Italian press in anger after Austrian GP defeat
The Italian press has reacted with anger after the thrilling Austrian GP.
While Mattia Binotto congratulated Max Verstappen on his win and accepted the stewards' decision, he made clear Ferrari did not agree that the Red Bull driver should have escaped penalty for his overtaking move on Charles Leclerc.
It followed the Canadian GP, where Sebastian Vettel lost his victory after a controversial time penalty imposed after his battle with Lewis Hamilton.
"Attack against Ferrari," La Gazzetta dello Sport said after the race at the Red Bull Ring.
"After Canada, Maranello is again disadvantaged by the stewards, and Formula 1 loses credibility.
"At the same time, concerns about Ferrari's political weight after the death of Sergio Marchionne appear," the influential sports daily noted.
Corriere della Sera agreed: "It is not easy to accept this decision by the stewards.
"Obviously, there are only rights for the drivers who attack, and no mercy for those who defend. Vettel in Canada; Leclerc in Austria."
La Stampa added: "Ferrari loses again, first on the track and again in the stewards' room."
Jos Verstappen, Max's father, said he can understand Charles Leclerc's disappointment after 21-year-old Dutchman Verstappen was not penalised for their clash.
"But I think if Formula 1 had done something, everybody would walk away and not come back," Jos told the Verstappens' official website.
Corriere della Sera correspondent Giorgio Terruzzi said he suspects the FIA was influenced by the circumstances of Verstappen's highly popular win.
"Perhaps there were too many Dutch fans around the paddock, or perhaps it was because it happened at a track owned by Red Bull. Or perhaps there is something mysterious going on between the FIA and Ferrari," he said.
La Gazzetta's Umberto Zapelloni agreed: "Max's win was correct. But the rules can't always and only punish Ferrari!"
Another Italian journalist, Andrea Cremonisi, said: "After the (Canada GP) review was rejected, as was the push to return to the 2018 tyres, it was the third blow for Ferrari in ten days."
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I think Verstappen should have been penalised after the way he pushes Lelec of the circuit. What's good for one is good for another.
Absolutely! Vettel was penalized in Canada but Max is NOT. Such inconsistency and favourtism towards Max.
He was ahead Charles could and should have backed out
IT doesn't matter NO MORE: Politics & Politicians [ LIES, CHEAT & STILING ] rules as they come
This is an interesting turn of events for the Italians.
They were berating the Ferrari team, and Vettel in particular, all this time. Suddenly they saw the light!? Why such an about face?
If it was not that corner it would have been the next.
Charles and team would have accepted the pass if it had been a clean pass. Max had the grip and speed to do it cleanly, why do the dirty pass. It taints the race victory and the sport.
The racing stewards are clearly favouring their golden child Max. If that was not a penalty I don't know what is. Total inconsistency with handing out penalties, this young man has been given so few penalties for his actions that now he thinks he can do dirty passes and I guess he can. Any other driver would have been penalized. He might have been able to pass Charles cleanly with the speed and grip so why do the dirty pass. So frustrated with F1 stewards this season.
Bullshit, Verstappen has been penalized quite often in the past by the stewards so what's your point?
I am on the record as Verstappen supporter and defender against calls that he be punished more. He is aggressive, sometimes bordering on reckless, and yes he does get penalties. However, it is interesting that he has pushed Vettel of the track and was not penalised. And now he's pretty much replicated it with Leclerc.
Technically he may have not deserved penalty for these but the outrage he has caused certainly does not serve him well.
Max did the same thing that Charles did to him the lap before, the only difference was that Max backed out of the corner, whereas Charles did not.
Comparing this to Canada is just childish and shows that you did not read the Stewards brief as to why Vettel got his penalty. Vettel went off track, and therefore lost his right to take the racing line, but did so anyway, which rightly earned him a penalty. Max and Charles were racing wheel-to-wheel, which is exactly what we need in F1, so I applaud the FIA Stewards for making the right decision for F1.
Diversion ahead. All this talk of penalties has been a god send for Ferrari as it diverts attention from the dreadful strategy.
One thing for sure is that Leclerc will be more aggressive next time they meet, I think he has the capacity to be quite tricky, and that loss has turned on a light in his head brighter than in Bahrain and Monaco. I expect more wheel to wheel and certainly some stubborn collisions which will grant Mercedes and Vettel some excellent opportunities. I'm going to like the new Leclerc...a lot!
I was thinking the same, but you said it well. No need to repeat!
Warum sollten die Stewards zwei falsche Entscheidungen treffen? Dabei denke ich daß die Fälle (Kanada, Österreich) nicht gleich sind. Leclerc hat nicht gebremst um hinter Max an zu schließen. Hättte da eine Wand gestanden hätte er wie Raikonen, Bottas und Norris gefahren. Er is mitgefahren und hat sich fast gleich im Radio beklagt. In Fußbal nennt man es eine Schwalbe.
L'histoire se répète ....Leclerc a toujours fini DERRIERE Max en Kart.
Max est au dessus du Lot , point barre !
Sebastian and Kimi Raikkonen makes a great team and both have been on the podiums so many times in 2018 until Ferrari decision to kick out Raikkonen and replace him with Charles Leclerc. Ferrari is very ungrateful to Kimi and this year they are blessed with KARMA. I hope Ferrari will loose badly this year for kicking out Kimi.