New F1 cost-cap controversy & Russell's 'dirty' pre-race tactics — Italian GP diary

Perhaps his overall view is best displayed by Verstappen’s previously-stated stance that he’d rather have easy wins than a challenge at the front, as opposed to the way Lewis Hamilton regularly said he was looking forward to having a fight on his hands when dominating.

But when Hamilton and Mercedes were the benchmark, the longest run the seven-time world champion managed was five victories in a row (twice), while Nico Rosberg picked up seven across the end of 2015 and start of 2016.

Of those three runs, only once was it ended by the other driver, with Rosberg winning in Brazil to end Hamilton’s streak in 2014. In 2016, the pair collided in Spain and both retired – opening the door for Verstappen’s maiden win on his Red Bull debut – while in 2020 it was Covid that meant Hamilton didn’t race in Sakhir.

That didn’t stop Toto Wolff’s dismissal of Verstappen’s achievement, telling Sky Sports: “Our situation was maybe a little bit different because we had two drivers fighting against each other within the team … don’t know whether he cares about the record, it’s not something that would be important for me, any of those numbers. It’s for Wikipedia and nobody reads that anyway.”

It’s not exactly in keeping with Mercedes’ general grace in the face of Red Bull’s domination, with Wolff often speaking of the meritocracy that F1 is and how the performance level should be applauded rather than criticised, but perhaps he’s tiring of Verstappen’s run.

Budget cap whispers

Still, if there’s one area Red Bull sounds like it might avoid criticism this year compared to last, it’s surrounding the budget cap, where paddock talk this weekend was that any material breaches were not expected. But while I won’t hang my hat on that being a certainty right now, it became clear that there’s a different issue surrounding the topic.

That conversation quickly pivoted to whether some teams have faith in the system and the way the budget cap is being policed by the FIA, who had insisted it would be quicker with its findings this year but is once again heading to the Singapore Grand Prix without finalising anything.

Getting it right is far more important than doing it quickly, but with the number of upgrades brought by some teams compared to others – not to mention the significant investment in facilities and new factories – there appears to be scepticism about whether the findings will be immediately accepted by all parties. And also questions about how to go about challenging them if not.

It would be good for F1 if there is no controversy after last year’s situation, but in typical F1 fashion it feels like no controversy might only lead to controversy.

Credit where it’s due to Ferrari

There’s an extremely fine line between success and failure, and Ferrari was treading it on tip toes in the closing stages of Sunday’s race. But it’s an approach that really needs applauding as it was a brave decision.

A podium was guaranteed for one of its two drivers after Sergio Perez overtook Carlos Sainz, with no threat from George Russell behind. The only thing that could cost it one would be a crash or reliability issue. So imposing team orders benefitting pole-sitter Sainz would have been understandable, but Ferrari opted against it.

“If I froze the positions, you would have exactly the same question – why did you freeze the situation?” Fred Vasseur said afterwards. “For sure, it’s much easier to comment when you have a happy end, but it was also the best way to thank everybody for the support of the tifosi.

“I was not very comfortable to break something five laps before the end, but I told them no risk at all. Of course, that is always relative but I am quite proud of the decision and the job done by the drivers today.”

And he should be proud, because it was a thrilling fight that felt like it could end in tears and verged on recklessness, but provided excitement right up to the chequered flag. And the reaction from the fans suggested it was the right call, delivering Ferrari-related drama in the battle for a podium place despite the win having long since got away.

If that’s Vasseur’s way of running the team, it is going to backfire at times but it’s far more preferable as a spectator – especially in the midst of dominance from Red Bull – to see that approach rather than a cautious one. Often Ferrari deserves criticism for errors in races, but it deserves praise this weekend for both its risky call and the eventual positive outcome too.

Drivers always race

The Ayrton Senna quote “If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you’re no longer a racing driver” is oft-repeated, but usually in direct racing settings where contact has ensued…

On Saturday morning in Monza, there was a little example of how the mindset still exists at all times between racing drivers.

As luck would have it, I arrived at the entrance to the Parco di Monza at the same time George Russell was pulling up, so followed the Mercedes driver in. As you’d expect, F1 drivers don’t hang around, but he slowed to wave to fans before heading under the tunnel that passes under the track at the pit entry.

On the other side, a bottleneck often develops where fans gather to see drivers arrive and traffic meets to enter the paddock car parks, so approaching the hill out of the tunnel there was a hold-up, but there was also another Mercedes road car dawdling. And it had a Monaco numberplate…

Sensing his chance, Russell floored it and smoothly jinked around the car ahead, slotting in front of it. There was nearly a response as the driver behind pulled alongside briefly, before dropping back in line. Russell then abandoned his car at the paddock entrance for his trainer to park, and turned and celebrated to the car he’d jumped.

The unwitting victim of the move? Alex Albon.

It explained Russell’s pride at his opportunism, although to be fair to the Williams driver he went and parked his own car before walking in with his trainer, so he couldn’t defend too hard. But clearly, you’ve always got to go for a gap that exists.

I asked Albon for his version of events on Saturday evening, and got the reply: “It’s dirty tactics and completely illegal. I was kind of hoping the police would have seen it and call him out on it, but as soon as they saw it was George they didn’t care.

“I tried to get him back, to be fair he put up a good defence. But to expose George, he drops his car off at the entrance and then makes his trainer park the car for him. I think that just shows you the entitlement, and it’s just all gone to his head a little bit this Mercedes stuff! I’m true to my man, I park my car and I walk in like a normal person.”