Jacques Villeneuve expressed his concern regarding Max Verstappen’s on-track tactics during the United States Grand Prix, labeling it a “dirty manoeuvre.” Verstappen, who had already secured his third consecutive world title, started the sprint race in pole position, with Charles Leclerc closely behind. In a bid to maintain his lead, Verstappen moved to cover the inside line, nearly forcing Leclerc off the track.
Villeneuve, clearly dissatisfied with Verstappen’s aggressive approach, called for a thorough investigation. He stated, “Leclerc was pushed off the track, it’s too much. It wasn’t necessary. I don’t understand why the first lap should be evaluated differently; a dirty manoeuvre or pushing a car to the limits of the track are things that should be investigated.”
In contrast to Villeneuve’s viewpoint, Charles Leclerc appeared unfazed by Verstappen’s aggressive tactics. He admitted, “To be honest, I would have done exactly the same if I was in his position. It’s on the limit, but as I’ve always said in the past, that’s the way I like to fight. So this today didn’t play in my way, but that’s fine. It’s part of racing, and I’m happy with it.”
As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix, they wonder if Max Verstappen will employ similar tactics, especially since there is no sprint race planned for the day before. However, the buzz leading up to this race isn’t solely about Verstappen’s driving style.
The major talking point revolves around Lewis Hamilton, who finished second at the United States Grand Prix but was later forced to relinquish his runner-up trophy. His car underwent an unexpected examination by the FIA, which concluded that the Mercedes motor was illegal due to excessive wear on the underfloor skid block.
The FIA argued that the time constraints prevented them from examining all 20 cars thoroughly, noting that “it is impossible to cover every parameter of every car in the short time available.” Nevertheless, Hamilton is advocating for a more comprehensive inspection process in the name of fairness. Charles Leclerc faced a similar disqualification for the same offense.
Hamilton expressed his frustration, saying, “What’s crazy is they only test four cars, 50 cent fail. And I’ve had information from many others that were also illegal but they got away with it. That’s messed up.”
He added, “There have been many other scenarios like this where some people have got away with certain things and some people have got unlucky and got tested. There needs to be some form of better structure to make sure it is fair and even across the board.”
In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, controversy and aggressive driving often go hand in hand, and the United States Grand Prix was a prime example of the sport’s intense and unpredictable nature. With the Mexican Grand Prix on the horizon, fans can only wait and see what new twists and turns the racing season has in store.