Dive Bomb

A dive bomb is a risky overtaking move in motorsport where a driver brakes very late and attempts to pass another car on the inside of a corner at high speed.

Picture this scenario: two race cars are approaching a turn, with one driver following behind the other. Instead of braking at the normal point, the trailing driver waits until the very last second to hit the brakes. This late braking allows them to carry much more speed into the corner than usual.

The attacking driver then "dives" down the inside line of the corner, trying to squeeze past the car they're overtaking. This is where the term "dive bomb" comes from - the sudden, aggressive nature of diving to the inside at the last possible moment.

This maneuver is extremely risky for several reasons. First, the driver performing the dive bomb enters the corner much faster than normal, making it harder to control their car. Second, they often can't follow the ideal racing line through the corner, which compromises their speed and handling.

Most importantly, dive bombs put both drivers in danger. The defending driver may be caught off guard and forced to take evasive action to avoid a collision. They might have to brake suddenly, change their line, or even run wide off the track.

Race officials watch dive bomb attempts carefully. While the move itself isn't illegal, drivers can face penalties if their aggressive overtaking causes contact with another car or forces someone off the track. Common penalties include time additions to their race result or drive-through penalties during the race.

Dive bombs are often seen as desperation moves, typically attempted when a driver is running out of time or opportunities to make a pass. While they can be spectacular when they work, they're more likely to result in accidents or penalties than clean, successful overtakes.