Breaking news
Formula 1 Mexican GP
Defiant Verstappen admits he didn't lift for Bottas crash
Mexican Grand Prix pole winner Max Verstappen has admitted he did not back off for Valtteri Bottas's crashed Mercedes in qualifying, but he is not currently under an FIA investigation.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Oct 26, 2019, 8:38 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen was already on provisional pole position after the initial runs in Q3 when Bottas shunted heavily at the final corner on his final lap at the end of the session.
That prompted a single yellow flag to be waved at the marshal post on the outside of the entry to the final corner, which Verstappen encountered while on an even faster lap.
He completed the lap with a new fastest final sector that was 0.001s quicker than on his first run, and said afterwards: "I was aware that Valtteri crashed."
When asked if he backed off, Verstappen said: "It didn't really look like it did it? No."
Read Also:
F1 drivers are told explicitly in the pre-event notes every weekend that they must slow down in qualifying for yellow flags.
Verstappen's onboard clearly shows a single waved yellow flag on the exit of the corner.
According to the FIA, in that situation "drivers should reduce their speed and be prepared to change direction".
The notes add: "It must be clear that a driver has reduced speed and, in order for this to be clear, a driver would be expected to have braked earlier and/or discernibly reduced speed in the relevant marshalling sector."
Despite Verstappen's admission that he did not slow down, there was no immediate investigation into the incident and the FIA says he is not "currently" facing formal scrutiny from the stewards.
It is unclear what punishment Verstappen may face if he is investigated and deemed to have broken the rules regarding single-waved yellow flags.
The FIA's International Sporting Code stipulates that failing to follow the instructions of the relevant officials "for the safe and orderly conduct of the event" is a breach of the rules.
It lists a wide-ranging scale of penalties available to the stewards for such offences, including a reprimand, deletion of qualifying laps or grid penalties.
Last year, when Marcus Ericsson failed to slow for yellow flags in qualifying he was hit with a five-place grid penalty, however his offence was committed under double-waved yellows.
Verstappen said "we all know what a yellow flag means" but argued against the validity of questioning his decision not to back off when he saw the crash from a safety perspective.
"I think we know what we are doing, otherwise we wouldn't be driving an F1 car," he said. "It's qualifying and you go for it. If they want to delete the lap, then delete the lap."
Sebastian Vettel claimed he came across double-waved yellow flags when he arrived at the final corner although this is unclear from his onboard camera.
His teammate Charles Leclerc, who was further ahead on the road and finished his own lap before Bottas crashed, said: "It's clear for everyone that when there is a yellow flag you need to slow down.
"On my side the crash behind so I cannot judge that situation. But I think it's clear for every driver, it's the basics."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mexican GP: Verstappen on pole as Bottas crashes hard
Next article Verstappen called to stewards over yellow flag infringement
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen sits out for Red Bull in Mexico GP FP1
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
6 h
Max Verstappen sits out for Red Bull in Mexico GP FP1
Red Bull reveals when 'silly' problems affecting Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar can be fixed
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Red Bull reveals when 'silly' problems affecting Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar can be fixed
More from
Red Bull Racing
Why Aston Martin and Red Bull were asked about an unlikely F1 engine partnership
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
13 h
Why Aston Martin and Red Bull were asked about an unlikely F1 engine partnership
Max Verstappen pinpoints two recurring Red Bull problems: "We should use sign language!"
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Max Verstappen pinpoints two recurring Red Bull problems: "We should use sign language!"
Latest news
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
ARCA
ARCA ARCA 1 h
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
IndyCar veteran Sting Ray Robb secures United Autosports Asian Le Mans seat
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 4 h
IndyCar veteran Sting Ray Robb secures United Autosports Asian Le Mans seat
Five things to look out for at the F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
6 h
Five things to look out for at the F1 Mexico GP
Every time NASCAR took a win away due yellow line violations
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
6 h
Every time NASCAR took a win away due yellow line violations
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe