Conspiracy theories abound about Dutch GP: 'Very convenient for Verstappen'

With a lead of more than a hundred points in the Formula 1 championship, you would say that Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing do not need outside help, but some viewers think otherwise. After the Dutch Grand Prix, conspiracy theories surfaced about Yuki Tsunoda's retirement, which some fans believe was staged to help Verstappen to victory.

Outrage over Tsunoda's retirement

A hashtag has even been created by the outraged fans: with #F1xed they want to indicate that the GP in Zandvoort was 'fixed'. One group of viewers believes that Red Bull instructed sister team AlphaTauri to fake a retirement in order to cause a virtual safety car.

Another group of viewers opposes that suggestion, pointing to the huge lead of both Verstappen and Red Bull in both championships. Moreover, this year's title fight is not between Red Bull and Mercedes, so there are few reasons why two teams would risk so much to score some extra points.

As expected, there is also outrage at Ferrari's performance. Again, there are plenty of memes being produced, this time about Carlos Sainz' slow pit stop. It turned out an error was made in the preparation of the tyres, as a result of which a tyre was missing at the moment Sainz was standing still for his stop.

Carlos Sainz everytime he pits: pic.twitter.com/bZeYAKZhSB

— F1 MEMES (@f1trolls_) September 4, 2022

Lewis: You guys fucked me. I'am so pissed

Valtteri: pic.twitter.com/0HQnD1Pltu

— F1 MEMES (@f1trolls_) September 4, 2022

''How many tyres does a car have? Question.'' pic.twitter.com/HgLdPnoKwm

— F1 MEMES (@f1trolls_) September 4, 2022

Pole position and fourth win in a row for the local boy. Verstappen is well on his way to win over 13 races this year and set a new record. Russell now 30 points ahead of Hamilton in his first year at Mercedes. A new dawn. pic.twitter.com/u5BQxpDBdC

— Robert Falzon (@robertfalzon) September 4, 2022

I am very surprised that hardly anyone has called into question Tsunoda’s ’issue’ today given it so clearly benefitted their sister team in the Red Bull racing group!!!
At the very least @F1 should commit to looking into it. Didn’t appear to be anything wrong !!!

— OJM (@Mr_OJM) September 4, 2022

So I'd like to know if Redbull put a call into Alpha Tauri and tell Tsunoda to develop a fictitious fault twice to spoil Mercedes race. Would like to see if Tsunoda actually had any damage on his car. If not they need a massive penalty.

— Mark Rearden (@Scorpion760) September 4, 2022

It’s suspicious that when @Max33Verstappen needed a VSC to not lose track position and get a tire change, Tsunoda “breaks down” after coming into the pits?? Some shady shit is happening to help Max win #formula1 #f1

— Pablo Villarreal (@pablxvillarreal) September 4, 2022

I find it very strange that there are people out there who genuinely think Red Bull would deploy some dodgy tactics with their 2nd team when they were 93 points clear in the drivers standings

ANY crumb of evidence and they're thrown out the championship.

Why would they do it?

— Matt Gallagher (@MattyWTF1) September 4, 2022

Hang on, do some of you think the Tsunoda pull over was a legitimate tactic to get Verstappen to win? It was an odd moment but sport is just wild sometimes…

— Crash F1 (@CRASH_NET_F1) September 4, 2022

It’s absolutely crazy to me that there are some people out there that think those at Red Bull would fix a race, putting at risk their jobs, drivers and contractors titles, for the sake of one race win when they are already nearly 100 points clear #F1xed

— Ryan Gee (@RyanGee437) September 4, 2022

RB had already like 100pts ahead of everyone else before the race…why would they use Alpha’s help? Hamilton is closer to tsunoda than it is to verstappen…think twicE

— Marco Aurelio (@JeancontrolZ) September 4, 2022

I think Lewis Hamilton really needs to start calling out the totally unhinged, extreme side of his fan base. The abuse and vitriol spewed at the likes of AT, Tsunoda, Hannah Schmitz, Russell, Bottas has been utterly shameful. It's just a Grand Prix for heavens sake! #F1 #DutchGP

— Chris Chilton (@chrischilt) September 4, 2022

If people even use tiny bit of their brains they can understand that you cannot stop at pit exit cuz that blocks other cars from pitting. Where would have Tsunoda stopped then? Also he thought it was tyres but it was not. Atleast your make conspiracy theories make sense.

— Om33 (@redPratik) September 4, 2022