via Getty
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 12: Second place qualifier Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing looks on in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 12, 2021 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
via Getty
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 12: Second place qualifier Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing looks on in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 12, 2021 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
As the United States Grand Prix qualifying session concluded, the fans were not happy with how everything turned out. The qualifying session saw Carlos Sainz pick up the pole position, while Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen picked up P2 and P3, respectively. However, the fans were okay with Verstappen and the FIA due to a particular incident.
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The fans believe that Max Verstappen doesn’t deserve to go to Q3 after he crossed track limits in Q1 and feel his lap time should’ve been deleted. The fans also alleged FIA for the unfair treatment of Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu. FIA deleted Guanyu’s lap time, which pushed the driver down in Q2 and helped Norris gain an advantage in the qualifying.
The fans also pointed out how Red Bull always gets favored by the FIA. They asked questions as to why Zhou and Verstappen were treated differently, even though they committed the same mistake. However, there were no official statements from the side of the governing body regarding this.
Fans are furious over the differing decision between Max Verstappen and Zhou Guanyu
Max Verstappen and Guanyu Zhou will, however, not start in their designated qualifying positions. Verstappen will start from P2 as Charles Leclerc took a grid penalty for the new Internal Combustion Engine.
READ MORE: Max Verstappen, Infamous For “Mad Max” Persona, Reveals the Only Reason He Would Join the NFL
Coming back to the angry reactions from fans, given below are some of the reactions taken from Twitter:
how about you delete the time when a driver is actually outside of the white line? this was in the only lap max did in Q1. and he gets to keep the time he set. what a fucking joke this "sport" is. do your fucking job, for once @fia pic.twitter.com/oimcROoYa2
— mart 🧃🌍 (@yellowfortyfour) October 22, 2022
Seriously wtf is this?
Getting so fed up with this shit now. How is this any different to Zhou’s infringement? #F1 #AustinGP pic.twitter.com/A8XgCYOvQP— Tom Hallam (@TomHallamF1) October 22, 2022
So Zhou Guanyu has his lap time deleted but Max Verstappen doesn’t! Something not right about this… and Red Bull moan when people accuse them of cheating or favouritism pic.twitter.com/ljAJpIdoki
— Kris (@KHall1992) October 23, 2022
Sincerely hope you and @alfaromeoorlen protest this. Seemingly further evidence of team bias and lack of consistency from the @fia, gutted for you, it was a great lap! pic.twitter.com/fEBEAFMK1r
— Matt Allcock (@xo0OMattyO0ox) October 23, 2022
The same grid penalty applies to Zhou as he took ICE and will start 5 places behind his qualified P14 position on Sunday.
@SkySportsF1 @CroftyF1 Can someone explain why Max Verstappen’s lap was not delete. Clearly over the white line. pic.twitter.com/TXAZY7CXEc
— Leighton Jones (@leightonj27) October 22, 2022
Max Verstappen was completely off in Q1. His lap should've been deleted, and as he only ran one lap, he should be starting at the back of the grid. How did the @FIA miss this, but pick up on Hamilton and Zhou's infringement? #AustinGP #SkyF1 #RedBullCheats pic.twitter.com/xlF1BCnkzs
— Anonymous Monkey (@AnonymousMonk16) October 22, 2022
Did Max Verstappen not run off track during is quali lap in Q1???? @fia @SkySportF1 pic.twitter.com/nalOqPEfGA
— Matt Lecointe (@Matt_Lecointe) October 22, 2022
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@Max33Verstappen @redbullracing @fia @redbullracing @MercedesAMGF1 @ScuderiaFerrari Max exceeded track limits for Austin GP ZHO also exceeded in same place his time was deleted but VER was not. Rules are Rules penalties are penalties. Max time should be deleted
— Andy (@F1ArmchairAssoc) October 23, 2022
This comes right after Red Bull was found guilty of breaching the 2021 Budget Cap limit. Even though no penalty has been finalized, some angry fans believe that they might get away with that as well.
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Do you think Max Verstappen’s time should have been deleted? Let us know.
