Red Bull appeared to anticipate Max Verstappen’s displeased reaction to his penalty during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and chose a different approach to letting him know about his latest sanction.
Verstappen picked up his fifth penalty for a driving infringement in the last five rounds during Sunday’s race after he knocked Oscar Piastri into a spin immediately after the start at turn one. The stewards ruled on the incident quickly and handed Verstappen a 10-second time penalty on lap five.Previously, Red Bull haven’t wasted time in keeping Verstappen up to date on any stewards decisions that affect his race, passing on the news as soon as they receive it. But yesterday Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase decided to wait until halfway through the race before letting him know.
Rather than inform Verstappen of his penalty as soon as it was issued, Red Bull chose to tell him immediately before he had to serve it, when he came in for his pit stop. Doing so reduced the amount of time Verstappen had to dwell on his penalty before serving it, though he probably expected to be penalised, and did not ask whether the incident was under investigation:
| Lap: 1/58 VER: 1’39.510 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | I mean I was just super-unlucky. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Mode 10 please Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 2/58 VER: 1’54.938 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | I was all the way up the inside before the crash. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Understood, Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Virtual Safety Car deployed, Virtual Safety Car deployed, dash positive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | I don’t think this will be too long, Max. Checo’s car is being recovered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | My delta is completely wrong I think. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Stand by. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 3/58 VER: 1’38.051 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Should reset itself on the control line, let’s have a look. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | I don’t think it’s going to be long now. VSC ending, Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | You have B-bal eight when you need it, Max. B-bal eight and then use the toggle when you need it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 6/58 VER: 1’29.412 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Definitely front-locking too much in eight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Understood. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 10/58 VER: 1’30.449 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Start six please, Max, strat six. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | First ping for track limits at turn one, Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Turn one exit? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Correct. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Lap: 13/58 VER: 1’30.178 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Okay so info: Norris, Sainz 29.1. Then Gasly in P3 on a 30.1. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 14/58 VER: 1’30.128 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Ah, front tyres are getting way too hot. I can’t brake. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Understood. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 16/58 VER: 1’30.047 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Max, have a look at B-bal three, please. B-bal three. That’s rearward tyre pressure peak. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | I’m already in minus one, I should keep that on? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Yeah, initially, for now. Let’s have a look. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 19/58 VER: 1’30.076 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Start three. And engine seven position 10, engine seven position 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Strat four. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 21/58 VER: 1’29.695 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Max can I have a front flap update when you can please? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | At least two clicks more. But it’s really just tyres overheating, that is the main issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 28/58 VER: 1’30.274 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | So Max if you could just keep this pace to a high 29 if possible. Looking to slot into a reasonable gap. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Fuck’s sake. Locked up. I just can’t brake. Tyres are just too hot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lambiase left it until the last possible moment before telling Verstappen, waiting until he was driving down the pit lane towards his team. He left them in no doubt about his view of the decision, sarcastically asking if they could have a 20-second penalty, as he did in Mexico for a pair of incidents:
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| Lap: 29/58 VER: 1’31.857 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Max, have a look at B-bal two. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | So Max box and pit confirm. Box, pit confirm. Start 12 in pit lane. Max, we have a 10-second penalty, so just bring the car to a stop as quickly as possible. That’s your main focus. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 30/58 VER: 1’59.495 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Can we ask for 20 seconds? Stupid idiots. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Verstappen appeared to be treading on thin ice with his reaction. At the previous race last year his team mate Sergio Perez was given an official warning for his reaction to a penalty (which, coincidentally, also involved a McLaren driver).
Perez told his team “the stewards are a joke” after he was given a five-second time penalty. He was penalised as the stewards reminded him: “comments that amount to personal insults are a breach of the International Sporting Code.” Verstappen likely avoided trouble by not naming who he was referring to.
