The official announcement was expected, now it's here. Max Verstappen drops to fourth position in the Sprint in Brazil due to a 5-second penalty applied post-race by FIA. The Sprint Race of the Brazilian GP, won by Lando Norris, had ended with the investigation pending on Max Verstappen for possible infringement committed during the Virtual Safety Car regime. Charles Leclerc therefore takes back third place.
Virtual safety car dynamics
Between laps 23 and 24, the Sprint was neutralized by the Virtual Safety Car caused by a problem with Nico Hulkenberg's car. He stopped his Haas at the side of the track.
Waiting to attack Oscar Piastri at the end of the VSC regime to grab second place and trying to close in on Lando Norris, at the end but before the race returned to green flag conditions, Verstappen visibly closed in on Piastri towards turn 4. Both went down the straight towards the corner at full throttle. With Verstappen who, at the moment of the ENDING VSC appearance, almost got alongside the Australian on the inside, then pulled back from overtaking.
The Dutchman, fresh from a 20-second penalty in Mexico, was summoned by the stewards on charges of not respecting the delta time.
"From what we've seen everything seems fine, but let's see.“, said Red Bull boss Christian Horner at the end of the Sprint Race.
FIA rules, 5-second penalty and 1 point on superlicense for Verstappen in Sprint in Brazil
Max Verstappen was therefore demoted from third to fourth position. He was overtaken by Charles Leclerc, losing three to Lando Norris, instead of the two he actually earned at the end of the Sprint. In this final sprint for the World Title, they could prove decisive.
This is the official FIA press release with the decision on Verstappen:
Article 56.5 reads in part: “All cars must be above this minimum time even when the FIA light panels turn green.” The driver was 0,63 seconds below the minimum time at the end of the VSC when the FIA light panels turned green. This indicates a sporting advantage gained under 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 attempted to correct the error but was unable to do so by the time the light panels turned green. This is an infringement and the standard penalty for the advantage gained at that time applies.
The net effect is that the driver has found himself ahead of the position he was in at the start of the VSC and not because of the car in front having moved backwards.
