Even though we are entering a new race week, with Formula 1 already on the scene Suzuka, in Japan, the Singapore Grand Prix left still hot waste. One of these concerns the commissioners' decision FIA not to give any penalties to Max Verstappen, involved in three impediments during Saturday's qualifying.
GP Singapore and the penalty not given to Verstappen: what happened
At Marina Bay we saw a Red Bull that was significantly inferior to the usual RB19, the true dominator of this season together with Verstappen. Although the car did not perform as Max would have liked, or at least expected, the Dutchman certainly wasn't flawless. The three impediments reported, but then not penalized, by the FIA concern very different situations. The first impediment occurs in the pit lane: at the green light, the first cars in front of Verstappen immediately take to the track, while the Dutchman waits, blocking the entire group behind and gaining clear road before entering the track. The second, however, is an obstruction caused to Sargeant who was on his fast lap. In the last one, however, the protagonist is Tsunoda: the Japanese is on his fast lap, he arrives at turn 2 but is forced to slow down because Verstappen – who is in front of him – doesn't move.
The decision of the FIA
Following the investigation, the FIA through three different press releases he announces his decision: double fine for Max and no penalty. A choice that left quite a bit perplexed within the paddock, as even Verstappen himself in the post-qualifying he had assumed that some penalty would arrive for him"What if I expect to be penalised? Could be, but starting eleventh won't change me much”. Verstappen emerged unscathed and, the following day, crossed the finish line of the Singapore GP in fifth place in the standings.
Croft: “A steward confirmed that Verstappen was penalized in Singapore”
However, what fuels the tension even more, in addition to the decision taken by the stewards, are the words of Sky UK commentator David Croft"Talking to several teams, I learned that one of the Singapore stewards admitted that Verstappen should have been penalized for at least impeding Tsunoda and perhaps also for the inconvenience that occurred in the pit lane”, therefore confirming the idea of the paddock, even if in reality the final results – complete with a press release – proved to be completely opposite.
