Max Verstappen on Charles Leclerc: Ferrari want punishment for Austria overtake

Austrian GP

Ferrari want Verstappen punished for Leclerc pass, but add call for rule-change

Candid from Mattia Binotto!

Matthew Scott

Sunday 30 June 2019 17:24

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Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto called for Max Verstappen to be penalised for his race-winning pass on Charles Leclerc, but admitted his belief that regulations should prevent stewards from intervening.

Verstappen pulled off an astonishing recovery drive after dropping down the order at the start to win Red Bull's home race for a second year in succession, and deliver a first Honda-powered victory since 2006.

After charging back through the field, Verstappen caught Leclerc with six laps to go and finally made a move stick at the third time of asking, but the Monegasque had to leave the track as Verstappen squeezed him out.

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Binotto told Sky Sports: "The rules are clear. It's a matter of causing a collision and forcing a driver off track. We trust the stewards."

Binotto was being interviewed by Martin Brundle and the former racer offered a firm opinion that Verstappen should not be punished, prompting the Ferrari boss into a candid admission.

He said: "I agree with you, I think we should leave them race.

"It's something we need to change for the future, but as a matter of fact the regulations do not permit such an action. But let's look at how the rules are written."

Brundle sardonically suggested that DRS-assisted passes are the only ones allowed in F1 and Binotto replied with a smile: "At the moment it's like that, yes."