F1 manager reveals Max Verstappen’s ‘mistake’ at Japanese GP meeting

Max Verstappen was investigated for three separate incidents at the Singapore Grand Prix without being fined.

Sky Sports F1 chief commentator David Croft has revealed that stewards admitted to other teams that Max Verstappen should have received at least a penalty during qualifying in Singapore last weekend.

The reigning world champion has been investigated over three separate incidents during his participation in the Singapore Grand Prix, including two incidents involving the Dutch driver blocking other drivers.

While his incident with Williams rookie Logan Sargeant was fortuitous, Verstappen’s block on Yuki Tsunoda looked like a heavy penalty as his RB19 parked on the track, ruining his lap That’s after just three corners.

However, the Dutchman only received two reprimands for his actions, sparking outrage from team bosses in the paddock and triggering a meeting to review events in Singapore. ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. Croft gave some insight into the matter during Friday’s FP2 broadcast on Sky Sports F1, saying:

“I have it on good authority that at a meeting between the team managers last night and attended by flight attendants, one of the flight attendants who was on duty in Singapore and is here, actually told the flight attendants reason and acknowledge:
“Maybe we were wrong.

“‘Honestly, on reflection [and] looking back, maybe we were a little too lenient on Max Verstappen and he could have gotten a penalty for third, at least was for one of the reprimands he gave. take.”

Fortunately for Verstappen, he avoided any penalties that would have made his poor performance in qualifying worse, but the Dutchman was still forced to start from 11th after failing to entered Q3.

The World Championship points leader then moved up to fifth place and showed impressive pace to minimize the damage caused by an ill-timed safety car that interrupted both Red Bull driver during pit stop.

However, Verstappen’s difficulties appear to be limited to Singapore. He returned to the top of FP1 and FP2 in Japan on Friday, finishing six-tenths and three-tenths ahead of the rest of the field in the respective sessions.