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Whiting: Verstappen should apologise for US GP outbursts
Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting feels Max Verstappen owes FIA steward Garry Connelly an apology in the aftermath of the Dutchman's United States Grand Prix outbursts.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Edited: Oct 26, 2017, 8:56 PM
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Angered by the controversial penalty that cost him his podium finish in the Austin race, Verstappen blamed one steward in particular for the decision, dubbing him an "idiot" and a "mongol" in post-race interviews.
The Dutchman later said the remarks weren't meant to offend anyone in particular and pointed out he didn't name the steward in question, although it was clear from the context the official in question was Connelly.
Whiting was himself the target of disparaging comments from a different Formula 1 driver last year as he was told to "f*** off" by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in a radio message during the Mexican Grand Prix.
Vettel sent formal letters of apology to both Whiting and the FIA in the aftermath, and the race director now reckons Verstappen should similarly seek to make amends.
Speaking about Verstappen's choice of language, Whiting said: "I would prefer not to comment on that for the moment.
"Seb, for his little outburst last year, he did apologise profusely. I haven't heard any such apology just yet from Max but it would be nice if he did."
The Mexico race in question was the other grand prix where Verstappen had lost an on-the-road podium to a post-race penalty.
And it was a race where Connelly likewise served as a steward, a fact both Verstappen and Red Bull team boss Christian Horner pointed out in the aftermath of the US GP.
Asked to respond to allegations that Connelly was biased against the Dutch racer, Whiting said: "I think the statistics I have seen, I've seen them and they don't paint the correct picture. It is just coincidence that Garry happened to be there.
"You cannot tie the two together, I know Garry well well and a more honest and scrupulous person you could not ever come across. Any sort of idea that he may have it in for a driver is wholly unfounded."
Whiting added that Formula 1 goes to "considerable lengths" to ensure penalties are applied consistently by the championship's rotating cast of stewards from weekend to weekend.
"We have a set of guidelines, for the stewards, and they have all the events, whether the event occurs in FP1, qualy or race, what the penalty should be.
"The guidelines are there to help stewards be consistent. It will tell you exactly how many points should be awarded if you do this. A reprimand for this and no [penalty] points, for example.
"So we go to quite considerable lengths to make sure decisions are made consistently.
"There is this difference between reality and perceived reality, but I don't think there is anything in that at all."
Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble
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