Why Hamilton and Verstappen crash penalties can't be compared

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash — Photo: © LAT Images

FIA

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Why Hamilton and Verstappen crash penalties can't be compared

Both drivers have shared blame for the two crashes this season

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Wednesday 15 September 2021 12:44

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FIA race director Michael Masi is adamant the penalties handed to F1 title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen for their clashes this season are not comparable.

The two championship rivals dramatically collided at the Italian Grand Prix, with Verstappen given a three-place grid penalty for the next race in Russia after being found to be "predominantly to blame" for the incident.

At Silverstone, Hamilton received a 10-second penalty for taking Verstappen out of the British Grand Prix, albeit shrugging off the punishment to win his home race for a record eighth time.

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"One of the things we have generally agreed amongst the teams is that a five- or a 10-second penalty, give or take, is there or thereabouts between the two of them," explained Masi.

"You need to look at it on the basis of if they had continued, it would have been a time penalty in the race. However, they didn't.

"With Silverstone, you can't compare them at all. You have got two cars taken out in one incident versus one car taken out in another incident, as in they stopped so they could not continue to serve a penalty, is what I am trying to explain.

"A grid penalty, as we have seen, as we have agreed with all of the teams, is what is applied this year for when someone doesn't continue."

FIA reiterates stance of reviewing incidents on "merit"

The collision meant Verstappen left a circuit deemed to be a Mercedes stronghold with his championship lead intact.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggested the move was a "tactical foul" on the Dutchman's part.

Masi reiterated, however, the FIA was not concerned about the consequences of particular incidents.

"I think from the FIA perspective, together with the stewards, we look at each and every incident on its merit, regardless if it is Lewis, if it is Max, if it is whoever," he added.