Leclerc could have steered right to overtake or challenge, since he was always behind Verstappen ... and never even a bit alongside.
Trying to overtake on the outside at turn #1 at COTA ? Come on ... The way to do it is on the inside.
I thought Max's pass on Leclerc ( think it was) during the race was worse. Huge dive bomb and drove straight off the track, forcing Leclerc to run way wide. He isn't the only one that did it, but I can't stand that driving tactic. They enforce track limits religiously at the moment, rightfully so, but how can they say it's okay to run your opponent off the track?
You're missing the point. Leclerc was BEHIND the whole time. Never alongside. If you want to overtake, you can't drive through a car entirely in FRONT of you! You have to drive around him. If the inside door is completely closed by a car entirely in FRONT of you, you have no choice but to try the outside door Point being, in no way was Leclerc "pushed" by Verstappen. Leclerc was always fully behind, and just kept looking for an opening where there was none.
Leclerc does have a voice and could of opted out of the 1 stop strategy. Dumb idea thinking he could scamper off up the track on one set. He must have the final say surely? the fact is SF have been pretty damn useless on the Pirelli tyres for a good few years, untill they get to grips with the tyre compounds, then they are stuffed. At least Mekkies is gone and it seems like some progress is being made. Lets rename COTA - Circuit of Tyre Attrition
Formula Red Bull. Their car was illegal at SPA and FIA didn't care about it. Rules are not for every team it.
The rule should be if you get your car along side (ie tire overlap) before turn in for the corner, you get a cars width of room, and that goes for both drivers. No dive bombing and then swinging wide and forcing the other driver off the track. Violate that, either driver, you get a stop and go. Enforce that and you will stop getting this crap. That will also eliminate the forced bad pass and then build up a 5 second gap to mitigate the penalty.
