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WHAT RACE INCIDENT?



The F1 season concluded with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a race that provided numerous thrilling moments, including the battle between McLaren and Ferrari, as well as the internal showdown between Russell and Hamilton, with the latter executing a decisive overtaking move on the final lap. There were plenty of twists and turns right from the start, beginning with the controversial incident between Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. This contact caused Piastri a significant loss of time and positions, dropping him practically to the back of the pack, while Verstappen, who started in the middle of the group, received a 10-second penalty.


The decision by the stewards sparked various discussions, with some believing it was excessive given the nature of the contact. From my perspective, however, the penalty was justified, and I will explain why. Verstappen, as usual, had an excellent start and attempted a late move on the inside of Piastri, who had already set his trajectory for the first corner.


The contact occurred at the exit of the corner, with the two drivers making contact. While Piastri didn’t leave much space, it cannot be said that he completely ignored Verstappen’s presence, as has been stated several times in the commentary, which was the main argument used to absolve Verstappen.


Looking at Carlos Sainz's onboard footage, it's clear that there was enough space for both drivers, and in fact, they both made it through without issue. The problem is that the contact occurred well after the apex of the corner, meaning it cannot be blamed on Piastri. Verstappen never fully managed to get alongside Piastri, and when he ran over the curb, his front end lightened, causing understeer that pushed his car outward. This led to Verstappen first hitting Piastri's side and then hooking him with his rear end, causing an inevitable spin.


Telemetry analyzed live by the FIA showed that Verstappen’s release of the brakes during the braking phase played a crucial role in the incident. Perhaps the penalty could have been reduced to 5 seconds, but the essence of the situation remains unchanged.


From my point of view, the responsibility for the incident lies primarily with Verstappen. This isn’t the first time we’ve witnessed a similar incident, as there have been other controversial contacts between Max and his rivals this year, such as in Austria, Hungary, Austin, and Mexico.


The constant is always the same: when Verstappen is involved, 6 times out of 10, contact occurs, whether intentional or not.



© Simone Marchetti

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