Max Verstappen has voiced his frustration with the FIA following a controversial decision during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The reigning Formula One champion was unhappy with how the race concluded, particularly after a crash involving his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Verstappen finished the race in fifth place, a slight improvement from his qualifying position. Despite his disappointment, he found some solace in the fact that his championship rival, Lando Norris, also faced challenges, finishing in fourth after a yellow flag during qualifying.
The incident that sparked Verstappen’s ire occurred on the penultimate lap when Perez collided with Sainz while battling for third place. The resulting debris led to the race concluding under a virtual safety car, a decision that Verstappen criticized.
“I don’t understand why it took so long to deploy a safety car,” he told RacingNews365. “There are two cars right against the wall. The track is blocked, and there’s dirt everywhere. Why use a virtual safety car instead of a full safety car? It just doesn’t make sense.”
Adding to his troubles, Verstappen received an official warning after the race for breaching rules regarding yellow flags. After the chequered flag, he drove past Norris and George Russell to congratulate them on their podium finishes, which technically violated regulations concerning overtaking during yellow flag conditions, even though it occurred post-finish.
The race stewards issued a statement clarifying that while passing after the chequered flag is not uncommon, it is prohibited during yellow or safety car procedures. Verstappen’s warning serves as a reminder of the strict rules governing driver conduct in Formula One, with the stewards warning that further breaches could lead to significant penalties.
As Verstappen continues to navigate the challenges of the season, this incident underscores the ongoing tensions between drivers and race officials, particularly when it comes to the interpretation of race regulations.
