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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Verstappen problem that F1 fails to acknowledge
For years, the Formula 1 paddock has been praising Max Verstappen – and rightfully so. Everyone is aware of his glorious achievements and his remarkable record. The Red Bull driver keeps amazing crowds with his talent – utterly dominating seasons, grabbing pole positions when his car shouldn't be in contention, winning races as a dark horse, or making unlikely overtaking moves stick. Verstappen's racecraft is exceptional. Just look at the way he snatched the lead from Oscar Piastri at the start of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix – few drivers actually are able to achieve such a masterful move. It was audacious, confident, precise, clever – exactly the skills the Dutchman can use to get what he wants. Advertisement The thing is, there's a dark side to Verstappen. He doesn't even really conceal it, but many in the media, his team and his fanbase pretend not to be aware of it – or just ignore it. This dark side emerged again on Sunday under intense pressure. After his team asked him to let George Russell through in the Spanish GP, Verstappen slowed down until the Mercedes driver was alongside him, then reaccelerated to hit the Silver Arrow. No honest person can truthfully believe this was anything but deliberate; there is no doubt about it, no possible nuance. Yet, the stewards handled it by handing Verstappen a similar penalty to those given to good-faith racers accidentally causing collisions. A single occurrence of such a foul move is already a problem but could be forgiven; after all, Sebastian Vettel did cross a line when he intentionally collided with Lewis Hamilton in Baku in 2017, which led to a 10-second stop-go penalty. But this isn't the first time we've witnessed Verstappen's unsportsmanlike driving. Verstappen brake-tested Hamilton in a tense Saudi Arabian GP in 2021 – an uncouth attempt at taking his title rival out of the race – and repeatedly runs his rivals off the track, like Hamilton in the 2021 Brazilian GP or Lando Norris in the 2024 Mexico race. He doesn't mind losing places in the process, as long as his opponent loses more. Advertisement The governing bodies have undeniably failed to address how frequent and intentional Verstappen's behavior is, and they won't even connect the dots to call a spade 'a spade' – to call a deliberate move 'a deliberate move'. Whether they're ignoring it on purpose or through thoughtlessness, nobody knows. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images The stewards' decision regarding the clash with Russell at Barcelona left much unsaid: 'The driver of Car 1 was clearly unhappy with his team's request to give the position back. At the approach to Turn 5, Car 1 significantly reduced its speed thereby appearing to allow Car 63 to overtake. However, after Car 63 got ahead of Car 1 at the entry of Turn 5, Car 1 suddenly accelerated and collided with Car 63. Advertisement 'The collision was undoubtedly caused by the actions of Car 1.' It is standard terminology – though somewhat comical in this context – for stewards to refer to the 'car' instead of the driver, but that's besides the point: they decided not to draw the logical conclusion from their reasoning. Everything in Verstappen's driving shows he intended to hit Russell, so he should have been disciplined taking into account how serious such an act is in racing. One week prior, in Monaco, stewards established that Russell had 'deliberately' cut the chicane – which is unsportsmanlike but much less dangerous – and they had no qualms about cracking down on the Mercedes driver with a drive-through penalty instead of the usual five or 10 seconds. At Barcelona, the situation was crystal-clear, yet Verstappen got a standard penalty, more lenient than Russell's in Monaco. Well, not completely standard as he got three penalty points on his licence instead of two. Go figure. Advertisement Verstappen has always been an extremely polarizing character, ever since his high-profile F1 debut at just 17 years of age. Many believe – or pretend to – that's just due to his elbows-out racing style, viewed as a logical symptom of his hunger for victory. However, his actions often go far beyond 'hard but fair', and he obviously stands by them given the way he usually speaks post-race. Some will be keen to deem the Spanish GP incident a mere instance of briefly losing composure, yet it just adds to all previous episodes, when Verstappen didn't get the penalties he deserved. Surely the four-time world champion, who naturally is an extremely confident athlete, is aware – more or less consciously – that when he acts this way, he never loses out. Read Also: Why is it so difficult for F1 drivers to say they're sorry? When anger and desperation take over: F1's most controversial clashes Advertisement Penalties on a case-by-case basis have never solved the problem, as his senseless Barcelona move shows. Verstappen brilliantly makes the most of the system's grey areas when he deems it necessary or feels disrespected, taking things way beyond the limits. This is not about whether a move was completed with four wheels off the track, if a driver moved under braking or who was ahead at the apex. This is about colliding on purpose – unsportsmanlike behavior onboard 800kg cars reaching 200mph. The Verstappen problem is a serious one, and the governing bodies must now diligently address it. To read more articles visit our website.
