F1 News
Verstappen doesn't understand FIA 'nitpicking': 'Nothing dangerous about it
Max Verstappen understands little of the FIA's decision to investigate his moment in the pit lane. The Dutchman was eventually cleared, but had to report to the stewards.
Verstappen secured a third starting spot in F1 qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix. Still, it was another wait and see for the Dutchman, as he, like many other drivers, had to report to the stewards after qualifying. This was because Verstappen allegedly hindered other drivers in the pit lane.
Verstappen does not understand it
The problem has arisen since the new rule of a minimum time between safety car line 1 and 2. Drivers have to meet a certain time and so cannot hold back on the track. Therefore, they hold back in the pit lane instead, to create space for a fast lap. Verstappen already revealed at the press conference that he wants another solution for this.
However, that solution is not there yet and so Verstappen had to go to the stewards. "I see this as nitpicking. There was nothing dangerous going on and I did nothing different from the drivers around me. I don't really understand the problem," Verstappen told De Telegraaf.
Afterwards, Verstappen was eventually cleared by the stewards because they now also recognise that the rule cannot be enforced. This is the safest way for drivers to create space for a fast lap, although Carlos Sainz argued that there needs to be another solution. However, this requires a different mindset from the FIA and possibly a major rule change.