We are now well versed on the tirade Serena Williams delivered toward the umpire in the final of the 2018 US Tennis Open at Flushing Meadows, New York. While this website is not into debating the rights and wrongs of what went on, what is observed is the strong element of stress and its role in what eventuated.
We, on the side-lines, struggle to understand the true levels of stress that top sports people endure in the heat of the battle. The manifestation of stress can make or break, win or lose a competition.
In this morning’s article titled Ultimately a driver will be defined by F1 we looked at how F1 can define a driver’s career. If we go one step further, we can see how F1 can define the best of the best. In this, stress is undoubtedly a determining factor.
At the 2018 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was furious to receive a five-second penalty after his late race clash with Valtteri Bottas. The stewards deemed he had moved in the braking area and not left a car’s width for the Mercedes driver.
Verstappen’s angry team radio comments in which he suggested Formula 1 stewards were “killing racing”
Autosport.com reports that FIA F1 race director Charlie Whiting commented that, “I don’t think you can take too much notice of comments made in the heat of battle, but I’m sure at the next drivers’ briefing we’ll have a little chat about that.”
Verstappen continues to show immaturity and not accepting any responsibility for on-track incidents. This is not the first time!
What is more disturbing is that Verstappen was too tied up in his battle with Bottas, the incident and repercussions, that he couldn’t see the bigger picture of the threat of Sebastian Vettel passing him for fourth place, which he eventually did.
Vettel too is another example of a top driver who appears to make ill-judged decisions in the heat of the battle, then not able to take responsibility for his part of an incident.
Again at the Italian Grand Prix he put himself in a position that gave an advantage to rival Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton went around Vettel’s outside at the Roggia chicane on the opening lap. Vettel made contact and spun, dropping him to the rear of the field.
“Lewis obviously saw a little gap around the outside,” Vettel told Sky Sports F1. “But then he didn’t leave me any space and I had no other choice than to run into him and make contact.” Again, no responsibility for his part in the affair.
Small incidents, often under stress in the heat of a battle, can compound into something much bigger than it ought to be. Whether it is Serena Williams, Verstappen ,Vettel or Hamilton they will occur. We do not know what it is like but, on the sideline, get to see what eventuates. When kept in check or channeled in the right direction, stress can be to a sports persons advantage. At the moment in F1, Hamilton is the best example of one who is able to do this with success.
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