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Pressure mounts for Ferrari's Hamilton and Leclerc to deliver at Imola
Lewis Hamilton British driver Lewis Hamilton has battled at Ferrari. Photo: AFP Image: AFP While 18-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli is excited about experiencing his first home race, Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc must be dreading the fear of disappointing their home crowd. Imola is one of two home races on the calendar for Ferrari, next to Monza, and obviously attracts a sea of red supporters and with it, added pressure to deliver. A level of pressure that's already been brewing to the surface since the start of the season, especially for Hamilton, who was touted as the Tifosi's next messiah. But its been a shaky start for Hamilton, with a Sprint win in China the highest accolade he's earned at Ferrari this season. Leclerc, on the other hand, pulled off a decent drive at the Saudi Arabian GP to take the first podium for Ferrari this season in P3. Points and performance have been sorely lacking under Fred Vasseur's reign this season, with no hope in sight. Besides the performance aspects of Ferrari, their strategies and communication on the track this season have been questionable, at the very least. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ With the European segment of the F1 calendar kicking off this Sunday at Imola, Hamilton doesn't know what to expect out of the SF-25 but hoping to get a podium finish. 'I have no idea; I don't know what to expect. That's obviously what we're working towards, but it's not something I expect this weekend. 'If you've seen our past races, the positions we've been in, we start the weekend really optimistic and then (there's) the realisation of our true pace. I don't know what the pace is going to be like this weekend. 'I'm hoping we're able to extract more from the car, and that's what we've been working towards these past two weeks. To get a good result, to get finally on the podium for Ferrari, that would be a first for me,' the seven-time world champion said. Hamilton said he's trying to treat this race like any other, but suspects the overwhelming crowds of red will change things as the weekend progresses. 'Of course, when I see the Tifosi, when I see people in the crowds, it probably will become more of a realisation that they're actually looking at me this time as opposed to me out in a different car,' he added. Leclerc, on the other hand, is under the weather for the home race, and missed his media duties on Thursday, but Ferrari confirmed he will be back in the paddock on Friday. 'Charles is feeling unwell and will not be coming to the track today. He will rest and focus on recovering and we expect him to be in the car tomorrow,' Ferrari told a F1 publication. Ferrari find themselves competing with Max Verstappen for fourth place on the constructor standings, given the fact that Red Bull do not have a second driver that is able to keep up. Ferrari are just 11 points behind Red Bull on the Constructors' standings, and depending on how both teams' cars act up this weekend, there is likely to be a shift within the lower top order. Mercedes are comfortable in second place, while McLaren are lightyears ahead of the rest of the pack when it comes to the Constructors. Leclerc has put up a decent fight with the SF-25, and is fifth with 55 championship points, while Hamilton still finds his feet on 41 points.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Oscar Piastri improves to a big odds-on favourite to win the Drivers' Championship following his Miami GP victory - while his teammate Lando Norris is next at 15/8
Oscar Piastri strengthened his lead atop the Formula One driver standings with a win at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday. It marked Piastri's fourth win of the season in six starts - with the Australian also securing victories at the Chinese GP, Bahrain GP and Saudi Arabian GP. As a result, at the time of writing - Piastri leads the standings on 131 points, while his McLaren teammate Lando Norris is in second on 115 points. With the above in mind - it shouldn't come as a surprise that Piastri and Norris are the best-backed to be crowned champion this season, with the pair priced at 8/13 and 15/8 respectively. Meanwhile, four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen is third in the market at a boosted price of 10/1. Verstappen is currently third in the standings on 99 points with a win and three podium finishes to date this season. Lastly, for those after an outsider - George Russell and Kimi Antonelli round out the five favourites in the market at 33/1 and 50/1 respectively. Sky Bet favourites to win the 2025 Drivers' Championship: Oscar Piastri 8/13 Lando Norris 15/8 Max Verstappen WAS 8/1 NOW 10/1 George Russell 33/1 Kimi Antonelli 50/1
