To the delay of the rain, the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix added confusion. the victory of Max Verstappen (Red Bull) for more than 27 seconds It was undisputed, but doubts about the sum of the points in an abnormal race generated uncertainty for his involvement in the World Drivers’ Championship. The Dutchman’s two-time championship was secured after the intervention of the FIA commissioners who sanctioned Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) for a maneuver on the last lap. What happened?
The Monegasque and Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) staged a heated fight for second position at the end of this Sunday’s race at the Suzuka circuit. Leclerc “cut” the second part of the Casio Triangle chicane, located at the end of the lap of the Japanese track, and stayed in front of the Mexican to receive the checkered flag behind the winner.
Unlike what happened a week ago with Sergio Pérez at the Singapore Grand Prix, the race marshals resolved the maneuver very quickly and applied a five-second penalty “for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage”.
“The stewards looked at the video evidence. Although Car 16 did not gain a position by going off the track, it was felt that it had gained a lasting lead. This determination takes into account numerous driver briefings, in which race directors advised that an “advantage” would be gained by running off the track and returning to the same position during defense. There have been several precedents this year, most notably ZHO (Zhou Guanyu) in Saudi Arabia and ALO (Fernando Alonso) in Miami. “the weekend document 45 explained.
The truth is that it was a decision that not only gave Red Bull 1-2 in Japan, but also defined the title at Suzuka in Verstappen’s favor, as Leclerc’s second place would have stretched the resolution all the way to the United States GP. United, on October 23 in Austin, Texas.
the Ferrari fight
The race was shortened as it had to be stopped three hours after the initial start, with 28 laps of the 53 expected to finish. According to the regulation, in the event of a “suspended” race that “cannot be resumed”, a different scale of points is applied: it is necessary to complete more than 75% of the distance provided for all points to be awarded. But this point of the regulation was not applicable in Japan since the competition was over.
“I didn’t think I had won the title, because I didn’t know if I would get all the points,” said Verstappen, fueling the confusion that reigned in the pits until the resolution of Leclerc’s accident was known.
And in the Ferrari paddock, opinions weren’t so friendly. Mateo Binotto, head of the Italian team, said yes “very surprised and very disappointed” for the ruling, noting that it took the FIA a long time to resolve Sergio Pérez’s penalty for leaving a 10-plus car gap behind the safety car in Singapore a week ago.
“Seven days after Singapore, where it took so many laps to decide and then after the race, we had to listen to the riders to make a simple decision that was easy, today they made it in seconds,” said Binotto.
He added: “I am surprised by the very different behaviors between Singapore and here after only a few days.”
“Was the five-second penalty decision right or wrong? From our point of view, he honestly didn’t gain an advantage. He was ahead, he stayed ahead, he has the gap, he kept the same gap. So it’s still moot,” but that’s how they decided and we will accept it, “said Binotto.
The head of the Scudería indicated that the time difference by the FIA was “very frustrating to watch” within seven days, also because there was no possibility to speak with Leclerc in Japan before making the decision.
“If you go straight to the decision as it’s obvious, as it should be, then at least a five-second penalty in Singapore should have been given immediately,” Binotto said.
“This would certainly have given us the opportunity to handle the situation in a very different way, and it could have been a potential win. Also frustrated and disappointed for that.”
Alonso fired at the FIA
Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Alpine), two-time Formula 1 world champion and finished seventh at the Japanese Grand Prix, also entered the controversy over the confusion and doubts of the FIA in declaring Verstappen the title winner.
“Now Max is world champion, twenty minutes ago, no”he said referring to the crazy and chaotic outcome of a day in which not even the winner knew how many points he had added and which he called “difficult” for the FIA.
“The truth is that the whole weekend was weird and the race had to be like that,” explained the Asturian, whose number of F1 titles and wins (32) equaled the 25-year-old ‘Mad Max’ this Sunday. , 16 years younger than him.
“We didn’t know if it was the last lap or not, they told us at the last corner. I think it was the same for everyone, but inside the car there was a bit of chaos within the team, and I I wasn’t completely satisfied, ”said the Oviedo driver for the Dazn TV channel.
“I think it was a difficult weekend, or a difficult Sunday, even for the FIA. Now Max is world champion, twenty minutes ago he wasn’t … so, well, that sums up a bit what was on the agenda. Sunday. “, condemned the Spaniard, who had won twice in Suzuka.
Alonso commented on the French incident Pierre Gasley (Alpha Tauri), which fortunately did not collide with a crane that was entering the track, arousing the ghost of the death of his compatriot Giulio Bianchifollowing the accident suffered eight years ago in this Grand Prix, precisely in the collision with another extractor tractor.
“The truth is that we have to talk to the FIA. After 2014, with the accident of Jules (Bianchi), the whole system has changed a bit, to prevent this from happening again and never happening again,” he said. said Alonso. .
“And that we saw it today, a tow truck on the track, no matter if there is a ‘safety car’, a red flag or a yellow flag … the track tow truck only has to go out when the cars are in ‘pit lane’, with the race neutralized “, he condemned.
“We will try to help the FIA and see how it went, who gave the order … to understand. Now it’s hard to say,” he said.
Source: Clarin
