Max Verstappen experienced a hiccup with his travel to the Austrian Grand Prix press conference but managed to avoid a penalty.
- His flight delay led to a late arrival at the circuit, with Nico Hulkenberg also caught in the travel snag.
- Red Bull, aware of the situation, informed the FIA, which aided in preventing repercussions for Verstappen.
- The FIA stewards decided no penalty was necessary despite a technical breach of regulations.
- Verstappen, focused on his race weekend, also commented on rival McLaren’s strengths.
Max Verstappen’s journey to the Austrian Grand Prix hit a bit of a snag when his flight was delayed. This detour nearly led to a brush with the FIA as he arrived late for Thursday’s press conference. The reigning World Champion, along with his travel companion Nico Hulkenberg, hustled to the event, missing the scheduled time by 15 minutes. But thanks to Red Bull’s quick communication with the FIA regarding the unexpected delay, Verstappen escaped any penalties despite the breach of Article 19.1 a) of the Sporting Regulations.
The FIA stewards, after reviewing the situation, concluded that Verstappen and his team did everything possible under the circumstances. Even though regulations were technically breached, the stewards showed leniency, emphasizing the team’s proactive approach in notifying them of the transportation issues in advance. As a result, Verstappen’s weekend continued unscathed from the administrative hiccups.
Amidst handling logistics, Verstappen also turned his attention to the upcoming race. He acknowledged the challenges posed by his competitors, particularly McLaren, who have shown versatility across different tracks. Verstappen noted their tire management skills, especially in Barcelona, where they demonstrated impressive performance without significant tire degradation, setting a high benchmark he aspires to reach. Such competition fuels his drive to optimize strategies and address known areas needing improvement, including handling curbs and low-speed scenarios.
Verstappen’s Austrian Grand Prix weekend commenced with a slight hiccup but proceeded without penalties, setting his focus on the challenges ahead.
