TBK-Light.com

Patrick Head came out with the data telemetry at some point early in that season that proved they weren't braking any earlier than any other car. If i find the time later on I'll try and wade through old articles to find the one where he said that.

Williams has discounted suggestions that it is to blame for the high number of rear-end collisions involving its cars.

Juan Pablo Montoya was taken out from the lead of the Brazilian Grand Prix by Jos Verstappen's Arrows, which he had just lapped, while team mate Ralf Schumacher was rammed from behind by Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello at the same spot early in the race. Schumacher's car was also rear-ended by Jacques Villeneuve's BAR in the Australian Grand Prix, an accident which resulted in the death of a spectator marshal.

According to Williams's chief operations engineer, Sam Michael, there is nothing special about its braking system or the slipstream that the car gives.

"We've looked at all the data, checked the braking distances, the tyre differences, our top speeds relative to the others to try and find a reason," he said. "But there's no consistent pattern. We've just got to put it down to coincidence and bad luck.

"We've been hit by three different drivers and I can't put anything down to consistent reasons. I know there's been talk that maybe our slipstream is pulling people in, because of our top speed, but it's not to the level where it would make a difference.

"We've looked at the brakes, too, and it can't be that because Juan Pablo got past Michael [Schumacher] from quite a distance back in Brazil, and Ralf overtook 10 cars in 30 laps. We don't think it's a problem," added Michael.

Michael Schumacher, who followed Montoya for 25 laps around Interlagos, said the Williams didn't have a noticeable advantage under braking.

"Maybe I wasn't close enough to get a tow, but I didn't notice anything special," said the reigning world champion. "For me it's more a question of the men involved rather than some system."

Arrows, meanwhile, has withdrawn its appeal over the US$15,000 penalty handed to Verstappen for the Interlagos incident with Montoya.

Apparently Gasly also threw a hissyfit when asked to let his teammate by, and flat refused to: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/gasl ... s/3212813/

Next year at Red Bull is going to be some great reality TV.

Any journalist who goes to Jacques Villeneuve for his opinion on F1 should not be allowed back into the paddock.

He just says divisive/controversial/anti-establishment garbage just to keep his name relevant.

Think I'm in the minority here that Verstappens post race actions were not acceptable. I think there's a difference between getting aggressive straight after an incident, compared to what Verstappen did when he'd had well over 30min to calm down and still made it physical. Can only assume the stewards didn't see his post race interview where he showed no remorse and thought shoving Ocon was fine, off that I think he deserved a much harsher punishment

As correctly pointed out by Lewis, Max had everything to lose there even though he was fully aware that Ocon was coming steaming down the outside with his huge speed advantage.
Ocon was well ahead going into the braking zone of T1 yet Max feels the need to stick his nose in and try to fend off Ocon. Why? All he had to do was back off a bit, let Ocon through and lose minimal time to Lewis and come out unscathed. Yet he brakes later and then turns into T2 basically expecting Ocon to magically disappear even though Ocon already had the majority of his car outside the white line. IMO all of these little incidents point back to the fact that Max believes too much of his own hype and already seems to consider himself as F1's next GOAT.

but didnt multiple teams/drivers complain about the sudden slowdown of the Williams during the season?

Courtesy of the denziens of Atlas;



Ocon should not have been attempting to race anyone at the time of the collision.

Courtesy of the denziens of Atlas;

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DryKlVOXcAA9MsQ.jpg

Ocon should not have been attempting to race anyone at the time of the collision.

Golden rule in racing: once you're in the gravel trap or into the wall, no amount of bitching or debating can bring you back your track position. Not even the race officials. They can penalize the driver who wronged you, but not all the other ones who passed you in the process. And you pay your own repair bills (heck, medical bills if the worst happens). Ironically, Ocon is one to know that, he threw away a possible podium in Baku the second he turned in on Kimi assuming he "had" that corner.