“The Scariest Thing Ever”: Nico Rosberg Sympathizes With Max Verstappen After Baku F1 Crash
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SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 10: Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP speaks with Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff during practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 10, 2015 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
This year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix managed to witness two high-speed tire blow-out crashes during the race, with Max Verstappen being one of them.
Although the Dutchman escaped unscathed, former world champion, Nico Rosberg, reckoned such crashes can be extremely scary.
The German used his 2015 Belgium Grand Prix incident as an instance. He opined that his crash during the FP2 at Spa was the scariest thing ever.
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You just have no warning: Rosberg
During the French Grand Prix preview, Rosberg opened up about why tire blowouts can be quite dangerous to racing drivers.
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“My tires blew two times over 300 km/hr. It is so scary,” he said. “Once at Spa, just before Blanchimont, this is the scariest thing ever because you just have no warning and just suddenly goes and you suddenly go spinning whilst you’re at full throttle.”
The commentators’ reaction to the Rosberg incident said it all. Anthony Davidson acknowledged, “that was a lucky escape.”
While approaching Blanchimont, one could see the minor wiggle around the rear of the car before the rear-left blowing up into pieces. Lucky for the German, he managed to stay away from the barriers, as the Mercedes came to a standstill around Turn 17.
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The Max Verstappen crash was in a very dangerous place: Nico Rosberg
The former Mercedes driver reckoned that Verstappen’s Baku crash could have gotten a lot worse had he spun towards the pit lane entry rather than the other side.
“It’s scary as hell, and that’s what happened to Verstappen as well in Baku in a very very dangerous place, probably one of the most dangerous places in the whole calendar because you’re doing like 330-340 km/hr,” Rosberg said. “You have this pit entry wall, which is just like kind of frontal to you.
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via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan – June 6, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen kicks the wheel of his car after crashing out of the race REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
“So, if Verstappen had spun there rather than to the right, it would be highly dangerous. But, that’s what we have to do as racing drivers. We have to forget, jump back in and just get on with it again and we do that pretty well.”
Overall, it is quite concerning to see such crashes taking place, especially on a circuit where the drivers are pushing their cars to the limit.
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And with the French GP coming up as the follow-up weekend, there is no denying the threat persists, considering the circuit carries similar characteristics to Baku. Hence, will more drivers fall victim to tire blowouts over this weekend?
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