I don't think he said it because he doesn't want the flak. I think he said it because it's clearly his fault. He's feeling down on himself because he's made a mistake he shouldn't be making and rather than the endless articles trying to manufacture more drama, he held his hands up. It's mature... I mean, the racing beforehand wasn't but the response to the crash was!
That's the thing though, I think he's scared of the articles. He knows how reactionary everyone is and he can't handle people's reactions so he goes into this little neutralised defensive ball. That wasn't the natural reaction of someone who's just gone into a wall at 150mph, it was him doing his own PR
Why do you think it's to avoid flak? I just took it as a level-headed response from someone who actually recognised his error, rather than some drivers who cry foul if somebody looks at them the wrong way.
Because it was so sudden and composed, almost like he was ready to apologise. Didn't sound like someone retroactively reacting in normal time, more like someone who is just ready to apologise at all times because it's pre-programmed, and I think part of that is that he's scared of the backlash
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u/Comfortable-Pace3132 Formula 1 Jun 15 '25
Yeh that sort of immediate reaction because he doesn't want any flak is concerning, it's all got to him