Red Bull’s Max Verstappen hits out at Formula 1 for ‘extremely dangerous’ decision
Max Verstappen is criticizing Formula 1 for introducing a ‘highly risky’ rule aimed at preventing obstructing during qualifying, which has left the Red Bull driver puzzled.
The issue of impeding has been a significant problem in Formula 1 this season, prompting the series to test out different solutions. Since the summer break, F1 has increased its efforts to address the issue of drivers dawdling during qualifying in an attempt to create a gap to the car in front.
Driving too close to the car in front can result in high costs, particularly during qualifying, due to the onset of dirty air. Drivers, including Verstappen, have been at risk of receiving penalties for impeding while attempting to create a gap. The Red Bull driver has frequently navigated the varying rules like a game of jump rope.
Verstappen is being investigated for impeding during qualifying.
Verstappen avoided a penalty for obstructing during qualifying for the Singapore GP, even though he was being looked into for three incidents. He prevented George Russell and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes from moving forward when he stopped at the end of the pit lane, and also hindered Logan Sargeant of Williams in Q1.
The three-time F1 champion stopped at the end of the pit lane for 14 seconds in order to create more distance. In addition, he managed to block Yuki Tsunoda from AlphaTauri during Q2, and narrowly avoided a penalty by quickly moving off the racing line. In Mexico, Verstappen managed to avoid a penalty for impeding.
Verstappen was one of the drivers who were being investigated for impeding during the qualifying session for the Mexico City GP. Russell, Fernando Alonso, and he all eased off when leaving the pits to create space in Q1, causing obstruction to others. However, Red Bull, Mercedes, and Aston Martin vehemently opposed any penalties.
The teams were able to successfully defend their drivers in Mexico by making the case that their actions were in accordance with the maximum delta time rule. The purpose of that rule was to stop drivers from creeping slowly around the track by controlling the amount of time they could spend between the pit exit and pit entrance lines.
Verstappen believes that the latest rule change in Formula 1 is “risky” and poses a potential danger.
Once again, Formula 1 has adjusted its rules in Brazil. They have now decreed that drivers must allow others to pass them in the pit exit if they are not driving at their maximum speed. Verstappen took advantage of the rule change to pass numerous cars during the Sao Paulo GP weekend. However, Russell incurred penalties.
At the Sao Paolo GP, Russell, Esteban Ocon, and Pierre Gasly were each handed a two-place grid penalty for impeding during qualifying. Russell received a penalty for impeding Gasly in Q1 when he left the pits and failed to follow the new rule change that Verstappen considers unsafe.
Verstappen commented on the rule change regarding impeding, stating, “At this track, the pit exit is quite long and there are walls.”
However, in certain other racing situations, if we were to put this into practice, it would mean that you’d be entering a straight section where other cars are zooming by at speeds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour, while you are only driving at 15 to 20 kilometers per hour in order to create some space. This, in my opinion, is incredibly risky.
This just doesn’t work for me at all. “It only adds to the chaos,” the Red Bull driver went on. “It’s a complete mess.” During each qualifying session, six to eight cars are being flagged for driving below the maximum time limit. I’m not sure what our goal is.
