269 replies to this topic

[JL14]

A video of Max Verstappen driving the Aston Martin Valkyrie on the A8 motorway at the Nice exit, posted on social networks by his friend and personal trainer Mark Cox, has gone viral. Not just because of the car and the tranquility with which Max whizzed along the French roads as if he were driving his simulator at home, but also because with his driving behavior he has broken several rules of the French highway code. And for that now risks being punished by the transalpine gendarmerie.

 

- The video shows the two-time F1 world champion driving through a tunnel at over 120 km/h (when the lens stops on the odometer it is clearly seen that the speed at that moment is 122 km/h) while French law establishes that the maximum speed in tunnels is 90 km/h.

- While overtaking, he takes his right hand off the steering wheel to operate the on-board computer, violating French regulations.

- He drove the car on the road wearing headphones covering both ears, which is also illegal given that since 2015 the French law establishes that the driver cannot wear helmets or headgear that reset hearing abilities.

 

I think he should be thrown out of the WDC, setting this bad example as the current champion, endorsing the FIA's road safety campaign.

 

[Ivanhoe]

Dirty driver 

[Anja]

5 second penalty incoming

[Risil]

Good, that's the Zandvoort press conference sorted

[Beri]

A video of Max Verstappen driving the Aston Martin Valkyrie on the A8 motorway at the Nice exit, posted on social networks by his friend and personal trainer Mark Cox, has gone viral. Not just because of the car and the tranquility with which Max whizzed along the French roads as if he were driving his simulator at home, but also because with his driving behavior he has broken several rules of the French highway code. And for that now risks being punished by the transalpine gendarmerie.

- The video shows the two-time F1 world champion driving through a tunnel at over 120 km/h (when the lens stops on the odometer it is clearly seen that the speed at that moment is 122 km/h) while French law establishes that the maximum speed in tunnels is 90 km/h.
- While overtaking, he takes his right hand off the steering wheel to operate the on-board computer, violating French regulations.
- He drove the car on the road wearing headphones covering both ears, which is also illegal given that since 2015 the French law establishes that the driver cannot wear helmets or headgear that reset hearing abilities.

I think he should be thrown out of the WDC, setting this bad example as the current champion, endorsing the FIA's road safety campaign.

I think they could investigate about 99% of all tourists in France if these violations are really the case. Especially speeding and that hand. Headphones could have actually been worn because of the excessive noise the Valkyrie produces. Having noise cancelling headphones could actually provide a meaningful addition in reducing this and thus actually aid in a safer driving environment without distraction by the noise.

Edited by Beri, 22 August 2023 - 13:52.

[PayasYouRace]

I’m confused about the supposed French law that says you must keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times, presumably making it illegal to change gear.

Damon Hill had a good speeding story, of doing over 100 on the motorway in the UK. I think it’s in his book.

[FLB]

I’m confused about the supposed French law that says you must keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times, presumably making it illegal to change gear.

Damon Hill had a good speeding story, of doing over 100 on the motorway in the UK. I think it’s in his book.

Mario Thiessen was impressed by Jenson Button's speeding offense in 2000... because he did it in a diesel BMW! 

 

http://www.atlasf1.c...00/may/2459.htm

[Heyli]

Mario Thiessen was impressed by Jenson Button's speeding offense in 2000... because he did it in a diesel BMW! 

 

http://www.atlasf1.c...00/may/2459.htm

Now I am curious...

 

From that article, what is this about?? 

 

Until he is 21, the Briton is allowed to drive only diesel cars in mainland Europe, despite his experience of driving a Formula One car at more than 200 kph at circuits around the world.

 

is that a law somewhere? And if yes, why??

[pdac]

I guess the big problem is for the FIA - an organisation that is trying to promote safe driving. How can they have a world champion who is blatantly violating the rules governing safe driving in the country where the FIA resides.

[RekF1]

It would be hilarious if the Dutch police lock him up for the weekend. https://twitter.com/...KpQP3kqtew&s=19

[macjim]

Banging him up for 4 races is probably the only way of making sure the title race goes down to Abu Dhabi!

[pdac]

It would be hilarious if the Dutch police lock him up for the weekend. https://twitter.com/...KpQP3kqtew&s=19

 

He's Max Verstappen - nothing will come of it. They're more likely to lock up Mark Cox for filming the offences and not attempting to intervene.

Edited by pdac, 22 August 2023 - 14:30.

[CSF]

Did he have his yellow gillet and traffic cones in the car? Can someone check thanks. 

[CSF]

I guess the big problem is for the FIA - an organisation that is trying to promote safe driving. How can they have a world champion who is blatantly violating the rules governing safe driving in the country where the FIA resides.

 

 

Hardly the first, Michael Schumacher got done in a fiat multipla or something and then there's this... 

 

https://www.abc.net....-burnout/382066

[IrvTheSwerve]

Picking up points in a Newey-designed car even when he's not at race meetings.

 

What a driver.

[Heyli]

Picking up points in a Newey-designed car even when he's not at race meetings.

 

What a driver.

Can he do it without Newey though? 

[pRy]

Please tell me theres more than the 19 second video?  

