F1 needs to put Verstappen in his place

Max Verstappen has earned a fearsome reputation as a fine, aggressive overtaker since he came into Formula 1. But the Red Bull driver's defensive tactics are coming under increasing scrutiny following another incident with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen at the Belgian Grand Prix.

This latest controversy follows a heated battle during July's Hungarian GP, where Verstappen twice made late defensive moves that caught Raikkonen out. In each case officials have seen no reason to act, yet Verstappen's actions have provoked criticism from his rivals.

A genuine grievance, or just fragile egos struggling to deal with the meteoric rise of a new superstar? Probably a bit of both. But there's no doubt Verstappen is treading a very fine line.

Article 27.6 of the FIA's sporting regulations is written to prevent multiple changes of line in defence. It states: "More than one change of direction to defend a position is not permitted. Any driver moving back towards the racing line, having earlier defended his position off-line, should leave at least one car width between his own car and the edge of the track on the approach to the corner."

That rule was not contravened at the Hungaroring and it does not apply to the Spa incident either, because Verstappen only moves once from the line he originally chooses for the straight.

Article 27.5 states: "at no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person".

Article 27.8 states: "Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted".

Just as in Hungary, Verstappen can legitimately argue there is still space available on the other side of the circuit, and at no point is any part of Raikkonen's car alongside his, so much of 27.8 does not apply. But there are parts of 27.5 and 27.8 that could apply in this instance.

Verstappen changed lines suddenly and aggressively at a point on the circuit where DRS is active and the cars are travelling at speeds of around 200mph in a straight line.

Unnecessary contact at those speeds is highly dangerous, with potentially catastrophic consequences. The key issue is one of timing.

The absolute nature of a car darting suddenly from one part of the track to the other is perfectly normal in racing - particularly at the start. But in that situation lines are not yet set and cars are simply searching for available space.

In this case Verstappen has settled on a line - slightly off-centre to the left of the track to begin the final run to Les Combes - so Raikkonen will naturally expect the Red Bull to continue on that trajectory.

For Verstappen to move so suddenly to the inside line - given Raikkonen's closing speed with DRS open and with Verstappen having apparently settled on a different course - is erratic, it's abnormal, it is certainly potentially dangerous to the other driver, and it is certainly liable to hinder that driver.

Therefore it should not be permitted and the stewards should have sanctioned Verstappen, regardless of what Red Bull boss Christian Horner said after the race about the 'referees being happy'.

As all football fans well know, referees often get their decisions wrong...

And that's the problem. If Verstappen is allowed to get away with dangerous driving he's unlikely to change his ways.

This is exactly the sort of argument Michael Schumacher used to make when he was criticised for chopping across rivals off the grid at the start.

He dared officials to penalise him and argued his behaviour was acceptable if they refused to do so. But just because the officials are disinclined to act does not make it right. The ends do not justify the means.

There is no doubt Verstappen is a refreshing addition to F1. He is a young, aggressive racer, who doesn't give an inch and is no respecter of reputation.

But there is a very fine line between racing hard and fair, and treating your rivals with such disrespect as to pose a potential danger to them.

As Raikkonen said after the race: "If I would not have braked we would have had a massive accident and I'm sure it will happen sooner or later if this doesn't change.

"Maybe it needs an accident before things get more clear to everybody, but hopefully not because nobody wants to see something like that happen.

"Fighting hard is fine, but something like that should not be correct."

When a new driver arrives in any championship and starts running at the front it is crucial they show their mettle; prove they won't be bullied in battle by more experienced rivals.

But Verstappen has gone too far in his attempts to prove he's no pushover.

Vettel said after the race that "the rest of the field is not happy" with Verstappen's behaviour on track, but hopes the situation can be resolved between the drivers - using face-to-face conversations and stern words, rather than official sanctions.

"It's probably something that needs to click, and he needs to understand," Vettel said.

"I'm not a fan of penalising people. It's not the way to educate. We need to talk to each other; we need to have respect."

Whether resolution comes from official sanction or a quiet word in the ear, if something isn't done then it's likely vigilante justice eventually will be.

As Newton said, every action prompts a reaction in this world. And just as Verstappen seems determined to give no quarter in proving he can't be intimated by anyone, so someone could eventually take exception to his tactics and decide to put him in his place on the circuit.

We should remember how Verstappen earned a reputation for wonderful racecraft in 2015 - overtaking rivals in unusual places and positioning his car with impeccable judgment.

These are not simply the actions of an inexperienced driver with rough edges that need smoothing out. To paraphrase a famous Raikkonen radio quote 'he knows what he is doing'.

Verstappen's own view after the race was very interesting, suggesting the whole saga had its roots in that unfortunate first-corner collision.

When asked if he needs to tone down his driving, Verstappen said: "To be honest, it's a big lie. I'm just defending my position and if somebody doesn't like it it's his own problem.

"I was a victim in the first corner, you could see clearly I was on the inside - almost 90%.

"My start wasn't great but I didn't lock a wheel, so I was easily making the corner, but they just kept squeezing me and then Sebastian just turned in on both of us.

"That took my front wing, and destroyed my floor, so from there the race was gone.

"When they do something like that, I'm not going to give up my position that easily afterwards."

This last comment suggests Verstappen let the perceived injustice of what happened at La Source get the better of his judgment.

His positioning on the inside was expert, but sometimes circumstances conspire against you.

Vettel could not have known Verstappen had dived back inside Raikkonen after making such a poor start, and equally Raikkonen had nowhere else to go.

That Verstappen reacted the way he did on track shows either immaturity or incapacity to take unfortunate setbacks in his stride. And a worrying willingness to put his life on the line for the sake of petty revenge.

Yes he fights hard, and the stewards' inaction suggests they saw nothing wrong with his driving, but he will end up in the wall if he continues to treat his rivals with such disrespect.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff compares Verstappen to Ayrton Senna, who also caused controversy for the way he pushed the boundaries of on-track etiquette during battle. This tendency was the uglier aspect of both Senna's and Schumacher's distinguished careers.

Verstappen should aspire to be like them in many ways. He has the same unquenchable thirst to win and a ruthless determination to succeed.

Success is of course the name of the game in racing. But the respect of your peers is important too.

Verstappen would do well to remember that. And F1 as a whole should act firmly now, before something really dangerous happens.