fair