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Red Bull warned Formula One’s governing body about rivals provoking a ban for Max Verstappen before the Canadian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen. (AP Photo)
Red Bull approached Formula One’s governing body ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix to caution them about Max Verstappen’s competitors potentially attempting to provoke a one-race ban for the Dutch driver.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, came to Montreal with 11 penalty points on his super licence following a collision with Mercedes’ George Russell in Spain. Accumulating 12 points would lead to an automatic suspension.
Horner revealed after Sunday’s race that Red Bull had spoken to race director Rui Marques following a drivers’ meeting on Friday, where they expressed their concern and requested vigilance against any potential manipulation.
“I think that it was inevitable that there was going to be some potential gamesmanship,” Horner told reporters.
“It’s something that we raised after the driver’s briefing with the race director, just so that they were mindful of it as well, because it was clear that that kind of stuff goes on.
“We just said to him, ‘Look, could they please keep an eye on it because there’s been obviously comments raised in the media’.”
Russell said after qualifying on pole that he had more penalty points to play with than Verstappen, and that could work to his advantage.
After Russell’s victory on Sunday, with Verstappen finishing second, Red Bull lodged a protest.
The subsequent stewards’ document, which dismissed the protest, revealed that Red Bull accused Russell of unsportsmanlike behaviour during the safety car period.
Red Bull claimed that Russell braked unnecessarily and erratically on the back straight behind the safety car, and complained over the team radio that Verstappen had overtaken him when not allowed.
They argued that Russell’s radio message showed unsportsmanlike intent and that his braking had surprised Verstappen, leaving him no choice but to momentarily overtake.
Additionally, Red Bull suggested that onboard cameras showed Russell checking his mirrors before braking, allegedly to force Verstappen into an infringement.
Russell denied the allegations, stating he was not attempting to prompt an investigation. Mercedes also noted that they had not filed any complaint, and the stewards concluded there was no unsportsmanlike conduct.
The rivalry between Russell and Verstappen continues to simmer, with Red Bull having protested against the Mercedes driver twice in the last five races.
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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