P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen was given the “hardest” permitted penalty in Formula 1 for his Austrian Grand Prix clash with Lando Norris, according to FIA steward Johnny Herbert. Verstappen and Norris were contesting the race lead with seven laps remaining at the Red Bull Ring when disaster struck as contact saw both drivers incur punctures. The stewards […]
Verstappen and Norris were battling for the lead at the Red Bull Ring when they collided, resulting in punctures for both drivers. The stewards penalized Verstappen with a 10-second time drop for causing the incident by moving across on Norris during braking. Herbert, among the stewards, revealed they were considering penalizing Norris for track limits just before the collision occurred. Despite McLaren’s assertion that the penalty should have been harsher, Herbert explained that the stewards followed the guidelines and applied the maximum sanction allowed under FIA regulations.
He emphasized the importance of consistency in applying penalties and stated that there is no sliding scale of penalties for incidents in Formula 1. The stewards approach each case objectively and do not single out specific drivers like Verstappen for harsher treatment. Herbert highlighted that the stewards were solely reacting to the incident at hand and not targeting any particular driver. In conclusion, he stressed the necessity of following the regulations to maintain fairness and consistency in race penalties.
