Verstappen and Stroll escape penalty after collision

**The Portimão commissioners considered that there had been a « misunderstanding » between the Red Bull driver and his rival Racing Point.**

Published on 23/10/2020 à 19:22

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Verstappen and Stroll escape penalty after collision

Ride youth! The stewards of the Portuguese Grand Prix have chosen not to sanction or Max Verstappen, neither Lance stroll after their improbable collision during Free Practice 2.

Stuck in the exhausts of the Racing Point in the last corner, the driver Red Bull moved into the next straight with the intention of overtaking the Canadian, imagining that the latter was going to slow down and start a deceleration lap.

Except that Stroll had received the order to do a second flying round. The Montrealer therefore thought that it was Verstappen who was going to cut his effort as he approached the first corner. This was not the case, with the consequences that we know.

Questioned before his appearance before the commissioners, Verstappen described the incident as “ useless ". " I don't want to talk about it too much, declared the Red Bull driver. I was surprised when he closed the door on me. I got closer to him, I don't know where I could have gone ».

Stroll also gave his version of the facts, explaining that he was focused on his wheel and not Verstappen because he thought the Dutchman had let him pass.

« That's a shame, confided the Canadian. He gave me the advantage in the last corner, I expected him to slow down to create a gap. I was busy looking at my dashboard on the straight and when I looked up I was focused on the corner ahead. I didn't expect him to be by my side but I think he didn't expect me to be in a flying 2nd round either ».

The commissioners judged that this is “ misunderstanding » which led to the collision between the two men, the Red Bull rider hitting the Racing Point at the rear right. “ Stroll didn't pay attention to Verstappen who was about to overtake him », We can read in the official report.

« The stewards believe that neither of the two pilots is mainly at fault », concludes the document. Hence the absence of punishment.