How Max Verstappen Was Agonizingly Close to Suffering a Painful DNS at Spanish GP

Max Verstappen enjoyed the fourth victory this season at the Spanish Grand Prix. However, the reigning world champion nearly evaded a DNS (did not start) in Barcelona as he almost violated the FIA fuel regulations.

The 2021 world champion came onto the grid only seconds before closing the pit lane. Even teammate Sergio Perez joined slightly earlier than Verstappen. The Milton Keynes base reported they were late because of checking the DRS system. The Dutchman had a DRS glitch in the Barcelona qualifying that needed fixing.

However, the DRS wasn’t the only reason Verstappen came out on the track late. The Red Bull didn’t meet the fuel regulations issued by the FIA. According to the rule, F1 teams should fuel their car two hours before the race, and the fuel can only be 10°C cooler than the ambient temperature. On that day, it was 35°C, so the minimum temperature of the fuel shouldn’t have been less than 25°C.

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An F1 team can even face DNS if they fail to meet the fuel temperature requirements before the start of the race. The Aston Martin duo started the Miami GP from the pit lane because of the fuel temperature issues. Max nearly managed to escape a DNS or even a point lane start for the Barcelona race as he got the required fuel temperature on time.

Ferrari boss suspects Max Verstappen violated the fuel regulations in Spain

It seems the Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has a different interpretation of the FIA fuel regulations. FIA recently clarified that an F1 car’s fuel temperature should meet the requirements when leaving the garage. But Binotto has a different interpretation as he believes the fuel should be at the required temperature even when in the garage as the fuel can be heated by firing up the engine.

Creating a stir, the Ferrari team principal said, “I think the regulations, it should be at all times during the event. So not only when the car is going out, but as well in the garage itself.”

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However, FIA revealed that Red Bull had the right temperature for the race. But the recent questions from Binotto can undoubtedly lead to FIA clarifying the fuel rules again to the F1 teams for the future races.