Two Formula 1 drivers leave Mexico arguing with their respective teams.
The most significant incident occurred at Alfa Romeo, which is speculated to be preparing to replace Antonio Giovinazzi in 2022.
“Hey guys, thanks for the great strategy,” said the Italian as he crossed the checkered flag on Sunday.
Some may not have noticed that the call was completely sarcastic as it claims team engineers attacked it at exactly the wrong moment.
“I am disappointed and angry,” he admitted to reporters afterwards.
?? | Antonio Giovinazzi on the team radio after the race:
“Hey guys, thanks for the strategy”.
Yes he is gone
– form acers (@ form acers_) November 8, 2021
“They called me in and I came out behind Ricciardo and Bottas, who hadn’t stopped yet. So the pace was slower than in the middle class.
“Then the tires were completely gone and the drivers who stopped later were faster than me. Absolutely wrong strategy,” Giovinazzi told Sky Italia.
The 27-year-old, who is supported by Ferrari but is apparently excluded from Alfa Romeo’s 2022 plans, doesn’t even rule out sabotaging a better result.
“Until today I didn’t want to believe it,” he said. “But now I’m really so disappointed.”
Nikita Mazepin was also disillusioned in Mexico, who in qualifying asked the Haas engineers via radio whether he could swap places with team-mate Mick Schumacher during the warm-up lap, “because he drives so slowly”.
“Laugh?” the Russian struck back when told to hold the station.
“I’m not laughing, Nikita,” replied Chief Race Engineer Ayao Komatsu.
Mazepin then told reporters that this type of situation was “a constant issue” for him behind closed doors at Haas.
“It happened at Zandvoort when he (Schumacher) overtook me. I was told that this is only possible if the drivers activate the tires differently,” he said.
“It looks like the rules are a little different for the two sides of the garage.
“I’ve already found myself in difficult situations – in fact; it has happened before. I will surely get through it. But right now is not an easy time for me.”
Mazepin and Schumacher, both 22, will also drive for Haas in 2022.
The post Giovinazzi claims sabotage, while Mazepin suspects the drivers’ bias when they compete against their own F1 teams first appeared on monter-une-startup.
