Red Bull have been given a formal reprimand after Max Verstappen failed to adhere to the maximum time between the Safety Car lines during qualifying.
The time limit is enforced to ensure drivers do not drive unnecessarily slowly during the qualifying session. Drivers are often investigated for breaching the rule but avoid penalties if they can show they breached the time limit in order to avoid delaying another car. This happened in the case of five drivers in the qualifying session.
In Verstappen’s case, the stewards found he failed to adhere to the time limit because his team had incorrectly configured the timing system on his car.
“Car one [Verstappen] was around six seconds above the required [maximum] time between Safety Car Lines one and two for one lap in SQ2, but complied with the requirement in all other laps,” the stewards explained.
“Telemetry showed that the driver was driving with a constant speed throughout the lap without any other cars around as if he was managing the delta at [approximately] six seconds off the relevant number.
“During the hearing the team stated that due to a false programming in the car the delta time displayed in the car had an offset of six seconds and whilst the driver was managing the delta displayed he was constantly [approximately] six seconds above the [maximum] time.”
The stewards said Red Bull advised Verstappen on how to ensure he did not exceed the delta time after they noticed the problem.
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“The team identified the problem by the end of the first cool-down lap and immediately instructed the driver to manage his speed in a way that he would be [at minimum] six seconds below the delta time displayed in the car, which he did in all following laps. This was confirmed by the telemetry.”
As a result the stewards chose to penalise the team rather than the driver, and also noted stiffer punishments could be used for similar incidents in the future.
“The stewards acknowledge that, whilst there has been a breach of the regulations, [Verstappen] did not drive ‘unnecessarily slowly’ based on the information he had in the car and did not impede any other cars or create any dangerous situation and therefore determine that a penalty for the driver is not warranted.
“However, a reprimand to the team is issued as they are responsible for ensuring that correct timing information is displayed in the car.
“It is worth noting that in different circumstances a more severe penalty might be applied for a similar infringement.”
The stewards’ decision means Verstappen’s fourth place on the grid for Saturday’s sprint race is unchanged.
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