Max Verstappen rushed through the rivals on the Sunday race to clinch his sixth victory in 2024. The Dutchman yet again showcased his skills on a wet, tricky track. While everyone was praising Verstappen, he said the safety car leveled his scores with Lando Norris. He referred to the Miami GP, where Norris won the race after the safety car was deployed.
However, Sergio Perez’s crash has brought some scrutiny to the team. While the RBR squad received a $26000 fine, Perez has to serve a three-grid place penalty in the Spanish GP. After colliding with the barriers at Turn 6, the driver remained on track for the rest of the lap with a severely damaged vehicle, dropping multiple carbon fiber pieces on the way back to the pit. The team stated during the hearing that the driver was told to return the
vehicle to the pits to avoid a safety vehicle situation. However, the debris endangered every driver, leading Will Buxton to argue that the consequences for Red Bull should have been more severe.
Will Buxton’s Deleted Tweet Raises ‘Crashgate’ Concerns After Sergio Perez’s Crash
The “Crashgate” controversy refers to a scandal that rocked Formula 1 in 2008 involving the Renault F1 team. During the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed his car, leading to a safety car deployment. This strategic maneuver benefited Piquet’s teammate, Fernando Alonso, who ultimately won the race. The controversy came to light in 2009 when Piquet revealed that he had been instructed to crash by members of the Renault team, including team principal Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds. Piquet’s confession, made after Renault dropped him, triggered an investigation by the FIA, the governing body of motorsport.
The investigation revealed evidence of collusion between Piquet, Briatore, and Symonds to engineer the crash to manipulate the race’s outcome in Alonso’s favor. As a result, Renault faced severe repercussions from the FIA. Briatore was banned from all FIA-sanctioned events for life, while Symonds received a five-year ban, later reduced to two years on appeal. Renault was also handed a suspended ban from Formula 1, meaning they could continue racing but would face expulsion if found guilty of a similar offense within two years. The scandal tarnished Renault’s reputation and raised questions about the integrity of the sport. It also led to calls for greater transparency and accountability within Formula 1 teams.
In a now-deleted tweet, Will Buxton pointed out similarities between Red Bull’s actions and the infamous “Crashgate” scandal. He highlighted how Red Bull instructed Perez to break the rules, endangering other drivers to avoid a safety car that could jeopardize their chances of winning. Buxton drew parallels, noting that while one scenario resulted in a grid drop and a fine, the other echoed the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix scandal. Even though the tweet was deleted, it couldn’t go past fans’ attention. Consequently, several fans supported Buxton, claiming his words to be true.
Zak Brown Criticizes Red Bull, Alleging a Toxic Environment
Zak Brown commented on the current atmosphere within Red Bull, describing it as toxic and hinting at further developments. He emphasized the significance of Adrian Newey’s departure, noting that many individuals at Red Bull had collaborated closely with him.
Brown mentioned the circulation of resumes, indicating potential discontent within the team. He highlighted a heightened level of discomfort and suggested that sponsors might scrutinize their associations more carefully in light of the situation, potentially posing challenges for Red Bull in the future. Brown’s remarks indicate a complex and potentially challenging situation unfolding within the team.