Despite a subdued final race of the season, Verstappen took time to thank his team as he returned to the pits at the end of the race.
| Chequered flag | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | [Unclear] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Yeah. I mean not the best, fastest race. But just wanted to say a big thank you for this season, guys. It’s not been easy at times. We still have quite a few things to improve on but still won a championship. So thank you very much for all the hard work the whole year, enjoy also a bit of time off and then we’ll get back at it again next year. Thank you, guys. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Thanks very much, Max. And once it wasn’t our day today, you’ve had an epic season. So thanks for that. And yeah, rest, and hard back at it next year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Yeah, exactly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Matthijs (@matthijs)
9th December 2024, 13:07
I think there was a good cause for the stewards to give Verstappen 10 seconds and 2 penalty points. But for Bottas and Piastri I felt it was excessive. What about let them race? Especially when it is on the first lap and when there is clearly no malicious intent (Bottas and Piastri accidents were just clumsy but in close traffic so that should be a factor).
Alonslow
9th December 2024, 16:30
If you let them race then you don’t issue penalties at all, Max saw the gap and went for it so why not almost got him, Oscar could have avoided him going a bit wide but doesn’t have to know Max was oversteering into him, Lap one, turn one, racing incident.
Bottas didn’t slow down enough and just kept the car there where there was 0 passing chance, Perez had a Ferrari alongside and could have done little to avoid contact from the car behind, but alright it’s lap one yes? racing incident.
Oscar bumped Colapinto in the back but hey close traffic right Colapinto probably pushed the brakes a bit, and lap one, racing incident.
If you want to let them race, no penalties, if we are going to issue penalties, all are very justified and this is exactly the way F1 should be, similar incidents, similar punishment, it shouldn’t matter that one punished driver is a ‘dirty’ one and the others are not.
Carl Parker (@mysticarl)
9th December 2024, 18:12
I’d say Bottas was harsh, mainly because of the line that Perez took was difficult to anticipate – if he’d taken a normal line Bottas wouldn’t have hit him; it was the cutting back by Perez that made it happen. Not that Perez shouldn’t be able to change line of course but I think it was a bit of mitigation.
On Piastri, the only mitigation was a bit of a jink near the braking zone by the Williams, but not really enough to excuse ramming him unless they could see on telemetry that the Williams broke early and I reserve the right to change my mind as I’m doing that from memory rather than lots of re-watching!
SPArtacus
11th December 2024, 3:42
Max got away with some things maybe he should not have earlier and then they do this thing of ridiculously overcompensating after Austin by giving him a penalty anytime possible. I hadn’t disagreed with any of his penalties besides the ridiculous one-place penalty until this one. Besides the fact that they’ve allowed drivers to get away with almost anything on Lap 1/T1, Max was literally as far to the left as possible and OP had lots of room on his right. He admitted he hadn’t even seen him, which really wasn’t Max’s fault. This is a race incident if I’ve seen a race incident. It’s what make the points even more absurd.
rprp
9th December 2024, 13:11
Bottas lap 1 with Perez, I’d agree was a tiny bit clumsy – there were a lot of people around jockeying for position. (But his later lock up with Magnussen was ten-pin-Bottas again).
Piastri’s lap 1 with Colapinto was deserving of a penalty. Drove into the back of him misjudging his braking. Nobody else really involved there. Just as clumsy as Verstappen’s divebomb, with bigger consequences for the driver on the receiving end.
Palindnilap (@palindnilap)
9th December 2024, 13:52
I had never realized that a 10-second penalty served at a pit stop actually costs a wee bit under 10 seconds, since the pit crew will always be positioned perfectly however much the driver undershoots or overshoots. Indeed that Verstappen tyre swap looked incredibly fast.
It would be fun to watch if the rules said that nobody in the pits could move during the penalty time.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
9th December 2024, 14:40
This is actually not true about the 10 seconds, because the pit crew have to be VERY careful to not start early, else they get another penalty, and hence they start slightly late, and if you notice, pit stops tend to be no faster than 13 sec when you got that penalty, which means 0,5-1 sec slower than a normal pit stop.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
9th December 2024, 14:40
True about last line!
