2017 Formula 1 Season Paddock

No one ever willingly gives up their spot, especially at turn 1.

 

Verstappen did back out of the throttle but by then he was already in a closing wedge

 

Max (before hitting/being hit by Kimi) had position on Seb, he would not have backed out unless Vettel drove him into the wall. If they go into turn one like that (minus Kimi in the picture) and there was contact between Max and Seb the stewarts would have (more then likely) found fault with Vettel.

I'm def not a Verstappen fan, but he had every right to fight for that lane because he had more then half his length up the inside or Seb, so backing out was nothing he had to do by rule.

Just like Kimi had a right to the lane inside of Max.

Vettel put the squeeze on not knowing Kimi was there. Would he have moved that far over if he had known Kimi was there? Probably.

And fucking Fernando! What a start....for a minute.

*EDIT* my $.02 for what its worth.

 

I'm with ya on the karma note.

As far as the point is valid or invalid (as always) come down to how you view the incident. The way I see it, Max didn't even know Kimi was there until the locked wheels (or just before) because of Kimi's start (mind blowing start, I'd say). So whether or not he was gaining or losing a position (in my mind) doesn't matter.

Take Kimi out of the picture, Max was matching Vettels pace to turn 1. Assuming they both got on the brakes at the same time, Max would have had inside position on Vettel at the apex of turn 1, meaning the preferred line for Vettel would have been through MV's car. That's the point I'm making. Like the Ocon/Perez incident @ Spa, Estaban didn't give way too Sergio when he drove him into the wall on the front stretch, same exact reason. He has a right to defend his line, in both cases, the preferred line.

If they were at our track and the above incident I described happens, and I had to make a call on it, Vettel would be at fault. Granted, I'm not Charlie Whiting, or even a race stewart (a'la Tom Christensen) but that how i would have called it at our track.

 

I watched another video of the start. What really struck me was just how wide that straight is, and how enormous the Turn 1 runoff is, and how even with all of that real estate 3 guys manage to stuff their cars into one another. Hamilton and Alonso had the right idea by using the 60% of pavement nobody else was bothering with.

 

https://www.google.ca/amp/www.roada...ts/amp12267708/f1-singapore-grand-prix-crash/

 

Here's a ponder: if Kimi's launch had *not* been so spectacular, would VET and VER still have taken one another out?

 

Doubt it. Kimi and Ver clearly collided with each other first and that collision put Kimi into Vettel.

 

I think Vettel intended to leave space for one car as required, he is a top driver and knows what he is doing, but he didn't know Kimi was there and didn't leave space for 2 cars.

 

Meh you can watch pretty much every start of a race (with a wider track) and whoever is in P1 pulls the same move of "squeezing". This time it just ended up with some bad luck and we all know the result

 

I don't know if you are reffering to me, I'm not a Vettel hater, but not his hugest fan either. He is one of the top drivers. I don't think Verstappen had time to back out, by the time he saw what was coming it was too late. Like in the picture I posted earlier. I think Kimi got an amazing start and held his line. He was a victim. Verstappen gave as much room as he could until he hit Kimi, I don't think he knew or expected how fast Kimi was coming up the inside. He couldn't back out because the tires of all 3 cars were interlocked, with Verstappen being locked on both sides. I would say he may have slight blame, but mostly just a racing incident for him. I think Vettel pushed Verstappen over as the leader always does, but He didn't know Kimi was there and didn't leave room for another car. If he had left room for one more car all three could have made it. I am not 100% blaming Vettel either, but I think he holds the greatest amount of responsibility for the crash of the 3.

I am an Alonso fan BTW.

 

Like Spain last year.

 

He was referring to me. I had the same view of the incident as you did, and yes, I'm a Vettel hater.

 

I thought Max was backing out no? He was kinda got locked in by the tyres and lost traction as well. They all share the blame in my opinion but it's Vettel who gave the Championship away if Hamilton stays as sharp and focused as he has been.

 

It did kinda look that way from the overhead shot, but I'm not sure.

 

Yep

 

Aston Martin to become Red Bull title sponsor from next season

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/analysis-red-bull-aston-martinjames-allen-957579/

 

How can you expect Verstappen to back off? Hes racing and has a clear track ahead of him, only to be squished between two scuderias within a split second. Even a robot would be unable to avoid that at that speed due to tires overlapping eachother.

I usually like Vettel but he was definitely in the wrong on that one.

 

This/\
Although I believe it was all on Vettel and this is just another example of his poor decision making when under pressure. I have not forgotten what he did to Webba...

 

...need to get the next race in, so this shtuff can die it's normal death...