The 2021 Formula One racing season has already had the first controversy: Lewis Hamilton Happened in Bahrain Max Verstappen Request to return to the position.
The reason for issuing such a broadcast notification is because he used Curve 4 Sakhir’s reason for holding this position is to oppose the defense of the seven-time champion. There is no doubt about the action: Verstappen uses an illegal zone, According to the general regulations of any circuit, but in this case, it is not clear that it cannot be used.
Those four turns are already an old acquaintance of the pilot. For many years, all drivers have used it as an ideal point to stretch the entire route, because with the asphalt, they hardly noticed the change in grip relative to the track. The solution is to put gravel, but it has not changed.
According to the main beneficiary, Hamilton, the butler warned in a driver meeting with the FIA They cannot do free practice or qualifying outside of Turn 4, But to eliminate the time gained.To Valtteri Bottas They turned eight times So, for example, on Friday.
despite this, For professions, it can be used…or they say. Butlers provided de facto free clues because they stated that this point would not be monitored, and for practical purposes, they allowed to skip the general rule: cars They must not step on the four wheels outside The angle of the white line that defines the asphalt and escape route.
This caused many pilots to skip it. Hamilton himself was the first: TV broadcast shows, At least 29 out of 56 laps The people who formed the Bahrain GP attracted turn 4 through the loophole. He didn’t warn anyone, let alone punish.
The controversy arises because the commissioner They changed their standards in the middle of the game.Former pilot Emanuele Pirro (Already caused controversy in other GPs), Tim Mayer, Mazen Al-Hilli and Richard Norbury, and the game director Michael Masi, The decision has been decided after the start of the pilot Yes, they will be warned or even sanctioned If they skip the 4th turn restriction to gain overtaking advantage.
“Everyone knew that we would not watch him during the race. But then we saw that some teams abused him every lap. This was not intentional,” Massi proved.
That’s why they are Final sanctions, And these people warned Verstappen that Verstappen still needs to bend three more corners to return to Hamilton. Since he didn’t even try to fight back, his anger at what he considered to be a serious injustice became clear.
Hamilton and Verstappen were not the only ones who skipped the corner of the fourth corner. Esteban OconFor example, he also used asphalt loopholes to overtake. As the winner of the race, he was not sanctioned or warned.
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