F1
Verstappen's penalties set precedent, Wolff says: 'It's going to change the way everyone drives'
© DPPI
The double sanction inflicted on Max Verstappen In Mexico, will it leave indelible traces? Formula 1 ? This could well be the case, according to several players in the discipline. The Dutchman, penalized twice for his scuffles with Lando Norris at the Mexican Grand Prix, potentially set a game-changing precedent, according to Toto wolff.
In fact, the Team Principal of the stable Mercedes believes that the interpretation of the regulations has changed since the Austin controversy – where Lando Norris was penalised 5 seconds for overtaking outside track limits, but not Max Verstappen – and that drivers will have to change the way they defend (or attack) against another driver.
“A driver will always push the limits and when the rules – the execution of the rules or the interpretation of the rules – allow a certain way of racing, a driver like Max will always exploit that. And I think there is now a new interpretation, a new execution of those regulations. I think that will change the way everybody races in the future. You won’t see that anymore.”, says the Austrian leader.
In Mexico, Max Verstappen was relegated to the back of the pack after his two 10-second penalties were applied for pushing Lando Norris off the track on lap 10. The Dutchman was forced to make a big comeback to save the day, and eventually finished in 6th place, far behind his British rival.
Brake as late as possible "is no longer allowed" Wolff estimates
In both his manoeuvres, the triple world champion tried to exploit what the stewards had explained a week earlier, to justify Lando Norris' penalty in Austin. Race control had considered that, since Max Verstappen was in front at the apex, the driver Red Bull had priority on the corner while the Briton, who was ahead as he approached the braking zone, had lost this right. Unfortunately, after the many post-race turmoil in Texas, the stewards were much stricter towards Max Verstappen and decided to change their interpretation of the regulations.
"I think you probably have to leave some space on the outside of the corner if the car is next to you. Braking late and dragging the other car off the track while driving off the track, I think that's not allowed anymore," believes Toto Wolff, who acknowledges that Max Verstappen's two maneuvers went beyond the limit and that the stewards will not let this pass. Indirectly, will Max Verstappen force all the drivers - including himself - to adopt a more flexible defense for this end of the season?
ALSO READ > Brown pleased with stewards' reaction to Verstappen: "I applaud them: enough is enough!"
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Dorian Grangier
A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.
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David
30/10/2024 at 08:20 a.m.
While we're at it, let's take away his first title acquired on an illegal restart. :-)
vincent moyet
30/10/2024 at 04:56 a.m.
I have my doubts. From his statements, he seems to think he has all the rights and that nothing can affect him. And I'm afraid he'll put Norris in the Tecpro, if not in Brazil, then at the next GP. The ball will be in the FIA's court to see if they dare to disqualify or suspend him. I don't want that, it would really ruin a great F1 season.
D'ASSUNCAO JEAN BERNARD
30/10/2024 at 10:45 a.m.
I can't wait to be at the next Grand Prix to check that, finally, VERSTAPEN's stokart from previous races will have disappeared!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DAVIDOFF
30/10/2024 at 09:12 a.m.
When I see drivers who ALL come from KARTING and who are in F1 They should know that coming to get a DRIVER AT THE ROPE POINT is suicidal there is no room and they know it better than anyone..! And then tell the MICROPHONE (like Magnusen (he didn't let me PASS I dream...! WHICH DRIVER who is at the rope point is going to Open the door wide and tell him WELL GO ON lol 😂 Pffffff 🤪 I did 16 years of KARTING in the league championship, France etc. And the rules are the rules..! 😁 There are rules EVERYWHERE! Otherwise it's ANARCHY..
DAVIDOFF
30/10/2024 at 09:03 a.m.
It's MORE than Normal, contrary to the commentators, WE ARE NOT IN KARTING a pontoon contains thousands of information and thousands of dollars, it's been 10 years that VERSTAPEN, allows himself to throw the drivers in the sandbox And even to climb on the HALLO of HAMILTON at the risk of killing him and not even a SANCTION we DREAM...! So he allows himself EVERYTHING ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, to finish with the CONBINES one day he will KILL 1 DRIVER and in addition he does not apologize...! TO SAY THAT NORRIS is his friend! I dream I DREAM.!! 👎
vincent moyet
29/10/2024 at 10:28 a.m.
It will be worse, Verstappen will put Norris in the gravel and the championship will be played in favor of a bad-tempered kid.
Olivier Viret
29/10/2024 at 11:11 a.m.
Except that there is a case law that goes back to 1997 with Schumacher. In the event of voluntary sabotage of the opponent, the risk is an exclusion from the championship. The FIA did it with MSC, there is no doubt that they will do it with Verstappen, if necessary.
David
29/10/2024 at 07:18 a.m.
Gravel or grass!
Rousset
29/10/2024 at 05:41 a.m.
It's not 10sc but 20sc!!
vincent moyet
29/10/2024 at 04:28 a.m.
Another thing, I wonder if the "Hermann Tilke style" circuits with these sequences of right-left / left-right turns do not encourage overtaking on the outside knowing that we will have the rope at the next turn, and therefore pushing the opponent outside to protect ourselves from it.
vincent moyet
29/10/2024 at 04:24 a.m.
The risk with Verstappen is that if he can no longer hope that his opponent will take a penalty when he pushes him out, then he will go and put him straight into a wall. I am afraid that the season will end like that. I hope that the FIA will then have the same firmness as with Schumacher in 97 to disqualify him from the championship.
PAUL VAN GROOTEL
29/10/2024 at 04:04 a.m.
"It's going to change the way everyone pilots": and that's a good thing! Tired of seeing the most "pirate! boarding!!" take over the one who only respects his equipment.