andrewf1 wrote: ↑08 Nov 2021, 15:28
Vaexa wrote: ↑08 Nov 2021, 14:57
Bottas and/or Hamilton would've likely been penalised for any attempts to push Verstappen towards or even off track, given Masi published a document (document #55, Race Director's Note) explicitly reminding drivers that any attempts to hinder drivers by pushing them off the track or through any other "unusual change of direction" would be reported to the stewards.
I know that's probably unpalatable for the Mercedes fans who think a 2019 Ferrari style boxing in would've somehow kept Verstappen from winning this, but one or both Mercedes drivers being penalised likely would've just made the job a lot easier for Red Bull.
You don't need to put a driver on the grass in order to box him in.
So that argument is invalid.
See this pic?
https://i.ibb.co/RBvkPGS/Maxonboard.png
If Bottas had kept the line, Max would've had nowhere to go.
Or would have had to back off in order to switch to the dirty inside.
By that point Verstappen is still accelerating, and if Bottas jinks to the left he opens up a neat little slot between them for Verstappen to slide into without having to back off. If Hamilton follows him in, they both end up on Verstappen's outside for both this corner and the next.
With one eye to CotA, giving Verstappen the inside line was probably not what Mercedes had planned for the start. Hamilton starting that fast probably scuppered their actual tactic for the start, given he wasn't alongside Verstappen to actually box him in anymore.