Following the Max Verstappen incident, the FIA reinstates the F1 rule for the Japanese Grand Prix.

After the race director intervened in Singapore a week ago, F1 drivers were able to behave differently, but this weekend’s qualifying at Suzuka will require them to act differently still.

Following several reports of alleged impedement in Singapore, a maximum lap time has been reinstated for the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying.

Earlier this month, at the Italian Grand Prix, such a measure was in effect.
In practice, drivers were backing up at the last corner to give themselves a clear shot at a flying lap, but this led to a hazardous situation.

As a result, for every qualifying lap, FIA race director Niels Wittich set a time limit for all vehicles to move between the two safety car lines. It prevents drivers from sloshing around the track at a crawl and obstructing other drivers.

The Singapore Grand Prix did not, however, follow the rule last weekend.
Additionally, there was a close call during that qualifying session when Max Verstappen was alleged to have obstructed Logan Sargeant but later found not guilty.

Wittich hasn’t even waited to see how practice goes for the race this weekend at Suzuka, a particularly constrained racetrack. He has already reinstated the rule for safety reasons.

The race director stated the following in his pre-event race notes that were sent to the teams: “For the safe and orderly conduct of the event, other than in exceptional circumstances accepted as such by the stewards, any driver who exceeds the maximum time from the second safety car line to the first safety car line on ANY lap during and after the end of the qualifying session, including in-laps and out-laps, may be deemed to be going unnecessarily slowly.
“.

However, the wording of that sentence does not imply that penalties will be meted out without further action. It gives the driver the opportunity to demonstrate that there was a valid reason why they were unable to maintain the required distance between the two safety car lines.

For instance, both Ferrari drivers at Monza were cleared following an investigation into their failure to adhere to the deadline. They had argued that they had to stray from the track to make room for faster cars, which prevented them from getting to the safety car line in time.

Verstappen’s record-breaking winning streak came to an end in Singapore after he qualified 11th overall and only managed to place fifth.
In light of that, the Dutchman told reporters at Suzuka that he has “zero interest” in the fact that Red Bull’s difficulties caused a more intense battle for the victory.
He also slammed the critics who have voiced their displeasure over his dominance.

If people can’t appreciate that, then you’re not a true fan, he said. But that’s the way things are.
We didn’t perform, and other people did a better job than we did, so for that reason I was also very laid back about it.
Of course they deserved to win after that. They shouldn’t triumph because winning is boring, according to some.
“.