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Lauda labels Verstappen penalty as the worst he's seen

Published on 23 Oct 2017 09:36
12
By: Fergal Walsh

Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda has said that the stewards' decision to penalise Max Verstappen at the US Grand Prix is the worst decision he's ever seen in Formula 1. Verstappen was handed a five-second time penalty following the chequered flag.

The stewards deemed that Verstappen had illegally overtaken Raikkonen on the last lap as the two battled for the final step on the podium. Verstappen was led out of the podium room and vented his anger at the stewards in his post-race comments.

Lauda, a three-time world champion, defended the 20-year-old, claiming he has never seen a worse ruling decision in the history of the sport: "We had meetings at the start of the year to see how far stewards should go in decisions during a race because it always says 'under investigation'," he said

"So we complained about that and the stewards were there, Charlie [Whiting, F1 race director] was there and we were there, and there we agreed all together that the stewards would not interfere. Very simple. If the driver goes over another and [ends up] upside down, only then would they weigh in.

"That was at the beginning of last year. For six months it was OK, but this decision today was the worst I've ever seen. He [Verstappen] did nothing wrong. These are racing drivers and we are not on the normal roads and it is ridiculous to destroy the sport with these kind of decisions."

Mercedes also wrapped up its fourth constructor's title in Austin, and Lauda stated that he was delighted to have achieved it: "Thank you to everyone at Brackley and Brixworth. Together we made it. An unbelievable result and I'm really happy."

Fergal Walsh

Freguz

Posts: 160

The problem isn't that he got penalised for cutting the corner, if it was the same for everyone always, I would be happy.
The probolem is that when the corner cutting does not include a overtake, you are not penalised, but the truth is, that you are implicitly overtaking because you still save th... [Read more]

2
Oct 23 2017 - 12:42

F1 News Max Verstappen Kimi Räikkönen Mercedes

Replies (12)

ENDR

Posts: 43
Yeah, he dindu nuffin!
After all, the track limits are more of a suggestion than anything else.
- + 0
- Oct 23 2017 - 11:21
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  Right?!
  The penalty was fine, the timing was off. It was blatantly obvious that he cut the corner, so the penalty should've been handed out before he even made it back to the pit. It was carried out in a humiliating way, and that wasn't necessary.
  That being said, it is ironic that on the same track last year, Alonso cut just about every corner possible over a few laps, with no repercussions.
  It would certainly be a lot easier to overtake if you could just cut the corner as you pleased, but that's just not how it works.
  + 1
  
  Oct 23 2017 - 12:18
- DutchTreath
  
  Posts: 5,058
  What do I have to say more. The FIA meet with two sizes.
  
  Bron: pbs.twimg.com/media/DMxmOLpWAAEG6eD.jpg
  + 0
  
  Oct 23 2017 - 12:41
- Freguz
  
  Posts: 160
  The problem isn't that he got penalised for cutting the corner, if it was the same for everyone always, I would be happy.
  The probolem is that when the corner cutting does not include a overtake, you are not penalised, but the truth is, that you are implicitly overtaking because you still save the same amount of time, but the result is asynchronous, the guy in front of makes a pit stop but comes out after you rather than in front of you.
  So the rules are not fair and consistent.
  + 2
  
  Oct 23 2017 - 12:42
- BENNY DONKER
  
  Posts: 1,976
  That's exactly the point @ Freguz!
  + 0
  
  Oct 23 2017 - 12:57
- Kean
  
  Posts: 692
  I'd have to agree with the swedish commentators: If you put some grass there, instead of a white line, you wouldn't have this problem, 'cause the drivers wouldn't be cutting corners then.
  + 0
  
  Oct 23 2017 - 13:20
- misstappen
  
  Posts: 2,805
  " What do I have to say more. The FIA meet with two sizes"
  you clearly found the google translate function on your laptop...congrats...
  haha
  + 1
  
  Oct 23 2017 - 13:29
- BENNY DONKER
  
  Posts: 1,976
  @ Misstappen: He clearly 'did not look longer than his nose is', to use another completely wrong translation. ;-)
  + 0
  
  Oct 23 2017 - 13:53
- DutchTreath
  
  Posts: 5,058
  Very mature reactions guys. Your mothers must be very proud of you
  + 0
  
  Oct 24 2017 - 13:42
- misstappen
  
  Posts: 2,805
  Man do not piss so much, you are always pissing about the others.. (can be translated directly with google for you to understand, am here to help you)!
  + 0
  
  Oct 24 2017 - 17:32
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Cheer up and laugh it off, DUTCHREATH. It was funny. If I were to sour up every time I do such mistakes (and thats very bloody often) I'd be hydrochloric acid by now! :)
  + 0
  
  Oct 24 2017 - 20:11
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
Karma finally caught up with VER? but on an unexpected day.
- + 0
- Oct 23 2017 - 17:42