While we thought the “penalties on Max Verstappen” saga was over, the Red Bull driver has once again received a sanction from the FlA— a third time in just two races.
Verstappen was hoping to extend his championship lead during the São Paulo GP Sprint, but he was hit with a 5-second penalty for attempting to overtake Oscar Piastri under the Virtual Safety Car (VSC). This decision cost him his third place and handed Norris a 3-point advantage.
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Review of the VSC incident at the Brazilian GP
At the end of the Sprint, when Nico Hülkenberg triggered a yellow flag by retiring his smoking Haas at the side of the track, the VSC was activated. Though it took quite some time for the decision to come, Verstappen, sensing the end of the VSC was near, tried to overtake Piastri while braking into a corner in Sector 1, just before the green lights were given. The stewards deemed the move non-compliant as Verstappen was under the allowed delta time, which they viewed as an unfair advantage. The Red Bull driver defended his action by explaining the difficulty in adjusting his speed instantly, but the penalty came through regardless—5 seconds and a point added to his license.
BREAKING: Max Verstappen receives a five-second time penalty for infringing Virtual Safety Car rules during #F1Sprint
Verstappen, who finished third, drops to fourth place#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/sQHUFlmETl
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 2, 2024
Verstappen loses podium in Sprint race
With this penalty, Verstappen managed to minimize the damage, dropping just one position in the Sprint race standings. By conceding third place to Charles Leclerc, who was under four seconds behind, he lost only one extra point, totaling three in all. While this might seem minor, every point counts in Formula 1, and the frustration is evident. In his typical style, Verstappen kept his comments brief, merely stating he was “too close to Piastri.” This penalty raises a question: why is he being penalized now when he wasn’t in 2021, in Abu Dhabi, for applying the same kind of pressure on Hamilton at the end of the race?Other reports indicate that he was also above the delta time imposed on drivers during a Virtual Safety Car.
Outstanding 25 seconds of penalties in 2 races
Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley accompanied Verstappen to the hearing but failed to sway the stewards. VSC regulations are strict to prevent any exploitation, leaving Verstappen under increasing pressure to avoid any infractions for the remainder of the season. With an additional point on his license, Verstappen now has seven points of the twelve needed for a race suspension. For reference, once drivers accumulate 12 points, they face a race suspension-like Magnussen in Baku earlier this year. Currently, Verstappen seems firmly in the FIA stewards‘ sights, having received three penalties over the last two races for a cumulative 25 seconds-an impressive figure.
Formula 1 heads to Africa with the support of Hamilton and Verstappen, possibly a first since 1993
This article explores Verstappen’s costly penalty in the São Paulo Sprint race, its impact on his standing, and the added pressure on the Dutch driver as his penalty points accumulate. The incident highlights the strict regulations surrounding the VSC and how small decisions can alter race outcomes significantly.
Featured image: Red Bull Content pool
