A big change in the background of Valtteri Bottas’ disaster – the expert also properly slams Max Verstappen, who threatened the counter-ball properly

In the Baku F1 race, Red Bull celebrated as in the beginning of the season. Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen grabbed a double win.

Valtteri Bottas came last to the box ticket. The final result was 18th.

Urheilu’s F1 expert Jukka Mildh take a look at the hottest topics from Baku race week.

What solved it?

The decisive moments of the Baku F1 race victory were seen after ten laps, when AlphaTaurin Nyck De Vries rattled the embankment. The Dutch driver stopped in such a bad place on the tight street track that safety cars were brought to the track.

Max Verstappen was leading the race, but fell to third due to the incident. The Dutchman had just had time to visit the pits. The other top drivers don’t. Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc got a free pit stop compared to Verstappen due to the safety car.

Verstappen dropped to third. He overtook Ferrari driver Leclerc, but could no longer catch Perez.

– Perez drove a great race, but Red Bull took Verstappen to the pit at quite a risk. It was a little too early, Mildh judged.

What speaks?

An unprecedented competition program caused a stir in Baku. For the first time in F1 history, two qualifying sessions were held during the weekend, when the sprint race had its own qualifying session. During the competition weekend, there was only one practice instead of the usual three.

Verstappen, Leclerc and Perez barked the sprint races and also the new format on Saturday.

The Dutchman already caused a stir when he talked about the sprint races. He hinted in the Portuguese media at the beginning of April (you go to another service) termination if there are too many changes to the F1 competition formats.

Verstappen clarified during the Baku race week that he does not like the increase in the number of races that will come with the sprints. Verstappen stated that he will look at career progression again as his current contract, which runs until 2028, comes to an end.

– If I feel that we are going beyond the limits, it may be time for a change. This might sound strange to outsiders because they think I’m in formula one and I’m winning. I probably would have said the same thing in their position, Verstappen stated, among other things, according to Motorsport (you will switch to another service).

– But when you’re in the sport, life isn’t always what it seems or what people think it is. I mean life is wonderful and awesome. I can do many things. I’m really independent. But there is always a limit to certain things.

Mildh hits the counter ball to Verstappen.

– Whoever starts playing, let the game last. Verstappen has to put up with these things, says Mildh.

According to the expert, Verstappen can of course challenge the bosses of the series, if he doesn’t find some things meaningful.

– But it’s a pretty high threshold to quit Formula One if you don’t like the racing format. In these matters, you also have to give in a little, says Mildh.

Having been involved in the sport for a long time, Mildh doesn’t just directly praise the sprint races.

– This sprint format is still a big question mark. They think about viewers, TV and the future of the sport. At the same time, however, the essence of the sport is missing, Mildh questions.

What about Bottas?

Valtteri Bottas’ race on Sunday was gloomy. The Finn did start well from the line, but in the second corner the McLaren Oscar Piastri and Haas Kevin Magnussen hit the Finn. Bottas had already moved up a notch from the 13th starting grid, but fell to 18th place in an instant.

Even during the race, the speed of Bottas’ Alfa Romeo did not improve anymore. Bottas revealed after the race on Viaplay that the rear of the car was damaged in the initial crash.

According to the expert, the situation of the opening round could not be blamed on anyone, but it was a real race situation on the tight street circuit of Baku.

In terms of rankings, Bottas’ early season has been catastrophic. At the season opener in Bahrain, he took an excellent eighth place, but since then it has gone down drastically.

As in Baku in Saudi Arabia, Bottas finished last in 18th place. In Australia, Bottas was 11th, but even then only one competitor remained behind in a race marred by suspensions.

– It seems that Valtteri didn’t quite succeed in anything once again. Nothing really becomes anything now. Alfa Romeo is currently quite behind in development, says Mildh.

Another Alfa Romeo driver Guanyu Zhou had to stop due to technical problems.

Alfa Romeo F1 team boss Alessandro Alumni Bravi uploaded direct words about his team’s situation after the competition in Baku. According to Brav, Alfa Romeo’s package is currently not competitive enough to get points.

Does Alfa Romeo have a realistic chance of scoring?

– Now we have to hope that the development goes in the right direction. Zhou’s development is good for the team and also for Valtteri. It tightens all the time. Drivers should not be caught by this, says Mildh.

Mildh reflects on having worked as CEO and team manager at Alfa Romeo by Frederic Vasseur the departure for Ferrari is reflected in the team’s performance.

– Vasseur’s departure has been a big deal, which is certainly reflected in the team’s development, Mildh thinks.

Surprise

As the biggest surprise of the competition weekend, the expert raises Fernando Alonso of the operation. Mildh was particularly upset about the events of Saturday’s sprint qualifying. Alonso gave to his teammate For Lance Stroll suction help and helped the Canadian into the top ten and the final part of qualifying.

The 41-year-old Alonso is a two-time world champion who had already left Formula One once. Alonso’s career before Aston Martin was marked by numerous bad team choices. Alonso also showed himself in public as quite a douchebag.

– It is unprecedented that Alonso publicly helps his teammate and thinks about two cars at the same time. It is more and more surprising in every race how Alonso drives Aston Martin forward. He knows that good results for himself and the entire team can only be achieved through cooperation. In that sense, Aston Martin once again surprised, Mildh was amazed.

A flop

As the flop of the Baku race weekend, Mildh raises the events at the end of Sunday’s race. Esteban Ocon came to the pits a lap before the end to make his mandatory pit stop, but the photographers had time to group up on the pit straight for podium shots.

Ocon had to make an evasive maneuver and sudden braking.

– I reached 300 km/h and braked at the last moment before the line. I had to brake and dodge people. It could have been a huge, huge accident. We will definitely talk about this, Ocon was surprised in an interview with Viaplay.

Mildh reminds that according to the rules, race organizers and photographers can already start gathering for the podium party in advance.

The expert believes that thoughtlessness was behind the dangerous situation in Baku. Ocon had to go to the pits again, because there is one mandatory pit stop in the rules. According to Mildh, dangerous situations like Sunday should not be seen in the F1 series at all.

– It was a very dangerous situation. The competition organizers acted according to the rules, but it was a big risk, Mildh stated.

What next?

The F1 season continues this coming weekend at the Miami street circuit.

The superiority of Red Bull has made the games partly even numbing this season.

However, Mildh does not see that Red Bull’s superiority would take away interest from the F1 series at the moment. According to him, now it is very interesting because Sergio Perez is able to challenge Max Verstappen in the championship fight.

The difference between the Red Bull duo is only six points.

– Perez is at the top of his game at the moment. He has you with his car. Perez can drive with controlled risk. I believe that he will also get good support in the team. It is important for Red Bull that they win the team championship for sure and overwhelmingly, Mildh lists.

In addition, Mildh believes that Perez will be pushed forward by the contract situation. The Mexican’s current contract only covers this season and next season.

– Perez is negotiating a new contract. It also gives a little boost.