charles hasn't changed how he races others one bit. this man in his first year in ferrari was out there terrorizing his more experienced teammate AND a then 5 time world champion for the love of the game and lewis' fans are surprised he's doing the same even now when they're teammates?
death threats, wishing harm on leo, alex his family and all those tweets about his dad...it's racing, it was a lap 1 t1 incident ferrari didn't tell him to give the position back he didn't that's all there is to it.
I have waited, and rewatched the start several times, and discussed with various people the Lap 1, Turns 1-4 situation.
It feels bizarre that many of the takes that are emerging make less sense, the more time people are having to compose them. Before I attempt to do a collected opinion about the whole thing, I think it would be wise for me to put on record what, exactly, I saw.
This, as far as I can tell, is the sequence of what happened. The first number is the time from when the lights went out. The second number in each section is the time on Channel 4's Mexican Grand Prix highlights. When I describe "left" and "right", I am referring to where they were on the shots shown by the world feed. If you want pictures to go with this analysis, try reading "He Went Off The Track!" (images there not image described) in conjunction with the description in Parts 1 and 2 below. (Part 3 will have the regulations governing what is being described. Part 4 will have my opinions):
Part 1: Turn 1, up to Verstappen leaving the track
[0:00] <9:48>
5 lights go out
Grid: Norris-Leclerc-Hamilton-Russell-Verstappen-Antonelli-Piastri.
[0:04] <9:52>
Norris nearly out of picture on left, Leclerc slightly ahead of Hamilton, Russell nearly caught up the others.
[0:14] <10:02>
Norris on left, just started braking for Turn 1 (a 90-degree right turn - the photo faces the drivers), Russell a car length behind.
Hamilton 2nd column, half a car length behind Norris. Bearman is half a car length behind Hamilton.
Leclerc 3rd column, slightly ahead of Hamilton, Antonelli tucked in behind left rear wheel.
Verstappen right-hand side, just touching the kerb, at Leclerc's front wheel axle and slightly behind Hamilton, Antonelli tucked in behind right rear wheel Leclerc and Verstappen are inclined towards each other. Hamilton is on the same line as Leclerc, Norris is going straight ahead.
[0:15] <10:03>
By this point, the inside 1/3 of the track is empty.
Norris on left, about to start turning, having pushed the other cars to his left into each other. Russell 1 1/2 car lengths behind.
Hamilton in 2nd column, Front wing nearly touching Leclerc's front wheel. Pointing straight ahead, starting to brake, with no option to do otherwise.
Leclerc 3rd column, slightly ahead of Hamilton. Pointing slightly left, starting to brake, with no option to do otherwise, causing tyre interlock. Antonelli a car length behind.
Verstappen 4th column, slightly ahead of Leclerc. Only inside tyres remain on the track. Braking is the only way to gain more track.
[0:16] <10:04>
Norris on left at the Turn 1 apex, nearly a car length ahead of Hamilton (becoming more than a car length during this second), turning under mild braking.
Hamilton tucked behind right rear wheel. Russell 2 car lengths behind. Hamilton 2nd column, tucked behind Norris right rear wheel. Turned towards Norris to try to escape interlock with Leclerc (Hamilton is behind in this interlock). Brakes heavier than Leclerc during the course of this second, but turns tighter. No options to do otherwise, except follow Leclerc's lead.
Leclerc 3rd column, interlocked with Hamilton (Leclerc is ahead in this interlock). Turning straight ahead. Brakes less than Hamilton but turns less. The only other option involves committing to leaving the track. Antonelli is a car length behind.
Verstappen, 4th column, committed to leaving the track.
[0:17] <10:05>
Norris on the left at the Turn 1 exit, 1 1/2 car lengths ahead of Hamilton. Taking the natural line. Russell is 1 1/2 car lengths behind Hamilton.
Leclerc 2nd column, 1/2 car length behind Hamilton but with more speed than Hamilton. Antonelli is 1/2 a car length behind.
(There are only 2 lines through Turn 1).
Verstappen is two car lengths beyond the track boundary, aiming to rejoin at Turn 3.
[0:18] <10:06>
Norris is on the left of the screen, having taken the inside line for Turn 2 (a left hairpin leading off the right of the picture). He has his left front wheel on the white line.
Leclerc is 2 1/2 car lengths behind Norris. He has locked into going off at the Turn 1 exit (at this moment, his right-rear tyre is still on track, but the car's angle has made rejoining impossible). Antonelli is 2 car lengths behind, committed to leaving the track earlier in the exit of Turn 1. For that matter, Piastri is 2 car lengths behind and also committed to the same track-exiting line as Leclerc.
Hamilton is in the 2nd column, 1 1/2 car lengths behind Norris, but in a separate column. Russell is 1 1/2 car lengths behind him, with the midfield close behind.
Verstappen has crossed the entire concrete area and is now zooming across the grass.
