The FIA stewards had a busy day at Suzuka, issuing warnings to Red Bull and McLaren after the Japanese Grand Prix.
- Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri found themselves under scrutiny for skipping the queue after a red flag during FP3.
- Both teams received formal warnings for their drivers’ actions, which were said to breach race director notes.
- The incidents happened during Saturday’s final practice, which was notably delayed due to a fire on the track.
- Meanwhile, a speeding infraction saw Williams handed a monetary penalty.
The FIA stewards’ office at Suzuka became quite popular as both Red Bull and McLaren lined up after the Japanese Grand Prix. Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri were under the stewards’ lens for bypassing the queue during FP3 when the session resumed post a red flag. This red flag was necessary when a grass fire needed attending at Turn 12. With drivers eagerly waiting at the pit lane’s end for the session’s restart, Verstappen and Piastri decided to go ahead to practice their starts.
During the same event, Lewis Hamilton had already highlighted similar incidents, pointing out McLaren’s immediate jump ahead. His comments were echoed by Carlos Sainz, who questioned its legality. Consequently, both Verstappen’s and Piastri’s actions caught official attention, leading to formal warnings from the stewards. The verdict against Verstappen clarified that he overtook numerous cars en route to the practice start area, briefly in the fast lane before returning after other cars had passed. Meanwhile, Piastri, having left from a strategically positioned McLaren garage, conducted a practice start and rejoined as fairly as his scenario allowed.
The stewards referenced item 11 from the Race Directors’ notes, emphasizing that cars heading to the pit’s end before a practice or qualifying session need to align in the fast lane. According to these rules, cars should not be overtaken unless exceptional circumstances arise, such as a visible mechanical issue. From the details, Verstappen and Piastri’s maneuvering appeared to stretch these guidelines.
Meanwhile, Williams joined Red Bull and McLaren in a different manner. Carlos Sainz was found guilty of a pit lane speeding infraction, clocking 13.7 km/h over the limit set at 80 km/h for the event. This transgression led to a fine for Williams amounting to €1000, rounding out a day of regulatory actions for the teams involved.
The Suzuka episode underscores the importance of adhering strictly to racing protocols, as Red Bull, McLaren, and Williams faced penalties and warnings.