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
McLaren power struggle, flexing wings, Max's tomorrow: reading the early F1 tea leaves
As Formula One prepares for its hectic summer schedule, starting this weekend in Miami, the next few months could determine the championship's direction and also have far-reaching consequences beyond this season. The Hindu examines a few potential subplots that could unfold over the remaining 19 races. Piastri vs. Norris During pre-season testing, it was evident McLaren had the best car, continuing from where it left off last year when it clinched the constructors' title. So the expectations naturally were that Lando Norris, who gave reigning champion Max Verstappen a slight scare in 2024, would be the favourite, having been battle-hardened. However, five rounds in, the Briton has been overshadowed by teammate Oscar Piastri, who is leading the drivers' standings by 10 points. The Australian has claimed victory in three out of the five events, demonstrating that he has taken another leap in his overall game. In his sophomore campaign, he addressed his tyre management weakness, but struggled in qualifying. Now, the 24-year-old appears to have improved his single-lap pace as well, given his two pole positions so far. Norris has had a poor start to the season despite impressing in the opener in Australia, where he won from pole in a tricky race under mixed conditions. The 25-year-old is unhappy with the handling of the McLaren and struggled in China and Bahrain, where Piastri led from lights to flag. He has also been error-prone, as evidenced by his crash in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian GP, which left him starting 10th. Even in wheel-to-wheel combat, Norris has looked tardy. All of this raises a significant question: is Norris ready for battle, especially at a time when his colleague is operating at a high level? Piastri showed great mental fortitude by quickly getting over his mistake in Melbourne where he lost second place after running wide when rain hit the track. Since finishing ninth in his home race, the Melburnian has won three of four Grands Prix. Last year, Norris squandered pole positions through poor starts and was often second-best in duels with Verstappen, which prompted many to question his mental toughness. His performances so far have reinforced that perception. How he responds could be crucial to his career. This loss of form could also have a bearing on how the Woking-based outfit operates. Until now, the British racer has been McLaren's de facto leader, given that he has been with the team since 2019. However, if Piastri continues to extend his good run, the factory may be inclined to heed the Aussie's preferences more when it comes to deciding on the developmental direction. Deep down, Norris will know he has a golden opportunity to win a title and has wasted his advantage over the last four races. Unless he gets on top of things quickly, he runs the risk of coming to regret the years of hard work he has invested in getting his squad to where it is. Spanish surprise Ever since McLaren made a significant step forward midway through last year, a theory doing the rounds is that it has mastered the art of flexing the wings, especially the front wing, which enhances aerodynamic performance. The aerodynamic parts flex as the car transitions through different speeds, but they aren't permitted to move beyond a stipulated range. While a certain tolerance for flex is allowed, it was believed that a few teams were exceeding this tolerance during running, yet still passing the static load tests. Although no team has been found to have breached the regulations, the FIA has decided to decrease the amount of tolerance during the load tests to curb flexing. Considering McLaren is only slightly ahead of Red Bull, at least in the hands of Verstappen, the new technical directive, which will come into effect from the Spanish GP, could have an impact on the pecking order and the title fight if it indeed takes away some of the former's advantage. Verstappen, Red Bull and the future The four-time champion has produced another masterclass in the second- or third-best machinery and is third in the standings, 12 points off the leader. His pole laps in Suzuka and Jeddah were spectacular, helping him win the former and finish second in the latter. He has managed to extract performances while his teammates are struggling to score a point. At