[IrvTheSwerve]

Can he do it without Newey though? 

 

The haters will say no.

 

Wait until they have Ford power and he does it in a Fiesta Zetec, then we can talk.

[LolaB0860]

How can they have a world champion who is blatantly violating the rules governing safe driving in the country where the FIA resides.

 

Easily

[Diablobb81]

How can they have a world champion who is blatantly violating the rules governing safe driving in the country where the FIA resides.

With a nice ceremony.

[KLF1F]

I'm totally shocked.

 

I can't believe he was only doing 122 km/h

[pRy]

Yeah I want to see the video of him gunning it on open road. Or better still, him taking it around the Nurburgring.

[LolaB0860]

I mean, the other two offences I don't really care about, but he is obviously speeding

https://twitter.com/...speeding-video/

[Afterburner]

I'm always surprised at the difference in speeding enforcement/speed limits in the US versus everywhere else in the world. On certain interstate highways moving through urban areas over here (even through tunnels), you'd get run over by traffic if you weren't going at least that speed, even when the speed limit is around 90 km/h! The police in those places typically don't bother unless you're doing well over 130 km/h.

[DW46]

Lucky he wasn’t speeding in Mexico they’d have thrown away the key.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Rumour has it, this will play in the background as Max is given his ticket...

 

[renzmann]

Looking at that video, it's actually hard not to drive too fast. What a car

[RekF1]

He's Max Verstappen - nothing will come of it. They're more likely to lock up Mark Cox for filming the offences and not attempting to intervene.

It's not a big deal really. Reminds me of Lewis doing doughnuts in Australia and everyone wanted blood.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Lucky he wasn’t speeding in Mexico they’d have thrown away the key.

 

Thankfully Checo isn't fast enough.   

[ANF]

I’m confused about the supposed French law that says you must keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times, presumably making it illegal to change gear.

Damon Hill had a good speeding story, of doing over 100 on the motorway in the UK. I think it’s in his book.

I know it was on Letterman. I'm pretty sure I've seen it on Youtube but now it's gone.

 

Yep, it was embedded on Reddit but the video now says, "This video is no longer available because the YouTube account associated with this video has been terminated."

Edited by ANF, 22 August 2023 - 15:38.

[Hank]

I am sure all F1 drivers violate the speed limit. Getting caught is another thing. 

[Primo]

He's Max Verstappen - nothing will come of it. 

I think that "nothing will come of it" has little to do with Max Verstappen. Actually, I'd claim that if something will come out of it, it'd be beacuse he is Max Verstappen.

[AustinF1]

Oh, the humanity!

 

Wow. When I saw the article title about this yesterday, I thought Max was irresponsibly hooning around or something. This is quite a letdown.

[cbo]

This Cox fella cannot be too clever, dumping the video on social media.....

[IrvTheSwerve]

To be honest, I own a ‘slow’ new Audi RS5, and since I’ve owned it I’ve kind of realised that even that type of power and acceleration is pointless on public roads. Getting to 70mph within seconds is absolutely effortless. An AM Valkyrie would be so easy to break the law in.

[IceSpeed]

Omg that video looks like he is deliberately trying to drive slow and to the speed limit. Lol. That can’t be the video.

PS - trust me I am no fan of max.

[RekF1]

Rumour has it, this will play in the background as Max is given his ticket...
 
https://www.youtube....h?v=SBt9VJ6axB0

Every time I hear it I think they've got "twelve days of Christmas" wrong.

[RekF1]

Omg
PS - trust me I am no fan of max.

Neither is the speed limit.

[jAnO76]

Is this the new r/formuladank?

[IrvTheSwerve]

Every time I hear it I think they've got "twelve days of Christmas" wrong.

Same, lol.

[milestone 11]

Same, lol.

I get, O Little Town of Bethlehem.

[RekF1]

Is this the new r/formuladank?

No, I'm just tipsy.

[MikeTekRacing]

pretty stupid to let yourself filmed while doing anything remotely ilegal in these days. 

I don't think he's doing anything any of us wouldn't do - but that clearly is not the point.

He'll probably get a big fine and will do something for road safety and that will be the end of it

[jjcale]

Its just an advert for the Aston Martin Valkyrie™..... no?

[Touchdown]

He's clearly speeding - should be fined for that obviously - but the other two offences are extremely harsh!

[Cliff]

He’ll just get a fine, storm in a teacup. French speeding fines are also cheap af.

Edited by Cliff, 22 August 2023 - 18:22.

[jjcale]

It would be hilarious if the Dutch police lock him up for the weekend. https://twitter.com/...KpQP3kqtew&s=19

 

Only way to stop Redbull winning all the races ....

[JHSingo]

Hold on...when did the Aston Martin Valkyrie even become road legal? I must have missed that. I'm sure at one stage it was supposed to be only a track day car?

 

And having to drive it whilst wearing ear defenders would suggest it isn't really suited to the road anyway. 

[AustinF1]

I really have to laugh at this even being a thing. Pretty amazing. Every time I get in my car I typically see 10 much more significant infractions than anything in that video, just in the first 5 minutes or so.

[Victor]

Aston Martin? I think Alonso's dirty hands are behind this.