Verstappen knew he was there, and turned towards him - ergo propter hoc? He was the one who only had to open the steering to back out. Of course he would say he had left enough space but if Hamilton couldn't make the apex...
If Verstappen had backed out RB could have made the argument about Hamilton "forcing Max off" and pushed for the place back. But Max doesn't yield so there was contact.
It's ludricrous, looking at the sequence and timing of what happened, to suggest Hamilton nudged him off although we can't say that he wasn't hoping to run Max wide. Hamilton could easily have broken or bent the track rod in that contact and in fact had the race not been stopped he would have had to carry on with damage as it was.
I'm not even making the argument that Hamilton didn't break the rules although it is clearly debatable, but if Max has an accident that he could have avoided, even if he had 'right of way', then there is a limit to the sympathy he should expect.
He is a brilliant driver of course but it's great fun seeing him sulk. He now appears to be implying that Bottas knocked him off the track deliberately. Did Bottas, like a snooker player, see the 'plant' in which if he hit Norris then Norris would cannon Verstappen and pot him? Shame Bottas went in off at the same time...
What Red Bull is doing by rubbishing Hamilton and Mercedes will do nobody any good, including themselves.
Hamilton must be chortling to himself, seeing how riled Max is. And Hamilton has made his statement in regard to future 50/50 situations. If Max remains uncompromising we will see another coming together quite soon. Can't wait.
If Bernie was still in charge I'd think he had choreographed it:)
Last edited by: Manatee on Mon 2 Aug 21 at 12:51
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