Max Verstappen insists that Lewis Hamilton had "zero intention" of leaving him any space as rivals lock horns yet again.

Though the stewards deemed the world champion as being responsible for the clash at the first safety car re-start, Max Verstappen is convinced they got it wrong.

As far as the stewards were concerned Verstappen attempted to pass Hamilton on the outside of turn 1 by braking very late.

However, he did not complete the pass and his excess speed compromised his entry into turn 2, at which point he made contact with the Mercedes.

While the stewards recognized that Hamilton could possibly have given a little more room at the apex of turn 2, they determined that Verstappen was
predominantly at fault, handing the Dutchman a 5s time penalty and 2 penalty points.

"I felt it, as soon as I was going next to him, that he had no intention to leave me space," Verstappen subsequently told reporters. "I thought 'OK, if you don't leave me space, are we just going to collide?'

"I thought after last year, we maybe forget about it, we can finally race you know," he added. "Because first of all, when I went side by side, I thought ok, let's have a good race here.

"But then you feel it with a driver, if he's going to leave space or not. And there was zero intention to leave me space."

Asked if he was surprised to be penalised, he admitted: "Yeh, to be honest, I was surprised. I mean, I was not upset. But if you asked me, 'would I do it again?' Absolutely!

"I was, well I can say, 85% alongside, and my intention is never to crash," he continued. "But I could feel he was just not going to leave me the space into that corner. And then yeh, we collide.

"If he would have just moved a little bit, he probably would have stayed ahead anyway. It's a shame... I want to race. I want to have a good fight, but when the other one doesn't want to work with you."

A somewhat ironic comment when you consider the Dutchman's actions later in the race... towards his own teammate.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 18/11/2022 10:29

"@USA1 I wonder what's different about Lewis....?"

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2. Posted by CrazyCanuck, 16/11/2022 14:19

""This is a rule of racing: No race has ever been won in the first corner; many have been lost there.“ — Garth Stein

"

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3. Posted by USA1, 16/11/2022 4:25

"Funny all year long the racing up front was fine between Ferrari, Red Bull and now Lewis is back up front there are issues again, makes me wonder!"

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4. Posted by Max Noble, 16/11/2022 4:06

"Simply how times change!

@spindoctor - good points all, but then Senna-Prost…?

@Tardis40, and @WokingChap - quite! At what point is the driver “ahead” allowed to ignore the leave a car width rule? You can see that Lewis turned into the Apex with only his front wheel in front of Max’s front wheel… He had no intention of leaving a car width, and Max had no intention of standing on the brakes… thump… racing incident. They both suffered as a result, while no other drivers were involved. I believe “racing incident” sends the right message…"

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5. Posted by LiamIII, 15/11/2022 14:54

"@Max-

100% true. I fear I may no be a racing fan, but a technology and engines, excuse me, ICE fan. I would love to see a car on the grid, after updates blast past everyone at lights out and win handily. Thereby forcing everyone back to the drawing board to find more horsepower for next week. I like car racing not driver racing. The smartest most creative gents win, a savvy/aggressive driver, not so much. "

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6. Posted by Tardis40, 15/11/2022 13:40

"They're strictly enforcing the rule on track limits but apparently are still ignoring the one about leaving a car's width."

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7. Posted by Wokingchap, 15/11/2022 13:27

""I felt it, as soon as I was going next to him, that he had no intention to leave me space"....so why did Max stay on a crash trajectory? He knew."

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8. Posted by kenji, 15/11/2022 12:52

"@ Max Noble...very well said, I fully agree with your summary. "

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9. Posted by Spindoctor, 15/11/2022 11:42

"@Max Noble I see your point, but, but...
It's all well & good if everyone understands that everyone will adopt the same tactics. I'd take issue with your characterisation of "*zero* margin for error", Max's lunge & the resulting crash involved deliberation, not error.
Max's problem is not so much his gung-ho approach but that it appears selective. When "racing" Leclerc or Sainz he's been pretty controlled & patient (having the fastest car by a mile has helped!). Hardly any contact, let alone crashing.
Now he's got the WDC and Lewis has a halfway decent car he's back to all-out on track warfare as in last season. Lewis seems well aware of this foible, and he adopted the classic "they shall not pass" strategy of placing his car where Max wanted to go. Max brimming with entitlement adopts the "I'm going there come what may" approach and the outcome was inevitable.

It'll be fascinating to see which Max tuns up in 2023 . Fighting against both George & Lewis in a fast Merc, will we have "Mad Max" of last season and Brazil 2022; or the measured, calculating & non-petulant Max who won this year's WDC .

All grist of course to the DTS mill...

"

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10. Posted by Max Noble, 15/11/2022 10:29

"@spindoctor - Is it not fascinating…? The FIA, and Liberty Media demand “Fantastic racing” and then when the drivers dive on the utter limit with *zero* margin for error everyone gets upset… So many classic moments from the 1970’s and early 1980’s (hello Gillies V…. And others…) pivoted around wheel banging, runs on the inside on the grass, and basically being a lunatic to get ahead *right now*. In this respect Max V. Is a blast from the past. “Races in the instant, and all else is mere vapour…”. I know I’d have stuffed it down the inside and awaited the outcome, just as Max did.

He who dares wins… and all that early grave stuff…

No one hurt, minor swapping of paint. Monster recovery by Lewis, and a WDC still sitting on Max V. Book shelf. Job done. See you all next season…
"

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11. Posted by LiamIII, 14/11/2022 14:51

"@yakker

Max has always been a driver of the moment and takes no thought of the past or future. Only "I must win now, or else". "

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12. Posted by yakker, 14/11/2022 14:14

"Regardless of the views regarding this incident, many of which are skewed to your favourite drive, I do not understand why Max tried it at this point in the race. He has won the championship so he had time on his side.
You can't win a race in the first corner but you can lose it."

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13. Posted by Spindoctor, 14/11/2022 10:37

"Out of the mouths of babes & Sucklings:

"I was, well I can say, 85% alongside, and my intention is never to crash," he continued. "But I could feel he was just not going to leave me the space into that corner. And then yeh, we collide."

So Verstappen admits that could have avoided the collision, so he caused an "avoidable collision", hence the penalty. "

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14. Posted by Mad Matt, 14/11/2022 8:58

"I'm not a fan of Max but it seemed to me that he was a little optimistic in the move and so could be said to have some blame... but given that he lost places I don't think the blame was enough to justify a penalty. In this case I would have left it alone as I don't feel he was enough at fault to warrant further action."

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15. Posted by Pavlo, 14/11/2022 8:17

"Firstly, even if I disagree with this interpretation of the rules, this decision of the stewards was consistent with their previous decisions. Good here.
Secondly, while Lewis really didn't leave a lot of space, Norris had more than enough and get the same penalty. This was also inconsistent with a penalty to Lewis in Silverstone - such touch definitely deserves more than 5s.

But from the common sense perspective, this episode reminds me of Max vs. Ocon crash last year. Imagine as a racing driver you know your opponent is on the right in the first corner, and if he doesn't intentionally break he ends up on the right in the second corner. You can look into the [crucial safety device] mirror and see that other driver indeed there (or not see him, because he is in your blind spot exactly there - obvious). Now you can turn your wheel and collide (fully your right, another driver is guilty) or leave more space and potentially lose one place. What do you chose?
Lewis was very lucky to get away from this incident with so light damage, and to be able to finish second. Next time he could easily lose more."

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Verstappen blames Hamilton for clash

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