Verstappen under pressure: Collision with Russell and new punishments threaten!

Verstappen under pressure: Collision with Russell and new punishments threaten!

Baku, Aserbaidschan - Max Verstappen, the 27-year-old four-time Formula 1 world champion, vehemently defended himself against criticism after a controversial incident at the Grand Prix of Spain. Despite considerable feedback from driver colleagues and the media, Verstappen did not comment on damage limitation, but made a mocking remark towards George Russell. Russell, who drives for Mercedes, had criticized Verstappen because of a risky driving style, in the course of which the two vehicles came into contact. After the race, Verstappen received a lot of criticism, including from "Salzburger Nachrichten" and "La Gazzetta Dello Sport". Nevertheless, he was elected by the fans as the driver of the race.

The incident occurred in the final phase of an action -packed race that Verstappen was able to win for Red Bull for the first time in 2016. Confusion created Verstappen's approach, which was instructed by his team to overtake Russell again, which led to the collision. In addition, Verstappen exposed his displeasure through the tire selection during the safety car phase during the race. Lando Norris, who finally took second place, also made a joke about the driving behavior of Verstappen.

penalties and points

Because of his behavior, Verstappen received a ten-second penalty and ended the race in tenth place. This placement only brought him a point in the World Cup, which increases its total number to 11 points. At a further accumulation of points within a year, Verstappen could be blocked for a Grand Prix. The punishment system in Formula 1 is strict; When 12 points reach within 12 months, a driver is automatically blocked for a race. This regulation was established to punish repeated violations. For example, Romain Grosjean in 2012 was excluded due to several violations for a race.

Clarification of incidents in Baku

In addition to the situation in Spain, there was also a current decision regarding Verstappen for overtaking vehicles under the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. In this case, Verstappen was acquitted of a punishment and instead received a warning from the racing commissioners. In this incident, Verstappen overtaken several vehicles after the target flag under the VSC phase, a behavior that is not unusual, but is prohibited in certain situations. The Grand Prix in Baku was won by Oscar Piatri.

The system of penalty points remains a central topic in the current Formula 1 season. With 11 points, Verstappen is the leading driver in the "Sündenkartei", followed by other drivers such as Lawson with 6 points and Norris with 3 points. Careful handling on the route will be essential for all participants in order to avoid unpleasant consequences and to maintain sporting integrity.

For further information on the current regulations and points in Formula 1, see Motorsport.com , which explain the penalty points and their effects in detail. The events around Verstappen and his punishments are also shown in detail, as in Formula1.com . For further, current reporting on Verstappen and the fight for the World Cup, visit RP online .