The penalty was in the air, but now it’s confirmed: the stewards have decided to sanction Max Verstappen with a five-second penalty (and 1 point on his super license) at the end of the Sprint race in Brazil for failing to respect the delta time under Virtual Safety Car conditions on the final lap.
Verstappen loses the podium
The Dutch superstar thus loses the podium he had earned (and another point over Norris) in favor of Charles Leclerc, who regains third position.
The triggering cause of the controversy regarding Verstappen’s delta time dates back to lap 22, when Nico Hulkenberg, forced to retire due to a mechanical issue, parked his car between Mergulho (turn 10) and Juncao (turn 11).
Still in the process of “ending,” Max Verstappen nearly alongside Oscar Piastri in turn 4, then suddenly lifted off the throttle and did not brake hard to avoid trouble. However, the issue did not concern the overtaking attempt but rather the delta time that was not respected on the dashboard.
“It was very tight,” the Dutchman said heatedly at the end of the race. “We got very close, and then I had to brake.”
According to the regulations, drivers must not drive “unnecessarily slowly, irregularly, or in a manner that could be considered potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person at any time while the VSC procedure is in effect.”
Furthermore, drivers must “reduce speed and remain above the minimum time set by the FIA at least once in each sector, at both the first and second safety car lines,” and “must be above this minimum time when the FIA lights turn green.”
Steward’s explanation
“The driver was 0.63 seconds below the minimum time at the end of the VSC when the FIA lights turned green. This indicates a sporting advantage gained during the VSC.”
“The driver explained that while waiting for the end of the VSC and receiving notification that he was below the minimum time, he tried to correct the error but was unable to do so before the lights turned green. This is an infringement, and the standard penalty for the advantage gained at that moment is applied.”
The net effect of this is that the driver found himself at an advantage compared to where he was at the start of the VSC and not due to the car ahead dropping out.
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