Unfortunately it is in the Gray area of the rules in the way that he pulled across, that it is hard to say it isn't squeezing. Weaving is normally to block someone, but in this instance he wasn't blocking Lando, just reducing the space he had to get into slowly and aggressively and earlier than you normally would.FittingMechanics wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 12:40I wouldn't call it squeezing as it was done on the brakes and Norris was on the edge of the track. Sure, he could have theoretically moved under braking to let Verstappen have better exit out of corner. You can't squeeze people on the brakes on the edge of the track. Rule against moving under braking exists because you can't and shouldn't squeeze people on brakes.mwillems wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 12:29The crash caused by the Squeezing?
As I say, I don't think it is inconsequential outside of the race. Inside of the race, yes. But what is important outside of the race is that the Stewards set a precedent by saying that this sort of driving is unacceptable.
I agree about Max making his own High Speed corner out of a low speed one, but I said that already when replying to Chris in a separate post. It is separate the the incident that this post is about, which was the squeezing and subsequent crash.
Squeezing works when you are under power and have room to move. Squeeze someone to the inside so he has to brake much earlier. What Verstappen did was crash into Norris by trying to open up his corner, all of this done under brakes as a reaction to Norris. And this is without mentioning him moving under braking in earlier attacks (one of which could have been a clear Norris hitting Verstappen into the rear).
But Lando is alongside while on the brakes. They haven't turned in, both of them are on the brakes. Verstappen moves on the brakes to squeeze/open up the corner, he hits Norris. It's not like he brakes, turns in and then squeezes someone on the exit. What is there to debate?mwillems wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 13:10Unfortunately it is in the Gray area of the rules in the way that he pulled across, that it is hard to say it isn't squeezing. Weaving is normally to block someone, but in this instance he wasn't blocking Lando, just reducing the space he had to get into slowly and aggressively and earlier than you normally would.
The stewards were deliberately vague as they knew anything could become inflammatory, but the document spoke specifically about the action being when Lando was alongside Max and therefore the penalty is not about moving under breaking, which happened before Lando was alongside.
There is an issue here in that once a driver is alongside you've always been allowed to move back across to squeeze a bit, even if you've already moved once in the braking area. He's done exactly that here, but started the move earlier but without overtly closing the space before Lando was in it. This is why the punishment is only for what happened when Lando was alongside Max. Which is the squeezing.
If he does this again I hope the punishment is more severe.
if he resorts to pure blocking as a result, I hope he gets punished.
But what could be dealt with today, in this incident, was dealt with in the right way, in my view, based on what has happened in the past.
I would agree that they need to tighten up the regs about not being able to move twice into a squeeze until the car is alongside though, because the intent is to move Lando into a worse position before he's alongside, which in my view should now also be called blocking.
I said it was the squeezing that led to a collision that he was punished for. I also said squeezing is allowed, irrespective of whether you are under braking or not.FittingMechanics wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 13:27But Lando is alongside while on the brakes. They haven't turned in, both of them are on the brakes. Verstappen moves on the brakes to squeeze/open up the corner, he hits Norris. It's not like he brakes, turns in and then squeezes someone on the exit. What is there to debate?mwillems wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 13:10Unfortunately it is in the Gray area of the rules in the way that he pulled across, that it is hard to say it isn't squeezing. Weaving is normally to block someone, but in this instance he wasn't blocking Lando, just reducing the space he had to get into slowly and aggressively and earlier than you normally would.
The stewards were deliberately vague as they knew anything could become inflammatory, but the document spoke specifically about the action being when Lando was alongside Max and therefore the penalty is not about moving under breaking, which happened before Lando was alongside.
There is an issue here in that once a driver is alongside you've always been allowed to move back across to squeeze a bit, even if you've already moved once in the braking area. He's done exactly that here, but started the move earlier but without overtly closing the space before Lando was in it. This is why the punishment is only for what happened when Lando was alongside Max. Which is the squeezing.
If he does this again I hope the punishment is more severe.
if he resorts to pure blocking as a result, I hope he gets punished.
But what could be dealt with today, in this incident, was dealt with in the right way, in my view, based on what has happened in the past.
