SINGAPORE: Aston Martin, the Formulation One staff, has raised issues over the consistency of penalties handed out by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Vehicle) following Max Verstappen’s seemingly lenient sanction through the qualifying session for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Verstappen, representing Purple Bull Racing, was summoned for 3 alleged incidents of impeding, however to the shock of many, he acquired solely two reprimands and a €5,000 fantastic, avoiding a grid penalty. This determination diverged from earlier occasions within the season, the place a three-place grid drop was a typical consequence.
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Two of Verstappen’s impeding incidents occurred on the monitor, involving drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant. Moreover, a pit lane incident noticed him accused of obstructing different automobiles from becoming a member of the monitor. Whereas Verstappen did obtain a reprimand for impeding Tsunoda, critics argue {that a} grid drop would have been extra consistent with earlier rulings.
Aston Martin’s Efficiency Director, Tom McCullough, emphasised the necessity for uniformity in penalties, stating, “The stewards have the entire info… What we actually need is consistency.”
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The perplexing determination got here amid hypothesis of potential collaboration between Purple Bull-owned groups, with an AlphaTauri consultant notably absent from the assembly. Nevertheless, this absence was attributed to a procedural oversight by the FIA.
Aston Martin skilled a difficult weekend general, failing to safe any factors for the primary time this season. This was additional compounded by Lance Stroll’s lack of ability to race as a consequence of a qualifying harm and Fernando Alonso’s uncharacteristic race errors.
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Relating to Stroll’s situation, Staff Boss Mike Krack assured the media in Singapore that the Canadian driver will probably be prepared for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, regardless of experiencing soreness. Krack emphasised Stroll’s well-being as the first concern, underscoring the staff’s dedication to his restoration.
Additionally Learn: FIA Targets Purple Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin in Non-F1 Tasks Crackdown
