Verstappen verdict after second FIA investigation after FP2 Colapinto incident
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen spoke with the FIA’s stewards for a second time on Friday after an incident with Franco Colapinto during FP2 at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Colapinto was handed a warning for “unnecessarily” impeding the Red Bull driver.
Two practices, two stewards’ visits for Max Verstappen
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Verstappen had an incident-filled day at the Suzuka circuit on Friday, although none of it was his fault.
The Red Bull driver spoke with the stewards after FP1, having been caught out by Lewis Hamilton in a “what the f**k” moment.
Verstappen closed in on the back of the Ferrari driver, who was not only on a slow lap but was running in the middle of the track, which forced the Dutch racer to jink to the left to avoid a collision.
The stewards cleared Hamilton of wrongdoing, ruling: “Car 3 approached with a significant speed differential but was able to pass Car 44 without being required to brake, lift, or deviate from its intended racing line.
“In this case, the Stewards are satisfied that, although Car 3 was momentarily influenced by the positioning of Car 44, it was not forced to take evasive action.”
Verstappen made his second visit to the stewards after FP2, this time with Colapinto’s driving under investigation.
The stewards noted a Turn 15 incident, with Colapinto potentially driving erratically ahead of Verstappen.
The note read: “Alleged breach of Article B4.1.1 of the FIA F1 Regulations – Car 43 allegedly impeding Car 3 in Turn 15.”
After speaking with both drivers and team representatives, the stewards gave Colapinto a warning.
The ruling read: “Car 43 was weaving across the track warming tyres on the straight between turns 14 and 15 when Car 3 approached at high speed. Team radio confirmed that the Drive of Car 43 had received progressive warnings from the team that Car 3 was behin and closing.
“When Car 3 arrived, Car 43 stopped weaving but remained on the racing line and then accelerated but the closing speed of the two cars was such that the Driver of Car 3 had to abandon his push lap.
“The Driver of Car 43 candidly acknowledged that he had impeded Car 3. He said that he had misjudged the closing speed and accelerated to attempt to prevent the impeding but had insufficient energy to do so. The Driver of Car 3 said that he expected Car 43 to move to the left and when he saw that wasn’t happening, he abandoned his lap.
“The Stewards determined that the Driver of Car 43 unnecessarily impeded Car 3 and impose the usual penalty for such an infringement in a Free Practice session of a warning.”
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