FIA on Hamilton and Verstappen collision: 'That's why they waited'

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was a true spectacle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The Briton crashed into the back of Max Verstappen's car, for which the Dutchman only received a penalty after the race. Michael Masi explains in conversation with Motorsport.com why the penalty took so long.

Verstappen caught up with his rival unjustly just before the incident, prompting his team to instruct him to give the position back. However, when he did so by reducing speed, Hamilton drove hard at him. The stewards investigated the incident by inviting both drivers out after the race and decided Verstappen was at fault.

Masi looked into the incident extensively, he says in the interview. "The incident in Turn 27 I discussed with the stewards. That's why they waited to investigate until after the race. We simply wanted to get the full perspective of the drivers involved to understand the full situation," the race director explained.

Verstappen receives time penalty from stewards

Red Bull's driver was handed a ten-second time penalty after the race. However, as he had a large lead over Valtteri Bottas, this meant nothing for his final position in Saudi Arabia.