I would agree that they need to tighten up the regs about not being able to move twice into a squeeze until the car is alongside though, because the intent is to move Lando into a worse position before he's alongside, which in my view should now also be called blocking.
And the stewards made the decision based on the Infringment of this article Appendix L, Chapter IV, article 2d - https://www.fia.com/regulation/category/123
https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files ... lision.pdf
"Causing a collision, repetition of serious
mistakes or the appearance of a lack of control over
the car (such as leaving the track) will be reported
to the Stewards and may entail the imposition of
penalties up to and including the disqualification of
any driver concerned."
At the same time, they had the ability to use article 2b.
"More than one change of direction to defend a
position is not permitted.
Any driver moving back towards the racing line,
having earlier defended his position off-line, should
leave at least one car width between his own car
and the edge of the track on the approach to the
corner.
However, manoeuvres liable to hinder other
drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car
beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal
change of direction, are strictly prohibited. Any
driver who appears guilty of any of the above
offences will be reported to the Stewards."
So it is very clear you are wrong in your assessment. The stewards did not punish Verstappen for squeezing, they punished him for causing a collision. If they wanted to punish squeezing or crowding they would have used article 2b.
But that is exactly my point. He was not punished for squeezing Lando off the track or for moving in reaction, he was punished because he hit Lando. If Lando made avoiding action and went wide, Verstappen would not have been punished even though it is reckless and dangerous (and in my opinion not allowed).mwillems wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 13:37I said it was the squeezing that led to a collision that he was punished for. I also said squeezing is allowed, irrespective of whether you are under braking or not.
I explained why they couldn't use 2b as his move was in the gray area. This is why I separate his squeezing of Lando from the double move.
When he squeezed Lando he went too far, and was punished for causing an incident when squeezing Lando. He only has to be guilty of one of the criteria for 2d. Causing the collision.
As I said. They aren't stupid, they know this is a can of worms and left it deliberately vague. They didn't say he was out of control, for instance. Nor was he. He was fully in control and fully going over the edge of what is allowed. He wasn't carrying more speed than he was able to shed before a corner, he just decided to force Lando off the track to defend his space and prevent the switchback.
Then I feel like this is splitting hairs as I thoughtFittingMechanics wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 14:14But that is exactly my point. He was not punished for squeezing Lando off the track or for moving in reaction, he was punished because he hit Lando. If Lando made avoiding action and went wide, Verstappen would not have been punished even though it is reckless and dangerous (and in my opinion not allowed).mwillems wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 13:37I said it was the squeezing that led to a collision that he was punished for. I also said squeezing is allowed, irrespective of whether you are under braking or not.
I explained why they couldn't use 2b as his move was in the gray area. This is why I separate his squeezing of Lando from the double move.
When he squeezed Lando he went too far, and was punished for causing an incident when squeezing Lando. He only has to be guilty of one of the criteria for 2d. Causing the collision.
As I said. They aren't stupid, they know this is a can of worms and left it deliberately vague. They didn't say he was out of control, for instance. Nor was he. He was fully in control and fully going over the edge of what is allowed. He wasn't carrying more speed than he was able to shed before a corner, he just decided to force Lando off the track to defend his space and prevent the switchback.
I don't think Verstappen will learn anything from that punishment. He will do it again and hope Lando goes offtrack. Maybe if Lando holds his ground once again the learning may start. I hope that Piastri and Lando can start to challenge Verstappen at every race so that Verstappen learns through repetition.
Driving Norris off the road half way down the straight was ridiculous.BassVirolla wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 15:32The worst of all this was the dangerous and anti-sportive blocking Verstappen did twice after the collision.
In mi view, this alone should be a direct black flag.
To be fair to VER. he took little issue with NOR basically pushing him onto the grass at race start in Barcelona.SiLo wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 16:59Driving Norris off the road half way down the straight was ridiculous.BassVirolla wrote: ↑01 Jul 2024, 15:32The worst of all this was the dangerous and anti-sportive blocking Verstappen did twice after the collision.
In mi view, this alone should be a direct black flag.