Dive Bomb

A dive bomb is an aggressive overtaking maneuver in motorsport where a driver brakes extremely late and dives down the inside of a corner at high speed to pass another car, often catching the other driver by surprise.

This risky passing move gets its name from the way the attacking driver "dives" toward the inside line of a corner much later than normal. Instead of braking at the usual point before a turn, the driver waits until the last possible moment, carrying far more speed into the corner than they normally would. The goal is to squeeze past the car ahead before the apex of the turn.

Dive bombing is considered one of the most aggressive tactics in racing. The defending driver often doesn't expect someone to attempt a pass from so far back, which creates a surprise element. This maneuver typically happens when a driver is desperate to make a pass, perhaps running out of laps in a race or trying to recover lost positions quickly.

The technique requires exceptional skill and timing. Because the attacking driver enters the corner faster than the ideal racing line allows, they must work harder to control their car. The extra speed makes the vehicle more difficult to handle through the turn, and the driver usually cannot follow the optimal path through the corner. This often means they exit the corner slower than if they had taken a normal line.

While dive bombing itself is not illegal in most racing series, it walks a fine line between aggressive racing and dangerous driving. If the move causes contact between cars or forces another driver off the track, race stewards may issue penalties. The maneuver puts both drivers at risk, as the defending driver may need to take sudden evasive action to avoid a collision.

Famous circuits like Monza in Formula 1 are notorious for dive bomb attempts, particularly at the first corner where drivers sometimes launch their attacks from three or more car lengths behind. These ambitious moves frequently end in accidents that collect multiple cars. Some drivers, like Daniel Ricciardo, have built reputations for successfully executing dive bombs, though even skilled drivers occasionally misjudge these high-risk maneuvers.

For spectators, dive bombs create dramatic racing moments that can either result in spectacular passes or race-ending crashes. Understanding this term helps fans appreciate both the bravery and the controversy surrounding these split-second decisions that drivers make at over 100 miles per hour.