Whiting defends US GP stewards' decision

The five-second penalty imposed on Max Verstappen at the US GP continues to shake up the FIA ​​paddock this weekend in Mexico. CHarlie Whiting, the FIA ​​race director, defended at a press conference the stewards' decision which prevented the driver Red Bull to get on the podium, the latter having exceeded the limits of the track to take the advantage over Kimi Räikkönen.

“The accusations of irregularity in sanctions seem to me to be quite unfounded, commented Charlie Whiting. The driver was penalized only because it was established that he had an advantage. We have several drivers crossing the limits, mainly at turn 19. It also happened in qualifying, but we couldn't take advantage of anyone. »

Charlie Whiting nevertheless recognized that the current system is not perfect and that a solution should be found that does not offer any possibility of criticism.

“It would be much better if we had a system that didn’t bring any ambiguity. We can use high vibrators. We abandoned gravel traps years ago in favor of kerbs, but we also have to take into account the fact that the circuits accommodate different disciplines, whether for cars or motorcycles., recalled Charlie Whiting.

At the end of the US GP, former driver Mika Salo, integrated into the panel of commissioners, received death threats.