Red Bull boss Christian Horner admits there was a “mistake” and that even they did not expect the FIA’s controversial decision with article 6.5.
It was all too gross to be taken seriously. The peculiar interpretation of a convoluted norm, which only eight months ago had been drafted with resounding clarity and publicized to public opinion, yesterday carpeted the path of Max Verstappen to his second world title. To be honest, I don’t mind if it was a bit confusing. Actually, I find it quite amusing, explained the victor. However, at that moment even his own team did not seem to give credit. Clearly something is still wrong with the rulebook. In the garage we were convinced that only 75% of the points in play would be awarded, Christian Horner, main team of Red Bull, without qualms when calling what happened an error. The highlight of the year ended yesterday with an air of farce in Suzuka.
Almost a year after the Abu Dhabi GP, when the race director deprived Lewis Hamilton of his eighth crown, the resolution of the championship clouded again yesterday due to a controversial decision of the judges. On the last lap, a five-second penalty to charles leclerc for his irregular maneuver in the chicaneremoved the Monegasque from second place, in favor of sergio prez. But even so, Verstappen should not be champion, since according to the regulatory change approved last February, the winner should have obtained 19 points, by completing less than 75% of the scheduled laps (28 of 53). That was what everyone thought of him. paddock.
However, to the general stupor, the body chaired by Mohammed ben Sulayem reported that article 6.5 of its sporting code stipulates that the reduction of points only comes into play if the race is abandoned. That is, if it ends with a red flag, without action on the track, instead of under the checkered flag. Therefore, if only two or three laps had been completed yesterday, the winner would also have been awarded 25 points.
to know more
“It is unacceptable that there is a crane on the track”
“It is unacceptable that there is a crane on the track”
An absurd paradox that not even the top managers of the teams were aware of, who study every line of the regulation in detail, especially after the scandal of the 2021 Belgian GP. Everything was confusing and according to our calculations Max had not yet been proclaimed champion, added Mattia Binotto, boss of Ferrari. Finally they clarified it for us and we accepted it, the Italian concluded, aware of the enormous superiority of the Dutch.
Because nothing should object to the tyrannical domination of Mad Max in this 2022, where he has conquered 12 of the 18 victories at stake (66.7%), with an average only surpassed this century by Michael Schumacher (72.2% in 2004, 64.7% in 2002) and Sebastian Vettel (68.4% in 2013). The supremacy that he has exercised over his rivals and the calm with which he has navigated difficult situations definitively distance him from his unpredictable pilot legend.
A review of the list of his very few mistakes (Barcelona, Hungary and Singapore) is enough to understand how the champion spends them. After his early jaunt through the gravel at Turn 4, he reacted in a big way to win at Montmel. And even greater astonishment would cause the victory of the Hungaroring, starting tenth on the grid and with a spin of 360 at turn 13.
An unapproachable Red Bull
Just yesterday he rounded off a superb performance in the wet at Suzuka, with the greatest distance over the second classified (27 seconds) in the last 20 races. Nobody coughs at Verstappen when he starts from pole. In fact, he has the best percentage of success in history in this section (13/18 for 72%), a figure that causes stings in Ferrari, where Leclerc has only been able to convert two of his nine poles of the year into victory. . After the promising start in Bahrain and Australia, the Monegasque has hopelessly deflated.
Verstappen’s authority must be extended to that shown by Red Bull, which yesterday rounded off its seventh consecutive victory. His best streak since 2013, when the Austrian squire reached the zenith with Vettel’s fourth crown. On board the RB18, whose aerodynamic efficiency made it unapproachable when cornering, everything has been much easier.
And this overwhelming mechanical superiority, along the lines of what was shown by Mercedes (2014-2020) or Ferrari (2000-2004), also leaves the new regulations in a very bad place. Ross Brownspiritual father of the project, leaving his position as F1 sporting director with a legacy very different from the one he intended.
According to the criteria of
Know more