the same time, the tracks and the cooler conditions have masked Red Bull's weaknesses. As we head to the more traditional circuits in possibly hotter conditions, the real test for the energy drink giant begins. The Red Bull's problem of being unpredictable in different ways through different corners has not abated. It is challenging to balance the vehicle on a knife-edge every weekend. It's unsustainable over a season, even if Verstappen has managed it so far. The Dutchman has a contract until 2028, but there are break clauses, and rumours of him leaving the outfit keep surfacing from time to time. If the Milton Keynes-based squad is not quick enough to help him defend his crown, the 27-year-old might run out of patience. Without Verstappen, Red Bull will be fighting for scraps. The management will certainly hope the planned upgrade in Imola delivers enough improvement to keep its biggest asset happy. Balancing the development race 2025 marks the last season under the current set of technical regulations, introduced in 2022. Next year, F1 transitions to active aerodynamics, featuring movable front and rear wings, sustainable fuels, and a slightly modified hybrid power unit. So, the teams have a challenging task bringing upgrades to this year's package while also shifting their focus to 2026, which will lay the foundations for the next few years. For some at the back of the grid, the best option would be to switch priorities early and try to adapt to the new regulations. They can take inspiration from what Honda did in 2008 — it shut that year's programme early before the team morphed into Brawn GP and helped Jenson Button become world champion while also taking home the constructors' crown in 2009. Williams, currently fifth in the standings, has become the first team to target 2026. At the same time, for the likes of McLaren and Red Bull, it will be a tricky balance as they are locked in this year's fight. It will get even trickier if Ferrari and Mercedes start challenging for wins. In 2008, BMW halted its programme at a time when its driver, Robert Kubica, was leading the drivers' standings, relinquishing a chance to fight for the big prize in the hope of performing well in 2009. Unfortunately, it failed to do so and ultimately withdrew from the sport at the end of the year. So, the next few months could prove defining not just for this year's championship, but also for next year and beyond.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
George Russell's $2.7 Million Mercedes-AMG One Isn't Just a Flex—It's an F1 Monster Made for the Road
George Russell's latest acquisition isn't just a luxury purchase—it's a bold statement. By securing one of the rare 275 units of the Mercedes-AMG ONE, a $2.7 million hypercar, he's not merely indulging in opulence; he's embracing a machine that brings Formula 1 technology directly to the streets. The Mercedes-AMG ONE is a marvel of engineering, boasting a hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 engine with four electric motors, collectively delivering an astounding 1,063 horsepower. This setup propels the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds, reaching a top speed of 352 km/h. Advertisement Its aerodynamic design, including active elements like a rear wing and front diffuser, ensures optimal performance and stability at high speeds. As a personal touch, Russell has even had his racing number—63—embroidered on the headrests, blending F1 pedigree with bespoke customisation. Inside, the AMG ONE offers a minimalist, driver-focused cockpit, featuring fixed bucket seats integrated into the carbon monocoque, a Formula 1-style steering wheel, and advanced infotainment systems. George Russell celebrates after Saudi Arabian GP qualifyingAndrea Diodato/NurPhoto The car's construction emphasizes lightweight materials and cutting-edge technology, resulting in a vehicle that not only performs exceptionally on the track but also meets road-legal standards. Advertisement Russell's choice reflects a deep appreciation for performance and innovation, aligning with his professional background in Formula 1. Owning the AMG ONE is more than a status symbol; it's a testament to his commitment to excellence and a nod to the pinnacle of automotive engineering. View the original article to see embedded media. He's not the only one in the Mercedes F1 family to get hands on this beast. Former World Champion Nico Rosberg and ex-teammate Valtteri Bottas also own the AMG ONE, making it a de facto badge among those who've helped define Mercedes' dominant F1 era. Related: Max Verstappen's Car Collection: Inside the Hypercar-Filled Garage of an F1 Champion
