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What does Verstappen penalty in Singapore say about possible Mexico penalty
Max Verstappen drove the third fastest time in qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix, which was good for a place on the second row of the grid. There is only a but: the Red Bull Racing driver may face a grid penalty for driving too slowly out of the pit lane. How realistic is the chance of a penalty?
Verstappen - like Fernando Alonso and George Russell - may have waited too long to drive out of the pit lane, according to the FIA. The Dutchman was able to enter the track but waited in the 'fast lane' holding up other drivers.
The 26-year-old Dutchman did the same in qualifying in Singapore. He wanted to create a gap to the rest of the field and stood still for a long time, waiting for the green light. Verstappen was penalised with a reprimand but was thus not put back on the grid.
The stewards announced the day after the Singapore Grand Prix that they were still of the opinion that a reprimand was an appropriate punishment, as "waiting in the pit lane is not explicitly forbidden by the rules". However, they did advise the FIA to come up with rules for this in the future.
Whether and what penalty (reprimand or grid penalty) Verstappen gets, we will hear later today when the stewards deliver their verdict.