Official 2024 Austrian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Sandpit Steve]

Gad-Westy said:

Ken_Code said:

There are other drivers who could pass him in the championship if he keeps driving like he did today and others don’t give way, leading to retirements.

Even just considering Norris, he knows that if he backs off then he cannot win this championship but if he holds firm there’s a small chance that he can.

I’d say for Norris, it’s not about this year but setting a precedent for future seasons where there may be more to fight for.

Yep, today should be a wake-up call to all the twenty-something drivers who think of Max as one of them, a friend, that he’s totally and utterly ruthless, will stop at absolutely nothing to win. They all need to tell him, on the track, that he’s no longer going to get away with it, as Lando did today.

[Ken_Code]

I was disappointed a few years back at the response of other drivers to Verstappen’s driving.

Of course, they all had good reasons to get out of his way, but I wish they’d all just acted to him as he did to them.

[LHRFlightman]

Two comments.

Ant Davidson sky pad analysis was beautiful. Clear, concise and laid out exactly where the blame lies.

Andrea Stella. Bang on. This goes all the way back to 2021.

Looking forward to Silverstone

[Big Nanas]

LHRFlightman said:

Two comments.

Ant Davidson sky pad analysis was beautiful. Clear, concise and laid out exactly where the blame lies.

Andrea Stella. Bang on. This goes all the way back to 2021.

Looking forward to Silverstone

Absolutely my thoughts.
Can't wait for Silverstone, it's going to be spicy.

I wonder if the FIA or the stewards will take note of AS character assassination against them?

[Jasandjules]

Red9zero said:

Andrea Stella nailing it in his interview with Ted

What did he say?

[Sandpit Steve]

Jasandjules said:

Red9zero said:

Andrea Stella nailing it in his interview with Ted

What did he say?

Look back two pages.

[TheDeuce]

Big Nanas said:

LHRFlightman said:

Two comments.

Ant Davidson sky pad analysis was beautiful. Clear, concise and laid out exactly where the blame lies.

Andrea Stella. Bang on. This goes all the way back to 2021.

Looking forward to Silverstone

Absolutely my thoughts.
Can't wait for Silverstone, it's going to be spicy.

I wonder if the FIA or the stewards will take note of AS character assassination against them?

I hope one of our British drivers do well at Silverstone. I'm sure McLaren and Mercedes will have their PU's turned up for a chance if glory.

However.. what's better than GR at his home race beating Max? Beating Max at the RBR home circuit

[Red9zero]

Jasandjules said:

Red9zero said:

Andrea Stella nailing it in his interview with Ted

What did he say?

[Jasandjules]

Red9zero said:

Thank you that is utterly fantastic.

[NRS]

Big Nanas said:

Absolutely my thoughts.
Can't wait for Silverstone, it's going to be spicy.

I wonder if the FIA or the stewards will take note of AS character assassination against them?

Nope, they’ll not want to give it PR time. Ignore it and most will never know apart from the hardcore fans who already know.

[mk1coopers]

Well there you go, the question answered, of course MV was going to revert straight back to type as soon as there was any competition, what needs to happen now is effective punishments that either impact the race live, or the next race, as today all that happened was his lead in the championship extended.

[Leithen]

Big Nanas said:

Absolutely my thoughts.
Can't wait for Silverstone, it's going to be spicy.

I wonder if the FIA or the stewards will take note of AS character assassination against them?

It'l be a lonely place for a Red Bull fan.

[FeelingLucky]

I don't know much of Andrea Stella pre McLaren, but I was hugely impressed by him today, not just his composure and lack of emotion, but his surgical analysis of the incident and causes of said incident. IMO he nailed it.

I'm a little surprised little has been said regarding Max's second attempted take out of Lando whilst both recovering to the pits. Surely this is the more egregious of the two moves as it can't be explained away by the fog of war or heat of the moment.

Max has never been a sportsman when dueling with whoever might challenge him for the title, and he's demonstrated time and again he'll do literally anything to prevent a pass. More worryingly he's been allowed to since '21 and AS is 100% correct, this is the chickens coming home to roost.

[TheDeuce]

Jasandjules said:

Red9zero said:

Thank you that is utterly fantastic.

It is, and of course, he's speaking absolute sense.

Unfortunately he's called out the regime for their BS and the most likely punishment for doing so is for them to favour Max and penalise Lando in various obvious and more subtle ways.

[TheDeuce]

Leithen said:

Big Nanas said:

Absolutely my thoughts.
Can't wait for Silverstone, it's going to be spicy.

I wonder if the FIA or the stewards will take note of AS character assassination against them?

It'l be a lonely place for a Red Bull fan.

Except it won't be. The MV/RBR hoards will be there in their orange uniforms... All huddled together in the stands and campsite, creating an echo chamber where they all agree with their assessment of anything or anyone that threatens their gods

[breamster]

mk1coopers said:

Well there you go, the question answered, of course MV was going to revert straight back to type as soon as there was any competition, what needs to happen now is effective punishments that either impact the race live, or the next race, as today all that happened was his lead in the championship extended.

Everyone predicted it. Verstappen is just a dirty driver. No sportsmanship at all.

[rasto]

Oh the irony of Lando criticising the crowd for booing Max after the last race! It would be nice to think that FIA/Liberty would watch the excellent summary of what the problem is from Andrea Stella and actually do something to try and tame Max's very rough edges but I won't hold my breath. Will be hoping for a Lando comeback at Silverstone - a Max DNF would be an added bonus.

[TheDeuce]

breamster said:

mk1coopers said:

Well there you go, the question answered, of course MV was going to revert straight back to type as soon as there was any competition, what needs to happen now is effective punishments that either impact the race live, or the next race, as today all that happened was his lead in the championship extended.

Everyone predicted it. Verstappen is just a dirty driver. No sportsmanship at all.

Indeed. I don't dislike him, I respect his talent greatly. But for all the coaching and experience and support he receives, he will never change from who he fundamentally is. He's an aggressive sod who will play dirty when he feels a result is slipping through his fingers. He'd rather win dirty than lose fairly.

[Jasandjules]

breamster said:

Everyone predicted it. Verstappen is just a dirty driver. No sportsmanship at all.

I think it certainly answers the question we all had. Can he actually race wheel to wheel against a car that is close in performance. Nope.

Which is a real shame but it is clear that without a supremely dominant car he simply has not got what it takes. Best driver in the world? Yeah ok.

Alonso holding Lewis off in Hungary showed you how a real driver does it and frankly Perez in Abu 2021 did it cleanly too. We have seen many stellar fights over time with fair and clean racing. Max did have the odd battle over the last couple of years for a few corners where it was fair enough but I think it is clear that the car had such a pace advantage it was not an issue. Now when there is a car that has pace, well...

I really have no idea where he thought Lando would go when he moved across like that, I think (might be wrong) from the onboard Lando had his left wheels on the line when contact was made, only one of them moved across and it was not Lando.

[jasonrobertson86]

TheDeuce said:

Indeed. I don't dislike him, I respect his talent greatly. But for all the coaching and experience and support he receives, he will never change from who he fundamentally is. He's an aggressive sod who will play dirty when he feels a result is slipping through his fingers. He'd rather win dirty than lose fairly.

And thats what it takes to be a champion. Who on earth wants to lose fairly??!!?