
F1 officials admit Verstappen incident in Singapore SHOULD have been grid penalty
F1 News
F1 officials admit Verstappen incident in Singapore SHOULD have been grid penalty

Stewards appear to have acknowledged their error in not penalising Max Verstappen for impeding in Singapore, and clarified that future offences of that type will lead to a three-place grid penalty.
The reigning world champion, who suffered a surprisingly poor qualifying session during the Singapore Grand Prix that led to elimination in Q2, faced an investigation for impeding on three occasions but escaped a grid penalty.
It was confirmed that Verstappen did impede Yuki Tsunoda's lap, yet he received only a reprimand. This leniency was attributed to the fact that Max was not informed by his team via radio about Tsunoda's imminent arrival.
In Suzuka, the stewards made a public U-turn, by clarifying that the incorrect judgment in the Verstappen case would not set a precedent for similar situations.
Race steward Matteo Perini, who was part of the stewards' panel in Singapore and is again in Japan, emphasised that starting immediately, unmistakable cases of impeding like Verstappen's incident with Tsunoda will always lead to a three-place grid penalty in the future.

READ MORE: Unstoppable Verstappen is a MAJOR PROBLEM for F1
Verstappen wasn't the only one who got away
Logan Sargeant, in a similar misjudgment in Singapore, impeded Lance Stroll in Q1 but received only a reprimand due to poor communication with his team.
Critics noted these incidents could set a dangerous precedent, suggesting that avoiding penalties for impeding could be as simple as not informing drivers via radio, potentially compromising safety.
The stewards' decision in these cases was notably inconsistent with previous rulings. Earlier in the year, during the Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was penalised for obstructing Lando Norris in the tunnel. This penalty was imposed despite the fault lying with Ferrari for not notifying Leclerc.
Given the often-heard accusations of unfairness and double standards against the stewards, this clarification provides an opportunity for them to strive for a fairer and more consistent approach in judgments going forward.
READ MORE: Palmer identifies the culprit behind Red Bull's Singapore letdown
Related news

Horner compares Verstappen to legendary F1 champion

Verstappen shares sad realisation after historic season

Verstappen left 'SHAKING' after high-stakes F1 battle

Dapper Verstappen poses with Spice Girl and Piquet at special FIA ceremony
Most read

F1 News Today: FIA chief HOSPITALISED as organisation announce F1 team ban

F1 champion claims Wolff has 'lost his marbles' as McLaren star makes 'girlfriend' admission - GPFans F1 Recap

Verstappen stuns at FIA event as Perez SNUBS Red Bull chief - GPFans F1 Recap

McLaren star makes startling 'girlfriend' admission

FIA officially BAN on F1 teams working on cars
F1 Standings

Drivers
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Nyck De Vries
- Liam Lawson
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
-
Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
-
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Australia 2023
-
Grand Prix of China 2023
-
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
-
Miami Grand Prix 2023
-
Qatar Airways Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
-
Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
-
AWS Gran Premio de España 2023
-
Grand Prix du Canada 2023
-
Grand Prix of Austria 2023
-
Aramco Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
-
Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
-
Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
-
Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Italy 2023
-
Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
-
Grand Prix of Japan 2023
-
Qatar Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of the United States 2023
-
Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
-
Rolex Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2023
-
Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media

7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860