After the Brazilian Grand Prix, there was a lot of fuss about the situation between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The Dutchman defended himself tooth and nail during the race at Interlagos and that led to many question marks among his fellow drivers.
In particular, the fact that he forced Hamilton out of the track, but also got out of the track himself, raised many questions. After a right of review from Mercedes was rejected and there was therefore definitively no penalty, the drivers had a conversation with FIA race director Michael Masi on Friday evening during the drivers briefing.
There they hoped to get clarity about the rules. Asked about that conversation, Verstappen called out on Saturday that he had received clarity, while Hamilton said everything was still confusing. “Everybody except Verstappen wanted clarity, but it wasn’t very clear.”
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FIA disagrees with Hamilton
As race director Michael Masi in conversation with, among others, RacingNews365 when asked about the drivers’ comments, he disagrees with Hamilton. He agrees with Verstappen’s words, who said he had received clarity, but emphasized that it is difficult for the FIA to get everything on the same page.
“Everything, in my view, what is expected of them has been made clear to the drivers. Some agree, some don’t. It always is. Some sometimes agree, some sometimes disagree We have given them some general guidance, but we have also emphasized that each case will be looked at individually.”
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Action Verstappen on another circuit may be penalized
According to Masi, it has always been that way. “We are no longer relaxed, but we look at each incident separately. We have a panel of independent stewards, contrary to popular belief. I am not the one who is the jury.”
“We look at it. We look at each individual incident and determine whether further investigation is needed, after which we determine whether or not any rules have been broken,” Masi said.
Asked whether the same action by Verstappen at a different track could be judged differently, the Australian confirms. “Yes, that is certainly possible. You have to look at the whole situation and the whole scenario. So also at the run-off areas, the weather, etc. etc.”
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