A few days after the conclusion of the Qatar Grand Prix still discuss the penalties imposed on Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas, relegated to the starting grid – by five and three positions respectively – for not respecting the yellow flag regime in the final stages of qualifying. In a situation of lack of clarity on the communication of the danger on the track by the marshals, among those who have expressed their opposition to the decision of the stewards there is also a former driver of the caliber of Martin Brundle.
The British, via their own editorial on Sky Sports, in fact, criticized the verdict of the Race Direction, the same that had sent Red Bull team principal Christian Horner into a rage, immediately after the sanction was officially sanctioned: “I think the penalties for Verstappen and Bottas were a little too hard – said Brundle – the FIA, which generally does an impressive job managing highly complex regulations, has spent two hellish weeks, protracted from the incident between the two title contenders in Brazil onwards ”.
With regard to the episode that took place in Interlagos, which had not resulted in a penalty to the detriment of Verstappen – author of a defense to the limit on Hamilton – Brundle himself had expressed himself, in that case, in favor of an action against the Dutchman. However, just under a week after that episode, Brundle himself criticized the move of the Race Direction in Qatar, which judged the moves of the number 33 and Valtteri Bottas to be irregular: “I continue to argue that the yellow flags must be respected and considered as an absolute priority – commented – but in that moment the drivers faced their last corner without noticing the danger signal either from their cockpit or on the steering wheel. Not surprisingly, they were even able to open the DRS. There were extenuating circumstances, and I myself would have struggled to notice the marshal waving the flags. Moreover, the fact that Sainz has instead raised his foot has generated further confusion. Formula 1 landed on a brand new circuit that entered the calendar during construction, and it showed. In the end, however, nothing has changed for Verstappen, except for the possibility of fighting with Hamilton from the first corner. At the same time – he concluded – Bottas would have finished in third place, if the puncture he suffered after 30 laps on the same tires had not occurred ”.
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