Verstappen confused about FIA penalties: 'I was expecting 20 or 30 seconds'
Red Bull Content Pool
F1 News
- Nicole Mulder
Max Verstappen immediately apologised to Oscar Piastri after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but said he no longer understands anything about the penalties handed out by the FIA stewards. After the Formula 1 race, he explained what happened and reacted sarcastically to the penalty he received.
Verstappen doesn't understand anything about FIA penalties
At the first corner at the Yas Marina Circuit, Verstappen got away well and dived down the inside of Piastri after overtaking Carlos Sainz. However, the Dutchman went wide and hit the McLaren driver, having a big impact on the race of both drivers. Verstappen immediately took responsibility and therefore did not think Piastri could have done anything to avoid contact.
"The thing was, I think when you're in that position, you're focusing on the car ahead, you commit. That's how I feel it as well when you start first or second, you never really look behind," Verstappen replied to GPblog and others when asked whether Piastri could have given him more space in the first corner.
"So I went for it, and then I realised, 'S***, he doesn't see me there'. So I was trying to get out of it, but then we sort of clipped. Of course, that is on me," the Dutchman admitted. However, he questions the penalty - ten seconds and two penalty points on his licence. "I was expecting maybe 20 seconds, 30 seconds. I don't know, stop and go. It's maybe something to talk about for next time."
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels too!