Patrick (@paeschli)
9th December 2024, 22:33
A 10s penalty is really a 11s penalty since teams avoid trying to cut it close
SPArtacus
11th December 2024, 3:44
Had you ever watched time penalty stops, the pit stops usually end up taking 4+ seconds and therefore 5/10 second penalties really become 7 and 12 second penalties.
Sham
9th December 2024, 13:55
I felt all penalties yesterday were deserved – the Bottas/Perez one I thought 10s was harsh, but he did go for a gap that wasn’t realistically there.
The biggest surprise for me was that Verstappen wasn’t further penalised for his “Stupid Idiots” comment – someone really does need to teach him a little respect and humility.
SPArtacus
11th December 2024, 3:46
Perez just drove across and smacked into Bottas. He deserved a penalty for the KMag contact though.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
9th December 2024, 13:56
I don’t understand how a driver can insult the stewards directly on radio and be heard by everyone in the world and yet receive no penalty or investigation. I suspect the next driver to do it will get a huge penalty once they clarify the rules regarding comments back to stewards. We should hear what was said with George and the stewards cause I have a feeling the stewards in Qatar probably got their daily dose of Max Verstappen and I’m sure George heard a lot as he has stated.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
9th December 2024, 14:41
Yes, I was surprised by that, I thought he was looking for trouble when I heard it!
SPArtacus
11th December 2024, 3:49
If it weren’t the last race of the season, I think it would have become something. But this is one of those “well timed” breaches of conduct. Like a kid making an obscene gesture at their teacher on the last day of class when they’re already off school property.
roadrunner (@roadrunner)
9th December 2024, 14:26
Verstappens comments after the race show that things have changed. He’s has been getting away with a lot (too much?) for a long time. Austin was the turning point. Until than his modus operandi of pushing the rules to the absolute limit was mostly accepted, but the penalty against Norris while being the one that was driven of the road twice did finally change the mood in the GPDA and within the stewards. Under the reign of the new race director the penalties do apear to be more severe either. So it’s understandable that Verstappen struggles to deal with these changes, but that’s the new reality. He has to get used to it otherwise he’s likely to collect more penalties and ultimately a race ban.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
9th December 2024, 14:43
Although, with the margin he had this season, a race ban isn’t gonna be a big problem for him, he’d probably see it as an off weekend.
osnola
9th December 2024, 22:22
He already suggested something along that line in combination with the birth of his first child.
The Dolphins
9th December 2024, 16:15
I’m sure a race ban would have been a welcome test weekend for Red Bull to see just how fast Liam could be compared to Sergio in the Red Bull.
The Dolphins
9th December 2024, 16:25
Well played by GP to manage the situation. They both knew Max was in the wrong as soon as the cars touched and GP did not play into the victim radio messages, just focused on the technical tasks. As GP said in Hungary, “It’s childish, on the radio. Childish”
osnola
9th December 2024, 22:32
But that remark was not aimed at max!
But the habbit of trying to do a george (avant la latter)
SteveP
11th December 2024, 18:54
Rather clever of GP to phrase it in a way that doesn’t upset Max’s flock, don’t you think?
Those listening at the time would have noted a tone of voice that was reproving.
SPArtacus
11th December 2024, 3:51
It’s not because they thought he was in the wrong, but because he always reacts the wrong way on the radio. Lewis T-boned three cars in Miami at T1 and got no penalty. Max was fully in control of his car and OP had plenty of room on the outside and just wasn’t even looking in his mirrors.
Doh
10th December 2024, 19:00
Max saying he was super unlucky that Oscar didn’t just get out of his way. Can’t make this sorta stuff up. That’s what you get when you don’t leave the space.
SPArtacus
11th December 2024, 3:56
Watch out! Here comes one of Lewis’ unpaid prosecutors / hype men / defenders / etc. to twist words and events to make Max look like a villain regardless of the reality of the situation.
SteveP
11th December 2024, 8:13
Can I just say that Bottas was “super unlucky” in his collision with Perez