F1 rocked by 'insulting' race fixing allegations

AlphaTauri has labelled online allegations of race-fixing during the Dutch Grand Prix arsenic "insulting and categorically incorrect".

The squad were responding to conspiracy theories suggesting they deliberately sacrificed Yuki Tsunoda's contention successful bid to assistance Max Verstappen, the pb operator of their big-sister squad Red Bull.

The Virtual Safety Car that was deployed successful bid to retrieve Tsunoda's car enabled Red Bull to pit Verstappen portion inactive keeping his lead.

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Had the contention panned retired successful green-flag conditions, Verstappen would person been passed by some Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen went connected to triumph the contention aft a late-race information car allowed him different inexpensive pitstop to alteration to brushed tyres.

Much of the hatred from the contention had been directed at Red Bull's main strategy technologist Hannah Schmitz.

Yuki Tsunoda walking distant from his stricken AlphaTauri (Getty)

In a connection released connected societal media, AlphaTauri said "language and comments" directed astatine Schmitz were "disheartening".

"Such hateful behaviour cannot beryllium tolerated, and to entertain accusations of foul play is unacceptable, untrue, and wholly disrespectful towards some Hannah and us," it said.

"We person ever competed independently, reasonably and with the highest levels of respect and sportsmanship.

"Yuki had a nonaccomplishment the squad didn't instantly observe which caused him to halt connected track.

"To suggest thing antithetic is insulting and categorically incorrect."

The saga began erstwhile Tsunoda stopped connected way connected thigh 44 instantly aft pitting, telling the squad helium felt a tyre had not been fitted correctly.

He loosened his belts to get retired of the car earlier being told to proceed arsenic information suggested each 4 wheels were tight.

Tsunoda's stoppage allowed Red Bull a escaped pitstop for Max Verstappen. (AP)

He drove dilatory backmost to the pits for a caller set. His belts were re-tightened and helium was sent backmost connected his way.

However, helium reported backmost to the squad helium could inactive consciousness the occupation arsenic helium near the pitbox, which led the young Japanese operator to suggest it whitethorn person been a differential issue. He was told to proceed retired of the constrictive pitlane exit to debar blocking it, and to halt the car.

It was past the VSC was called.

Any vantage gained nevertheless was nullified by a late-race information car to retrieve the stricken Alfa Romeo of Valtteri Bottas from the pit straight, which allowed everyone astatine slightest the accidental to pit for softs.

Mercedes did truthful for George Russell, but elected not to for Hamilton.

Mercedes brag Toto Wolff said their information showed Verstappen would've travel retired of the pits good down his 2 drivers, and said helium might've looked into the conspiracy claims much earnestly if Mercedes were warring Red Bull for a championship.

Mercedes squad main Toto Wolff believes his squad were successful contention for a win. (Getty)

"What needs to beryllium investigated for the information of drivers - and everybody retired determination - is that the operator stopped, unbuckled, did a afloat lap, came successful ... the occupation wasn't solved, they enactment the seatbelts backmost connected and helium drove retired and stopped the car again," Wolff said aft the race..

"That astir apt changed the result of a contention we possibly could person won.

"The simulation said Max would person travel retired 8 seconds down america and we would person had a just shot.

"The contention planner said the triumph was on. Max would person caught Lewis astir 8 laps from the end.

"It would person been precise close."

Tsunoda was indeep reprimanded for driving with the loosened belts. It's his 5th reprimand for the year, which has triggered a mandatory 10-place grid punishment for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix astatine Monza.

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