FIA admits Max Verstappen penalty mistake in apology to Red Bull's F1 rivals

22 September 2023 , 11:07

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Max Verstappen got away without a penalty at the Singapore Grand Prix (Image: Getty Images)

The FIA has apologised to Formula 1 teams, admitting that Max Verstappen should have been given a grid penalty at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Dutchman was the subject of no fewer than three separate investigations after qualifying at the Marina Bay Circuit. Two were for impeding drivers on track while the third was for stopping at the end of the pit lane during the session, holding up a queue of cars behind him.

Verstappen was reprimanded for the latter and again for impeding Yuki Tsunoda, while no further action was taken for an incident involving Logan Sargeant. He avoided a grid penalty for all three, which was a surprising outcome at the time.

The Red Bull racer looked like a slam-dunk penalty was headed his way for the Tsunoda incident. Impeding in a qualifying session usually leads to a three-place grid drop for the driver found guilty.

In this case, however, the stewards decided a fine for the team itself was more appropriate. They judged that the fact Verstappen had not been told over the radio that Tsunoda was coming was sufficient mitigation for the Dutchman to avoid receiving as sporting punishment.

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But several other team representatives felt the outcome was extremely lenient and visited the FIA offices to voice their disapproval. And, in the Suzuka paddock this weekend, the governing body has now admitted that one of the impeding offences should have been met with a three-place grid penalty.

And it made sure to clarify that the incident will not be used as a precedent for future penalty decisions. It will be wiped from the database used by the stewards to determine what course of action to take when considering a case.

Verstappen was able to recover to fifth place in the race, having started 11th. But he may not have been able to get so high up the standings had he started 14th, as the FIA has now said he should have.

After that blip in Singapore, Red Bull expect to be back to their usual imperious selves at the Japanese Grand Prix. And Verstappen provided evidence of that as he was comfortably quickest overall in both practice sessions on Friday.

"It felt good today," he said afterwards. From the first lap, the car was pleasant to drive and it looks like we've had a good day for both short and long runs. The tyre deg is high, so it will be challenging in the race. But it's a good start to the weekend."

Daniel Moxon