Verstappen avoids Dutch GP penalty after red flag incident
The Dutchman became as soon as summoned to gape the stewards on Saturday morning when it emerged that he had handed Stroll within the 2d session after the red flags were brought out for Lewis Hamilton’s stranded Mercedes.
Photos of the incident showed that Verstappen had been on a transient lap, with Stroll driving slowly, when he overtook the Aston Martin sooner than backing off at this time.
Following discussions with Verstappen and Red Bull’s wearing director Jonathan Wheatley, the FIA deemed that while the Dutchman has handed Stroll, that had been because he had no longer been responsive to the red flag earlier than that 2d.
A assertion from the stewards talked about: “The Speed Management Machine indicates that the red flag and red lights were initiated at 15: 10: 12. When VER handed Gentle Panel 14 (which is earlier than the purpose of the overtake) it became as soon as no longer illuminated.
“As VER approached the rear of the auto (interior a few metres) of STR, the red gentle on VER’s guidance wheel activated.
“At this point VER’s bound became as soon as 260 km/h and STR’s became as soon as 110km/h, a delta of 150 km/h. At this point, telemetry reveals that VER at this time lifted and braked.
“Thanks to the rate delta, VER’s momentum carried him past STR. Simultaneously the Gentle Panel 15 (exhibiting red) became visible to VER. At approximately 15: 10: 17 the team radioed VER “Red Flag”.
“It is our conclusion that the driver of Automobile 33 took every realistic depart to conform with the regulations in that he at this time diminished bound in a right manner on the earliest different upon the predominant indication of the red flag, even sooner than a red flag or red gentle panel became as soon as visible to him, and that this satisfies the requirements of the Code (Paintings 2.5.4.1 b of Appendix H of the World Sporting Code).”
Had Verstappen been found responsible of breaching the foundations, then it is miles seemingly that he would were handed a grid penalty for his home urge at Zandvoort.