Former Haas F1 staff principal Guenther Steiner has remarkably in contrast the stewards’ resolution to not problem Max Verstappen a 10-second time penalty to a choose delivering a “lifelong sentence”.
Verstappen was livid within the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after receiving a five-second time penalty for leaving the circuit and gaining a bonus while battling Oscar Piastri on the primary lap.
Piastri was judged as forward on the apex, earlier than Verstappen darted throughout the chicane earlier than rejoining within the lead.
The penalty value him victory, though it was not the standard punishment for breaching Article 33.3 of F1’s sporting rules.
Leaving the circuit and gaining a bonus normally warrants a 10-second time penalty; nonetheless, the stewards halved Verstappen’s punishment as a consequence of believing that the incident occurring on the primary lap was a mitigating circumstance.
Steiner didn’t agree with the four-time world champion being punished, though would fairly see the FIA problem a full penalty fairly than being “well mannered” and giving half.
“[The stewards] are all the time making an attempt to be well mannered, do not upset anyone,” Steiner advised the Purple Flags podcast.
“I imply, a choose, if he is sitting there, clearly, if he offers somebody a lifelong sentence with out parole, he is aware of that the man just isn’t going to be pleased with him, however that is his job.
“I am sorry, he is simply doing his job. Typically, for those who really feel like [a driver] did one thing flawed, give him [Verstappen] 10 seconds and justify it and clarify it, finish of story.
“For those who’re this, ‘yeah, as a result of it was the primary [lap]’, so now now we have, once more, a unique device for the primary lap. It is once more, wishy washy, once more.”
