Max Verstappen accepts FIA burnout clampdown despite feeling it was "funny and safe"

Verstappen burnout in Austria — Photo: © LAT Images

Austrian Grand Prix

Verstappen accepts FIA burnout clampdown despite feeling it was "funny and safe"

Red Bull driver came under fire for victory burnout in Syrian GP

Will Gray

Thursday 1 July 2021 15:44 Updated: 16:03

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has heeded the warning issued by the FIA after performing a burnout to celebrate his Styrian Grand Prix triumph on Sunday that he felt at the time was "funny and safe".

FIA race director Michael Masi stated after the race such a move "would not be tolerated in future" given the fact it endangers other cars still racing to the line.

Speaking for the first time after the incident, the Dutch driver initially joked he "will try to do a donut next time".

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Verstappen, however, accepts the FIA's concerns. He added: “I understand of course about safety but I looked in my mirrors, went all the way to the right and just did a burnout.

“I won’t do it again, but at the time I thought it was really funny and safe, but of course I understand they [the FIA] don’t want to see this happening again, which is fine for me.”

Verstappen escaped without a fine or punishment, unlike some other drivers whose victory celebrations have been punished in the past, leading to criticism of the FIA from some for the stifling of celebrations.

Asked if a more open approach is required, Verstappen joked: “Yeah, bungi jumping, cage fighting, back-flips with the car.

"The FIA likes that you think, or not? Maybe we can improve it. Maybe we get some bonus points as well, that would be great!”

Alonso backs Verstappen celebration

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso was one of several drivers that supported Verstappen’s celebration, citing post-race burnouts and donuts as a fan favourite and calling for the FIA to focus on ‘more important’ rulings.

Alonso added: ”This burnout, I think it was nice to watch. Even the donuts, in Abu Dhabi, I think the fans like that and you see a lot of videos of those moments on social media and so on.

“I think the FIA should police more the track limits. [Last weekend] I was the only one making a move into turn one at the start and the two cars that I overtook missed turn one and they exited in front of me. No warnings on that but there is for the burnout.”

Nicholas Latifi was the first driver to come upon Verstappen as he performed the burnout but the Williams driver managed to keep clear, moving far to the left to avoid a potential incident.

Latifi experienced a similar situation in 2015 when racing in Formula Renault 3.5 at the same track, crashing into Roberto Merhi who had slowed considerably as the Canadian raced Tom Dillmann to the line for fifth.

Latifi was pleased with the FIA’s clampdown and said: “Obviously, when I went over the finish line I saw Max pulling to the inside, so I just made sure to stay as far to the left as possible.

“I guess in general it’s not the best thing to really, really slow down that much. I mean, in that situation there were no cars directly behind him that were racing. That wasn’t the situation all those years ago.

“I was racing with another car quite close and as a result, I had my eyes in my mirrors and was not expecting a car to be stopped right in front of me on the grid. It can end very badly, as we saw back in 2015.

“There needs to be a bit of a compromise in that sense. Obviously, [FIA race director] Michael [Masi] thought it was dangerous so I don’t think other cars will be doing that in future. It is probably best not to slow down that much.”