The Stewards do not consider this to be a typical case of “changing direction under braking” although it is our determination that the driver of Car 44 could have done more to avoid the collision.
I’m honestly a bit surprised. Saying Lewis could have done more to avoid is irrelevant to if Max caused anything. Max was never going to make that corner at that speed. So long as Lewis wasn’t weaving under braking, it is my understanding he can pretty much take the corner how he wants to. I’m not an encyclopedia for past incidents, but I think drivers have been penalized for behavior similar to what Max did in the past.
On overall balance I think it’s not too wild to filter this as a racing incident and leave it there, but I agree that even suggesting Lewis should have done more is strange. It’s definitely on Max here.
I feel like its rare they don’t blame one driver for late race incidents. With no evidence or examples, I feel like I’ve seen more questionable incidents lead to penalties. I know they say they don’t take outcome into consideration, but both cars drove away mostly undamaged and Max lost a few places.
If Max had taken them both out, which was entirely possible, then we’d be looking at this very differently. He’s definitely very unsettled now which is showing in his driving and radio
