Breaking News: FIA provide strange reason behind Verstappen ‘violation’
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has provided insight into the investigation surrounding Max Verstappen’s actions during the sprint qualifying session at the Miami Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver was summoned to appear before the stewards for allegedly exceeding the maximum delta time between the two safety car lines. Although Verstappen and his team were found to be in breach of the regulations, only a reprimand was issued to the team.
According to the FIA, Verstappen was accused of driving unnecessarily slowly, which prompted an investigation. However, it was discovered that a programming error on the part of Red Bull was the root cause of the issue. The error resulted in Verstappen’s car displaying an incorrect delta time, leading him to drive slower than permitted.
The stewards’ report revealed that Verstappen’s car was approximately six seconds above the required minimum time between Safety Car Lines 1 and 2 for one lap in SQ2. However, the driver complied with the requirement in all other laps. Telemetry data showed that Verstappen was driving at a constant speed throughout the lap without any other cars around, as if he was managing the delta at approximately six seconds off the relevant number.
During the hearing, the Red Bull team explained that the programming error had resulted in an offset of six seconds in the delta time displayed in the car. Although Verstappen was managing the delta displayed, he was constantly approximately six seconds above the minimum time. The team identified the problem by the end of the first cool-down lap and instructed the driver to manage his speed in a way that would ensure he was at least six seconds below the delta time displayed in the car.
The stewards acknowledged that while there had been a breach of the regulations, Verstappen did not drive unnecessarily slowly based on the information he had in the car. He also did not impede any other cars or create a dangerous situation, which is why a penalty for the driver was not warranted. However, a reprimand was issued to the team, as they are responsible for ensuring that correct timing information is displayed in the car.
The FIA emphasized that in different circumstances, a more severe penalty might be applied for a similar infringement. This serves as a warning to teams to ensure that their cars are properly programmed to avoid any potential issues during races.
In conclusion, the investigation into Max Verstappen’s actions during the sprint qualifying session in Miami highlighted the importance of accurate programming and communication between drivers and their teams. While Verstappen and Red Bull escaped with only a reprimand, the incident serves as a reminder of the need for attention to detail and adherence to regulations in the high-pressure world of Formula 1.
