Just In: Max Verstappen is under investigation and has been summoned by FIA following Brazilian In….read more
Max Verstappen is under investigation and has been summoned by FIA following Brazilian In….read more
Max Verstappen has been summoned by the stewards for a post-race investigation following an incident during the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint. The incident occurred as the defending world champion vied for position in the final laps of the sprint, with questions now raised about his behavior during a virtual safety car (VSC) period.
Verstappen began the sprint from fourth place on the grid and made a strong start, moving past Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to claim third position. He then set his sights on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who was running in second. However, despite some intense racing, Verstappen was unable to overtake the Australian.
The situation intensified when Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg encountered a technical issue and was forced to retire from the race, coming to a stop on the track. Hulkenberg’s retirement triggered a virtual safety car, a period designed to temporarily slow down all drivers by imposing a regulated pace. Just before the VSC came into effect, McLaren made a strategic swap between their drivers, Lando Norris and Piastri, positioning Piastri in front of Verstappen as the VSC began.
As the VSC was lifted on the final lap, Verstappen closed in on Piastri with remarkable proximity, coming almost side-by-side with the McLaren driver as they returned to normal racing conditions. This moment has now come under scrutiny as stewards look into whether Verstappen may have breached the VSC speed regulations. The core of the investigation will likely center around whether Verstappen accelerated too quickly or maintained an illegal pace as the VSC ended, potentially going beyond the mandated lap time delta.
The lap time delta is a key component in VSC scenarios, designed to ensure that all drivers stay within a certain time threshold to maintain fairness and safety during neutralized conditions. Any breach of this delta would mean Verstappen accelerated at a rate beyond what is permitted by the VSC rules.
A potential VSC infringement could lead to penalties for Verstappen, depending on the outcome of the investigation. This is a particularly significant incident as Verstappen is defending his world champion status and has been dominant throughout the season. However, any penalty could impact his finishing position or even alter the outcome of the sprint standings, potentially benefiting Piastri and other drivers. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely as the stewards deliberate on Verstappen’s actions and determine whether a penalty is warranted for the Red Bull driver.
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