AlphaTauri rejects accusations about helping Max Verstappen, Toto Wolff also gets involved | formula 1

AlphaTauri’s Formula 1 team has distanced itself from accusations that it cheated during the Dutch GP in Zandvoort in a statement on Twitter.

Reports appeared on social media that AlphaTauri deliberately provided a virtual safety car phase during the race, in order to help Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in his battle with the Mercedes for the win.

AlphaTauri is Red Bull’s sister team. Both racing stables have the same owner, but operate independently. However, according to skeptics, Red Bull in Zandvoort received help from AlphaTauri.

“It is very disappointing to hear the language and comments about our team and Hannah Schmitz, Red Bull Racing’s head of strategy. Such hatred cannot be tolerated,” writes AlphaTauri. “It is unacceptable, incorrect and disrespectful to accuse both Hannah and the team of foul play. We have always operated completely independently, in a fair way, with respect and sportsmanship.”


AlphaTauri was tackled online due to a high profile incident involving Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda well over halfway through the race. Tsunoda thought after a pit stop that his tires were not properly secured and so stopped on track. The Japanese driver was already getting out of the car when AlphaTauri told him to drive back to the pits over the radio.

There, his car’s tires were changed again and mechanics reattached Tsunoda’s belts. The driver returned to the track, but said he immediately felt that something was really wrong with his car. Tsunoda parked his car along the track, which led to a yellow flag. The drivers therefore had to temporarily reduce speed.


Quote

It probably changed the outcome of the race, because maybe we could have won.

Toto Wolff

“If we were fighting for the championship, that would be something I would look at closely,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said. SkySports on whether the FIA ​​should open an investigation. “Now I think the safety of the drivers and everyone outside should be investigated.”

,,The driver stopped, took off his seatbelt, drove a full circle, went in, the problem was not solved, they put his seatbelt back on, he drives out and then stops the car. It probably changed the outcome of the race, because maybe we could have won.”

According to Wolff, Verstappen would have emerged from the pit lane eight seconds behind Lewis Hamilton without the virtual safety car. ,,I think we had a chance to win. The race planner said it would be about the win. It was close, but it was going to be about the win.”

Verstappen won the race in front of his own public for the second year in a row.

View the summary of the race at Zandvoort below:






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