FIA expected an apology from Max Verstappen
- Published on 27 Oct 2017 10:59
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- By: Rob Veenstra
F1's governing body made clear in Mexico it wanted a public apology from Max Verstappen. A week ago, the Dutch driver was believed to have been referring to Garry Connelly when he said a steward who repeatedly penalises him was a "mongol" and "idiot".
He withdrew the 'mongol' insult, but amid reports the FIA wanted an apology, Verstappen stood by the other criticism. "When you are unjustly taken off the podium after a race, it seems normal to me that you are angry," Verstappen is quoted by Algemeen Daghblad newspaper. "Unfortunately I cannot change the word that I used."
F1 race director Charlie Whiting, however, hit back at the suggestion that one steward was responsible for the decision, saying all four officials in Austin voted for the penalty. And he added: "Until now Max has not apologised. But it would be good if he did."
Verstappen later wrote on Instagram: "I once again apologise for the language that I used following the US grand prix. I know that the words I used were inappropriate and they were not directed at any one person."
Another US GP steward, former F1 driver Mika Salo, revealed this week that he received death threats from some of Verstappen's fans. But Kimi Raikkonen rubbished the idea that Salo, a former Ferrari driver, had sided against Verstappen in order to get a fellow Finn on the podium.
"He (Salo) was also one of the stewards in Belgium," Raikkonen said in Mexico, "where I got the penalty for the silly yellow flag thing. I know how Max feels," the Ferrari driver added. "I have also received plenty of punishments which in my eyes were for nothing, but at some point you have to let it rest." (GMM)
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Replies (6)
Login to replyFatMike
Posts: 153
All the FIA is looking for is their ego stroked and their babylonian position confirmed. For the most part they have shown a painful lack of professionalism in the billion dollar industry that F1 is. Theyve let it slip out of their hands in recent years with silly and inconsistent penalizing and double standards in the review of the Mexico 2016 incident with Vettel concerning his language and the Baku incident. (not hinting at ferrari or Vettel favoritism but its clear that the FIA has another agenda besides clear and fair racing).
joostb
Posts: 7
"where I got the penalty for the silly yellow flag thing. I know how Max feels," really Kimi? you drove 325 kph past a double yellow flag. that's not a silly thing. Silly is when you are too slow and over taken by a 20 year old dutch guy in the last lap of a grand prix...
ENDR
Posts: 43
... especially when it's done by going off the track while on a different strategy.
Yeah, hilarious.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
May be its time, we should find something else productive in our lives, and leave it to the 'professionals'.
Kevin
Posts: 5,294
My God.. he cut the corner and gained an advantage. Yes, it was amazing that he tried to overtake Raïkkonen at that moment and place, but it was an illegal overtake. End of discussion.
Max and his fans are pathetic for the entire way they are reacting to this. Know when to take your losses..
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Agreed. Lets move on from this.