Verstappen discovers verdict after Sainz investigation following furious radio rant
15:35, 18 Jul
2 Comments
Kieran Lynch
The stewards have decided to take no further action against Carlos Sainz after both he and Max Verstappen was summoned after a moment which left the Dutchman furious at the end of FP3.
Both drivers were called by the stewards after an incident under double yellow flags, which had been caused by Lewis Hamilton's crash at Spa-Francorchamps.
Verstappen was left incensed after slowing for the caution zone, believing Sainz had come dangerously close to the rear of his Red Bull. The reigning world champion immediately vented his frustration over team radio.
"What the f***? My god! It's, like double yellows and this car, it almost crashes in the back of me. Unbelievable."
The FIA summoned both drivers to explain their tale of events, with a grid penalty among the possible sanctions if the stewards deemed Sainz had breached regulations for allegedly breaching yellow flags.
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Sainz and Verstappen incident was a "misunderstanding"
The statement explaining the decision of no further action read: "During the session Car 44 (Hamilton) collided with the barrier at the exit of turn 13 triggering a double yellow sector from the approach to turn 12 to turn 14. Car 55 (Sainz) and Car 3 (Verstappen) had both passed through this double yellow sector on the previous lap.
"Car 55 was behind Car 3 on the approach to the double yellow zone. Both cars commenced braking prior to the start of the zone but the driver of Car 3 applied more brake pressure than the driver of Car 55 had expected and as a consequence the driver of Car 55 had to take evasive action and move to the right of Car 3, locking brakes but not overtaking. Both drivers stated they were surprised, the driver of Car 3 by Car 55 closing so quickly after Car 3 had commenced braking before the zone, and the driver of Car 55 by Car 3 braking more heavily than he had anticipated.
"The relevant rules require a driver to reduce speed significantly when passing through a double waved yellow marshalling sector. Compliance with the rules does not expressly require that a significant speed reduction occur before the sector but in this case both drivers had commenced to do so, both braking approximately 80m before the start of the sector. By the time Car 55 entered the double yellow sector, it had reduced speed significantly and maintained a significantly reduced speed throughout the sector.
"The Stewards were therefore satisfied that the driver of Car 55 committed no infringement, the locking of brakes was attributable to a misunderstanding of relative braking and determined to take no further action."
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