Decision reached after FIA investigation into Max Verstappen Dutch GP Sprint incident

ZANDVOORT – Max Verstappen has escaped punishment after the stewards investigated the local favourite for an infringement prior to the start of the Dutch GP Sprint.

Along with Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda, deputising at Racing Bulls, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and Williams’ Carlos Sainz were all noted for “failing to follow the race directors’ instructions”.

Stewards announce investigation into Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda

Official timing noted the issues ahead of the race, with Verstappen and Tsunoda to be investigated.

“Incident involving Car 3 (VER) will be investigated after the Sprint – Failing to follow race directors instructions,” was the message on the official FIA timing system.

An identical message was made in relation to Tsunoda.

In Bottas and Sainz’s case, the Williams driver was deemed to have overtaken his Cadillac counterpart during the formation lap as he pulled into the pit lane.

But having reviewed the available video evidence, the stewards handed Sainz a warning, citing that the Spaniard’s scheduled pit lane start rendered the violation “redundant”.

Verstappen, a three-time race winner on home soil at Zandvoort, and Hamilton came home line astern in sixth and seventh, putting their point scores under potential threat.

Following their investigation after the 24-lap encounter, officials deemed the incident warranted no penalty as further details came to light.

“Car 3 stopped before reaching Safety Car Line 1 and therefore did not reach the grid (as defined in item 24 of the Race Director’s Competition Notes) under its own
power,” the stewards document outlined.

“However, as the end of the grid was extremely crowded when the car reached the grid, the Stewards determine the the driver acted appropriately and stopped the
car in a safe spot as close as possible to the grid. Therefore no penalty is applied.”

A total of six drivers were caught for the same infringement, with Lance Stroll, Tsunida, Lewis Hamilton, and Bottas all going unpunished for what was an operational error.

Reporting by Taylor Powling

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