The Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen is often known for his aggressive nature during racing and some brilliant decisions he makes during the race to always be in the lead. But even during his younger days, he was very clever in racing and playing with people's minds.
2015 Monaco GP is a great example which shows his brilliant decision to tow Sebastian Vettel and overtake others. In 2015, Max Verstappen was driving for the Torro Rosso-Renault team, which was the junior Red Bull team. During that time Red Bull was not much dominant in the sport as they were behind Mercedes and Ferrari in terms of pace and podiums.
The current world champion started 10th on the grid after qualifying with Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel on the podiums. After the race started Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel were leading the race. In Lap 30 Max Verstappen had some issues in his rear so he stopped at the pits which cost him 31 seconds to repair the issue and again rejoin the race. So Max Verstappen dropped down the order and was very far behind.
Max was brilliant even during his younger days.
Here’s when Max in 2015 Monaco gp, stuck to Seb’s car while Seb was lapping the slower cars, and Max took advantage of the blue flags to make overtakes.
— zax (@maybezax) November 8, 2024
He’s playing 4D chess at high speed 😭! pic.twitter.com/Cbaz42qpST
But the young Dutchman had other clever ideas to regain his lost position. The podium runner Sebastian Vettel was very fast as he lapped all the other cars in the race. In Formula 1 if a race leader or podium runner is one lap ahead then blue flags will be shown and the lapped cars should leave space for them to overtake.
The Monaco Grand prix circuit was the slowest of all the circuits in the Formula 1 calendar. So overtaking is very difficult in this circuit. Even a small miscalculation will end up in the wall. Max Verstappen knowing this somehow found a way to tow behind Sebastian Vettel who was lapping other cars.
The Lapped drivers without knowing Max Verstappen towing behind Sebastian Vettel left space for the Ferrari driver and at the same time allowed Max Verstappen to lead them and gain positions. The clever move by Max Verstappen was highly appreciated then.
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All went in Vain
🇲🇨MÓNACO 2015🇲🇨
— Max Argento 🇦🇷 (@MaxArgento33) December 2, 2023
Un accidente fuertísimo de Max Verstappen, el impacto fue de 30G y con tan solo 17 años. pic.twitter.com/ql67oJJhcc
Max Verstappen's clever run in the 2015 Monaco Grand Prix came to an end when he was chasing Romain Grosjean for the tenth position in Lap 64. In turn, 1 Verstappen crashed into the Lotus car's rear and was flying 30G into the barriers.
He was handed a 5-second Penalty for the next race in the Canadian Grand prix. He also got a two-second penalty added to his FIA Super Licence. Verstappen accused Grosjean of Brake testing him and said he did nothing wrong with the move.
The virtual Safety car was brought and it changed the course of the race. Lewis Hamilton pitted and ended up behind Nico Rosberg, and Sebastian Vettel and finished third. But Max Verstappen's brilliant move was still one of the best clever tactics we saw from the three-time champion.
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