Formula 1: Max Verstappen using controversial rule to his advantage

As a seasoned race enthusiast who has watched countless grand prix events over the years, I can confidently say that Max Verstappen is a force to be reckoned with on the track. His driving style, characterized by aggressive maneuvers and exceptional car control, has made him one of the most exciting drivers in Formula One today. However, his tactics often push the boundaries of what is acceptable, leaving many viewers, including myself, scratching our heads.

Since his debut in Formula 1 at age 17 in 2015, Max Verstappen has consistently tested the boundaries of acceptable racing behavior, often going beyond those limits.

Discussing the style of competition Max Verstappen has exhibited, from his controversial braking conflicts with Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, and Daniel Ricciardo between 2016 and 2018, to his frequent “back out or crash” moments, particularly in 2021 with Lewis Hamilton, it’s clear that Verstappen’s aggressive racing technique has consistently sparked debate.

As a devoted fan, I firmly believe that Max Verstappen was born with an innate talent for Formula 1 racing – a trait nurtured from his early years. Raised by my hero, Jos Verstappen, a seasoned Formula 1 racer himself, Max was molded into the skilled and fearless driver we admire today. His upbringing has left an indelible mark on him, shaping him into the racing prodigy he is now, and this raw talent seems to be an integral part of his very being, unlikely to ever fade.

At the United States Grand Prix, yet more controversy surrounded Verstappen’s driving.

The action kicked off at the very first corner during the race, as Verstappen aggressively moved up alongside Lando Norris for the lead position. Due to his maneuver, Norris was forced off the track on exit, and even veered over the white lines himself. Remarkably, neither driver received a penalty for this incident.

Then came the pair’s battle for third place in the closing stages, when Norris got a great run with DRS on the outside into turn 12 on lap 52, before Verstappen seemingly out-broke Norris and ran both drivers off again. Norris passed the Red Bull driver off the track, leading to an eventual five-second penalty that promoted Verstappen back to third.

It came as no surprise that the incident involving Norris during the race and the subsequent penalty sparked a great deal of debate afterwards. Many people believed that Norris was unjustly penalized since he clearly had been forced off track, while others thought Verstappen should have faced penalties, considering the numerous times other drivers were penalized for similar or less severe incidents at the same spot.

It was believed by many that both drivers were at fault because they had each violated separate rules during the same event.

The two drivers held differing views regarding the appropriate verdict, as Norris argued, “if you overtake off the track, you should also defend off the track,” whereas Verstappen expressed indifference towards McLaren, stating, “they whine a lot, but I don’t feel any pity for them.” Clearly, the decision was highly contentious, reflecting the biased nature of their opinions.

“Lando isn’t leading at the turn, but you might think he was forced off the track since you weren’t in front. However, both cars went off the track. Max could receive a warning for his actions. Meanwhile, Lando is trying to overtake while they’re off the track. The stewards have been clear on this point.
— 😀 (@wetfroggie) October 20, 2024

A lot of people seem to be missing the bigger picture as to why it all played out the way it did.

During the race, Norris was trying to pass Verstappen on an outside curve, but he wasn’t even with Verstappen at the most critical part of the turn. According to the racing rules, since he wasn’t in the correct position, Norris had given up the right to that part of the track. When Norris left the track and then re-joined ahead of Verstappen, it was considered as cutting the corner and gaining an unfair advantage.

In summary, the crucial points in the decision were that Norris hadn’t reached the same point (the apex) as Car 1, which resulted in him losing his claim to that particular corner.

In line with several previous FIA rulings over the last few years, especially those concerning Verstappen, this decision appears to be similarly aligned.

At the 2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, do you recall the incident between Hamilton and Verstappen on turn four? Hamilton attempted to overtake Verstappen using DRS on the outside, but Verstappen broke extremely late, causing both drivers to veer off the track. Remarkably, Verstappen avoided a penalty for this maneuver, even though they strayed quite far from their intended path, because his car was at the corner’s apex before Hamilton’s.

Oh my, I’ve just understood that the lack of investigation into that terrible driving incident was likely due to Max having reached the peak point (apex) before anyone else, sadly. 😥😥😥
— Andy 🪿 (@AndyGraham22) October 21, 2024

On numerous occasions throughout 2021, Verstappen deliberately forced Hamilton off the track by driving him wide, such as at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola and the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. At Imola, he escaped an in-race penalty, but a crash with Hamilton at Monza resulted in both drivers’ elimination. Later on, he was penalized with Super Licence points.

Verstappen knows the rules better than anyone else, and he is able to walk the line perfectly.

Ever since I started following Formula One almost a decade ago, no one has quite challenged and surpassed the boundaries of on-track regulations like Max Verstappen has. Sure, this boldness has resulted in plenty of errors, penalties, and mishaps, particularly during his early years. But today, it’s clear that these experiences have given him a unique understanding of where the fine line lies between what’s permissible and what isn’t on the track.

Verstappen understands that if his vehicle is slightly in front at the corner’s peak, particularly when he’s on the inside of that turn, he essentially has the freedom to take whatever action he deems necessary with the car on the outside. This might even involve braking much later than necessary and potentially veering off the track, but he’s willing to do so because he believes he can get away with it.

In essence, Verstappen’s mindset makes it extremely challenging to overtake him without significant help from DRS. If you find yourself close to him on the track, he will consistently defend his position by blocking the inside line. This forces you to brake later than him and push you towards the outside, all within the rules of the race.

Throughout the entire season, Norris has repeatedly found himself in unfortunate situations, such as those that occurred in Austin and Austria in June. These incidents might be a key factor explaining why the championship hasn’t moved far from Verstappen’s grasp, even with the noticeable speed difference between them since May.

Max has a deep understanding of the rules and exceptional spatial perception of his racecar. He pushed every boundary, yet always stayed within the boundaries set.
— Adit¹ 🇮🇳 (@aditstappen) October 21, 2024

I must admit, many drivers haven’t consistently pushed the boundaries of the racing rules like Max Verstappen does. It seems his mindset and abilities are uniquely equipped for such aggressive driving, all while avoiding mishaps or mistakes that could lead to penalties. His command over the car is truly exceptional, enabling him to explore these limits and perform flawlessly, with minimal errors.

It’s widely recognized that the rule requiring a driver to be ahead at the peak, particularly following the U.S. Grand Prix, has significant and fundamental issues.

As a gamer, I’ve learned that mastering control over my vehicle allows me to push boundaries and play aggressively, all while staying within the game rules. Verstappen has demonstrated this strategy brilliantly, leveraging it to his advantage time and again. He seems determined to keep employing this tactic, as there appears to be no rulebook restriction against it being fair play.

However, you can’t deny the entertainment value it brings. As shown in his battles with Norris in Austria and Austin before disaster struck, and in his numerous fights with other drivers in years past, his style creates great, sustained battling with a showcase of brilliant car control under pressure.

Considering the recent uproar, there’s a strong possibility that this rule might be amended. For now, it falls upon the other racers to navigate the regulations much like Verstappen does, employing them tactically against him to minimize his edge.

As the saying goes, don’t hate the player. Hate the game.

2024-10-23 13:32