One might argue that no type of racing is inherently inferior to others, however George Russell branding his Formulation 1 rivals’ driving requirements in final week’s Mexico Grand Prix as lawnmower-worthy has raised an fascinating level.
He can hardly be blamed. When Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen (from inside to exterior) went into Flip 1 four-wide, Verstappen locked up on the dusty exterior kerb and minimize straight throughout that part.
Hamilton positively gave Leclerc sufficient area to make the nook, however the Monegasque determined to chop Flip 2 as nicely and emerged within the lead – he let Norris by however nonetheless gained a decisive edge on his team-mate.
4-wide gained’t minimize it – drivers will
Taking a look at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, one factor is evident: the observe narrows within the Turns 1-2-3 part. Going four-wide into Flip 1 is nothing extraordinary, however there clearly is not any area to emerge from it in the identical setting.
This doesn’t imply that incidents are unavoidable. Since Mexico returned to F1’s calendar in 2015, there have been a number of occurrences of very orderly race begins.
Equally, it’s clear that drivers reducing the observe has occurred too typically, and has typically skewed the pecking order – as a result of whether or not a driver has been pushed broad or has gained an enduring benefit isn’t at all times clear-cut.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, locks up at first forward of Nico Rosberg, Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB12 TAG Heuer, Nico Hulkenberg, Drive India VJM09 Mercedes, Daniel Ricciardo, Purple Bull Racing RB12 TAG Heuer
Photograph by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Photos
Even in 2016, again when F1 automobiles have been smaller, Hamilton locked up and went straight throughout Flip 2 – not not like what Verstappen did on Sunday – whereas Nico Rosberg was pushed broad by Verstappen, additionally minimize the nook and rejoined forward of the Dutchman.
No motion was taken by stewards. Drawing a line could be remarkably tough; Hamilton was clearly forward of everybody coming into the Flip 1 braking zone, however does that imply he was entitled to the lead no matter his lock-up?
Rosberg was not alone in his personal occasion. Final 12 months, Carlos Sainz additionally took the surface line, attempting to grab the lead away from Verstappen. The Purple Bull was forward on the apex and subsequently entitled to not go away any area on the surface, so what would you do in that case? Decelerate and doubtlessly lose some positions, or minimize the nook, argue that you just have been pushed broad, and ‘generously’ return the place to the motive force you have been attempting to overhaul?
Curiously, these three circumstances – 2016, 2024 and 2025 – are totally different. All three drivers gained a place when reducing the nook, however solely Sainz actually returned it. Rosberg didn’t, at a time when there have been no driving tips, so he had a stronger case for being pushed off. Leclerc additionally retained his place versus Hamilton, however not like the previous two, he clearly had area to remain on the observe.
Ultimately, it typically comes all the way down to how a lot effort a driver devotes to truly staying on the observe.
Historical past reveals that in related circumstances, drivers have persevered as an alternative of taking the simple method out of a battle. In 2017, Sebastian Vettel pushed Verstappen broad, however the latter held on and made essentially the most of what turned the within line into Flip 2. The dynamic was precisely the identical between Verstappen and Hamilton respectively in 2019. It was exhausting racing, however truthful – and that is precisely what Leclerc ought to have achieved on Sunday. He was barely farther again, so couldn’t have challenged Hamilton in Flip 2, however ought to have regrouped and fought again later.
In fact, the easiest way to keep away from bother there’s to do precisely what Verstappen achieved in 2021 – come into Flip 1 three-wide with the Mercedes automobiles, brake a lot later, sweep across the exterior.
That exterior line isn’t cursed, nor ought to it robotically open the door to reducing the nook.
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB16B, leads Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing RB16B, and the remainder of the sector at first
Photograph by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Photos
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing RB16B, and the remainder of the sector at first
Photograph by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Photos
What could be achieved?
So, how can this downside be solved? There is no such thing as a apparent repair.
Grass clearly doesn’t – and might’t – gradual automobiles down sufficient for the precise observe to be quicker.
Gravel would truly be an honest answer, however based mostly on the structure of that part, any automotive going straight would inevitably deliver stones again onto the observe. These days, that can typically imply a digital security automotive – which skews races as nicely.
What a couple of wall? Now that may be a powerful deterrent – however in a bit the place automobiles typically attain 370km/h forward of the braking zone, this possible wouldn’t match the FIA’s security requirements.
All that is still is a structure tweak, however why tweak a bit that’s truly in a position to generate entertaining racing – so long as everybody behaves?
On Sunday, Fernando Alonso cunningly identified that if stewards had deemed Leclerc and Verstappen (plus others!) deserved no penalty for his or her lap-one shenanigans, he would observe swimsuit subsequent time.
So we’d like stewards to make a degree. Don’t let anybody unnecessarily minimize a nook. Let’s make it binary: both a driver has been unlawfully pushed off – so their rival ought to get a penalty – or they’ve unlawfully minimize the nook – so they need to get a penalty.
This doesn’t must be inflexible; there’ll clearly be particular circumstances through which no one deserves to be sanctioned. However the ‘I can get away with it’ feeling should be eradicated.
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