Max Verstappen has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the next Formula 1 race, the Russian Grand Prix, with the stewards determining that the Red Bull driver was predominantly to blame for a crash with Lewis Hamilton during the Italian Grand Prix.
Both Verstappen and Hamilton retired from the race after colliding at Turn 2. Hamilton exited the pits just ahead of the Dutchman. Verstappen then drew alongside Hamilton and attempted to overtake on the outside but bounced over the kerbs, which kicked his rear tyre into Hamilton’s, causing his RB16B to jump into the air before landing on the Mercedes.
Verstappen claimed Hamilton failed to give him room, but the stewards deemed that because the 23-year-old was never significantly alongside, he wasn’t entitled to space, whilst it was also noted that Hamilton drove an “avoiding line” but Verstappen failed to back out.
“The Stewards heard from the driver of car 33 (Max Verstappen), the driver of car 44 (Lewis Hamilton) and team representatives, reviewed the video evidence and determined that the driver of Car 33 was predominantly to blame for the collision with Car 44 at Turn 2,” a statement from the stewards said.
“Car 44 was exiting the pits. Car 33 was on the main straight. At the 50m board before Turn 1, Car 44 was significantly ahead of Car 33. Car 33 braked late and started to move alongside Car 44, although at no point in the sequence does Car 33 get any further forward than just behind the front wheel of Car 44.
“During the hearing the driver of Car 33 asserted that the cause of the incident was the driver of Car 44 opening the steering after Turn 1 and “squeezing” him to the apex of turn 2. The driver of Car 44 asserted that the driver of Car 33 attempted to pass very late and should have given up the corner either by backing off sooner, or by turning left behind the kerb.
“The Stewards observed on CCTV footage that the driver of Car 44 was driving an avoiding line, although his position caused Car 33 to go onto the kerb. But further, the Stewards observed that Car 33 was not at all alongside Car 44 until significantly into the entry into Turn 1. In the opinion of the Stewards, this manoeuvre was attempted too late for the driver of Car 33 to have “the right to racing room”.
“While Car 44 could have steered further from the kerb to avoid the incident, the Stewards determined that his position was reasonable and therefore find that the driver of Car 33 was predominantly to blame for the incident. In coming to the penalty the Stewards emphasise that they have only considered the incident itself and not the consequences thereof.”
Verstappen will therefore start the Russian GP three places lower than he qualifies and was also handed two penalty points.
I don’t care who was at fault. Verstappen walked off without a glance at what could have been a dead man sitting in the cockpit. He is being motivated by some very cynical people at Red Bull and this has to stop!
Maybe he remembered that there is a halo there that was intact. But I get it, we all need to bow down to Sir Whiner Hamilton.
Thought the same thing !
Dead men don’t put cars into reverse gear and try backing out of the situation for the best part of a minute.
Logical decision and analysis of the facts. MV should have backed out and waited for the next couple of bends. He needs to be reeled in from this attitude. Rubbing ain´t racing in F1, it´s too dangerous for that. Of course it happens, but it happens too much with MV. He should be maturing after so long in a top seat but there´s an arrogance which is bad for everyone, including MV.
Agree completely with all the above!!!! Arrogance is a very unpleasant attitude and it is about time MV grew up and lost his arrogance!!! He is known to be an aggressive driver and that also needs to be toned down before a very serious accident happens! Maybe his “leader” Horner should work on this with him and also he – Horner – should stop his tones of verbal negative words aimed at Mercedes. Red Bull grow up all of you !!!
A very serious incident did happen. It happened at Silverstone and was caused deliberately by Hamilton, at the second attempt following a previous effort to spin out Verstappen at the first corner. The same pattern as he did at Monza in 2018 against Vettel, failed attempt at turn one, went back in for another go and succeeded at the second chicane. Hamilton is a liar, a cheat, and a dirty and dangerous driver.