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FORMULA 1 – The prize for the dumbest crash in the 2022 season definitely go to Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Nicholas Latifi (Williams). The two Canadian drivers collided during qualifying at the Albert Park circuit on Saturday, April 9. in Melbourne†
The accident happened at low speed as the two drivers prepared for a fast lap for the first part of qualifying (Q1). Nicholas Latific let his compatriot pass, whom he overtook in the next corner. But this one didn’t hear him like that and cut him off, causing the two cars to leave the track, as you can see below.
The two drivers had to end their session there, the Williams was immobilized and the Aston Martin was able to return to the pits. Qualifying was interrupted for about ten minutes, the moment to clear the track.
Lance Stroll Punished
Lance Stroll, who was believed to be responsible for the collision, was given a three-place grid penalty. It will have no impact as the Canadian was already last without time from this collision.
Back in the paddocks, the two drivers somehow tried to justify this accident, which could have been largely avoided.
Nicholas Latifi blamed Lance Stroll for the accident. “I watched the incident on video and I can confirm that it is not my fault,” he estimated at our colleagues’ microphone by Canal+† “There was space inside, I was on my tire prep when he wasn’t in attack position, he was sitting on the back and he was pointing at me. That’s all I can say. It’s really strange.”
Lance Stroll, for his part, ruled that the accident was due to the track “turning right”, in a full moon statement, still on Canal+.
An “unacceptable” accident
The two Canadian pilots faced a shower of criticism after this incident. In particular that of Franck Montagny. The ex-F1 driver deemed the images “inadmissible”, recalling that the two drivers were in Formula 1 “thanks to Dad”, as you can see below.
Lance Stroll is the son of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, owner of the Aston Martin F1 team. While Nicholas Latifi is the son of businessman Michael Mehrdad Latifi, shareholder of Williams team.
Russian Nikita Mazepin was also considered one of these “daddy’s boys” in the paddock. But the latter has lost his steering wheel in the Haas teamafter Russia invaded Ukraine.
The two Canadian drivers will start this Sunday morning in Melbourne from the back of the grid. Charles Leclerc, for his part, won the second pole position of the season, having achieved the Bahrain GP in mid-March. He starts for the two Red Bull drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
See also on The HuffPost: F1 driver Nikita Mazepin launches foundation for athletes fired for political reasons
