Martin Brundle and Jacques Villeneuve consider extra penalties ought to have been handed out for the opening-lap incidents on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
Each Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen ended up chopping Flip 2 and rising in first and third respectively after going four-wide with polesitter Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton on the lengthy drag to Flip 1.
Leclerc gave the lead again to Norris however stayed forward of Hamilton, whereas Verstappen conceded place to the seven-time world champion.
The techniques of Leclerc and Verstappen drew fury from their rivals, with Mercedes’ George Russell, who stayed on the observe with Norris and Hamilton, blasting what he felt was “lawnmower racing”.
Neither Leclerc or Verstappen confronted punishment for the incident, however Hamilton was later handed a 10-second time penalty for leaving the observe and gaining a bonus at Flip 4 following a tense battle with Verstappen.
Requested whether or not Leclerc or Verstappen ought to have been penalised for the beginning, 1997 world champion Villeneuve stated: ”Max not, as a result of he was forward of Russell anyway and he gave all of the locations again. In order that was superb.
“Leclerc, sure, as a result of he was really behind Lewis [at Turn One]. He did not even attempt to make the nook, he stepped on it and realised, ‘oh, it is my team-mate, nothing will occur to me’.”
When requested if he agreed with Villeneuve that Leclerc deserved a penalty, Brundle replied: “100 per cent sure. Max ought to have had a penalty [also].
“In the event you put your automotive on the far left in 4 abreast it can go on the kerb, however Max had no intention. You’ll be able to see him really speed up – actually skilful driving via the grass, I have to say – however Max made no effort in any respect to take turns one, two or three and that ought to have been a penalty.”
Villeneuve instantly responded: “I solely half disagree. The factor is, intent is one factor, and we can’t actually put intent within the guidelines, it is tough. I used to be simply going by the foundations: by the foundations [Verstappen] was forward of George, let [Hamilton] again, so by the foundations it did not deserve a penalty.
“By the motion, sure, so how do you proceed? Do you observe the foundations otherwise you go together with what we all know is correct and mistaken? And proper now you simply must go together with the foundations as a result of the foundations have been put within the place, and the foundations are literally very badly written.”
Does Mexico have a Flip 1 drawback?
Since Mexico returned to the F1 calendar in 2015, there have been a number of occurrences of drivers operating straight throughout Flip 2.
Hamilton did so in 2016, whereas Carlos Sainz additionally minimize the nook whereas making an attempt to cross Verstappen final 12 months, although the then-Ferrari driver did give the place again to his rival.
So can something be carried out to enhance the state of affairs?
“The issue is that nook,” Villeneuve stated.
“If in case you have gravel there or a wall, you would not be four-wide. You would be two-wide perhaps and everybody else would again off as a result of they might know there’s not an escape street.
“Now they suppose, ‘oh, it does not matter, if I simply brake method too late, I may be forward, I am going to come out forward, perhaps I am going to allow them to by or not – nothing misplaced, it is well worth the danger’.
“That is why we have now these loopy first corners on that observe, that is a matter we may have yearly. Simply drivers dive-bombing on the surface realizing they’ll simply go straight.”
Brundle added: “The geography on the market [off track at T1] is simply hopeless. It wants zones, it wants a spot you have to cross via.
“Possibly even a zone the place you must proceed at pit-lane velocity restrict for 100 metres or 50 metres or one thing to essentially make it nearly as huge a deterrent as a barrier in Monaco, after which they will not go on the market. It is so simple as that.
“I can utterly perceive these drivers that had been minding their enterprise and truly staying on the race observe going ‘grasp on, I am dropping out right here, I would as effectively simply make my very own race observe up within the first two corners and acquire some locations.’”
