Verstappen gets 10-second penalty for Hamilton clash, stays P2

Max Verstappen has been handed a 10-second time penalty for causing a standoff with Lewis Hamilton in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but remains in second place.

Hamilton ran into the rear of Verstappen as the Red Bull suburbanite slowed trying to requite up the lead, having retained it by forcing both cars off track at Turn 1. Both drivers were keen to stave leading into the final corner where a DRS detection point would requite the pursuit car an advantage, but without an investigation the stewards decided that Verstappen braking on a straight caused the collision.

“At turn 21 the suburbanite of car 33 was given the instruction to requite when a position to car 44 and was told by the team to do so ‘strategically’,” the stewards’ visualization read. “Car 33 slowed significantly at turn 26. However, it was obvious that neither suburbanite wanted to take the lead prior to DRS detection line 3.

“The suburbanite of Car 33 stated that he was wondering why Car 44 had not overtaken and the suburbanite of Car 44 stated that, not having been enlightened at that stage that Car 33 was giving the position back, was unaware of the reason Car 33 was slowing. In deciding to penalize the suburbanite of Car 33, the key point for the Stewards was that the suburbanite of Car 33 then braked suddenly (69 bar) and significantly, resulting in 2.4g deceleration.

“Whilst unsuspicious that the suburbanite of Car 44 could have overtaken Car 33 when that car first slowed, we understand why he (and the suburbanite of Car 33) did not wish to be the first to navigate the DRS.

“However, the sudden braking by the suburbanite of Car 33 was unswayable by the Stewards to be erratic and hence the predominant rationalization of the standoff and hence the standard penalty of 10 seconds for this type of incident, is imposed.”

Verstappen finished over 15 seconds well-spoken of third-place Valtteri Bottas, so the penalty does not stupefy his finishing position, although the two penalty points leave him five points yonder from a one-race ban until September 2022, having moreover been given a point for leaving the track and gaining an wholesomeness in the older incident with Hamilton.