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Verstappen not discussed in drivers' briefing
Max Verstappen's rivals kept quiet about the Dutchman's driving conduct during Friday's Formula 1 drivers' briefing, despite suggestions beforehand the Red Bull driver could face intense criticism.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Sep 2, 2016, 6:02 PM
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In the wake of his defensive moves in Belgium a fortnight ago, there was a chance that the regular briefing with Charlie Whiting could turn in to a big argument about the rights and wrongs of his actions.
But according to sources, what happened in Belgium did not even get mentioned, with the situation appearing to have been diffused following separate meetings earlier in the weekend.
Whiting met with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen on Thursday evening, and then held separate talks with Verstappen on Friday morning.
Furthermore, Whiting had told team managers on Thursday night that in retrospect he could have shown Verstappen the black-and-white warning flag for what he did against Raikkonen.
The result was that none of Verstappen's rivals complained about him in their Friday gathering, and the matter appears to have been resolved in private.
Carlos Sainz said: "I think it was a very calm and very collected briefing.
"The problem is that journalists and fans keep thinking us drivers have a problem with Max. I don't have a problem with Max, as he has done nothing to me.
"Maybe Kimi, ask him, or Seb has. The only problem I have is with the FIA, the consistency of the penalties applied in the last two years I have been in F1. Why sometimes running wide a car off track is a 10-second penalty and why sometimes it is not even a black and white flag.
"Every time we have a different human being as a steward there will be a different decision or different point of view."
When asked if the issue of Verstappen's driving was discussed in the briefing, Sainz said: "No, not at all. They discuss it between Sebastian, Kimi and himself, who were only two who had a problem with Max. The others we had no real objections."
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