FIA announce Max Verstappen penalty verdict at Japanese Grand Prix after….read more
Max Verstappen has received an official warning from the FIA following an incident during the final practice session of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Verstappen, along with McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, was involved in an event that drew the attention of the stewards after the session concluded.
During the third free practice (FP3), Verstappen’s Red Bull struggled compared to his usual performance, finishing P5 on the timesheets, as Norris and Piastri took the top two spots. However, the session itself was chaotic, with dry grass around the track causing fires and triggering two red flags, further intensifying the drama. After the session ended, the FIA stewards turned their focus to Verstappen and Piastri due to a particular incident that occurred when both drivers attempted their practice starts.
Both Verstappen and Piastri were accused of breaching pit lane procedures by cutting the queue in an effort to reach the practice start position. This maneuver led to an investigation by the stewards, who determined that both drivers had failed to follow the race director’s instructions. As a result, both drivers were handed official warnings.
The FIA’s investigation revealed that Verstappen overtook several cars in the working lane while making his way toward the practice start area. According to the stewards’ report, Verstappen briefly entered the fast lane before returning to the working lane and performing a practice start. After completing the practice start, he rejoined the track after all the cars in the fast lane had passed. The stewards also noted that while Verstappen had committed a breach of the sporting regulations, it was not a particularly severe one, and he was given a warning instead of a penalty.
The FIA statement further clarified that while the warnings had been issued for Verstappen and Piastri in this instance, this would not set a precedent for similar breaches in the future. The stewards emphasized that any future violations of pit lane rules could lead to more severe penalties, including sporting penalties.
This decision came just one day after a similar investigation involving other high-profile drivers, including seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin. The FIA had investigated an incident involving these two drivers, where they were also found to have breached pit lane protocols. Like Verstappen and Piastri, Hamilton and Stroll were issued warnings by the stewards for their infractions.
The FIA’s actions in these cases reflect the governing body’s commitment to ensuring that all teams and drivers follow the rules, particularly when it comes to safety and proper conduct in the pit lane. While warnings were handed out this time, the FIA made it clear that future infractions would not be treated as leniently. The stewards stressed that overtaking in the pit lane could result in more serious consequences, such as time penalties or grid position drops in subsequent sessions.
Max Verstappen’s warning follows a challenging session for the Red Bull driver, who had been expecting to perform at a higher level, especially after a dominant season. The incident serves as a reminder that, despite his success on the track, Verstappen is still subject to the same rules and scrutiny as all other drivers in the Formula 1 paddock.
While Verstappen’s Red Bull team is unlikely to face any further consequences for this particular incident, the warning serves as a cautionary note for the future. As the Japanese Grand Prix weekend progressed, Verstappen would need to ensure that such incidents do not occur again, especially with the championship battle intensifying as the season nears its end.
This situation highlights the importance of adhering to the race director’s instructions, even in seemingly minor instances like practice starts. The FIA’s enforcement of pit lane rules and procedures is essential for maintaining fairness and safety across all teams and drivers in Formula 1.
In the broader context of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, the attention on Verstappen and other drivers for their pit lane behavior added another layer of complexity to the already high-stakes weekend. With significant points up for grabs in the championship standings, the drivers must stay focused not only on track performance but also on ensuring that they comply with all aspects of the rules to avoid costly mistakes or penalties.
Ultimately, the warnings issued by the FIA should serve as a reminder to all Formula 1 teams and drivers that any form of breach in the sporting regulations, especially those relating to safety protocols in the pit lane, will be closely monitored and de
alt with accordingly.
