via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Pre-Season Testing – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – February 21, 2024 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez during the pre-season testing REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Pre-Season Testing – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – February 21, 2024 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez during the pre-season testing REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
The Monaco Grand Prix has to be one of the toughest circuits. It’s hard to make room for drivers and with the wet track coming into play at times, it doesn’t take much for things to go south! However, it seems like Formula 1 might have found a way to avoid such incidents spoiling the race. According to reports, the FIA is considering deleting the quickest lap time of a driver, causing a yellow or red flag during qualifying. This could be a massive change and it seems like the current drivers, including Max Verstappen, are all for it!
Esteban Ocon spoke on the topic during the Monaco Grand Prix press conference, claiming it to be a good idea to introduce the rule change. Mercedes racer George Russell also spoke on the issue, stating, “Yeah, I agree with Esteban. We obviously have laps deleted all the time in qualifying for track limits. I think if you were to cause a yellow flag or red flag, you should probably have your best lap deleted. Yeah, nothing more to say about that.”
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan – April 7, 2024 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during the press conference after winning the Japanese Grand Prix REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou
Max Verstappen commented on the rule change, agreeing with Esteban and Russell adding, “I think it’s a good idea.” From the looks of it, the Dutchman is yet to forget the incident from the Monaco Grand Prix 2022, where Sergio Perez‘s crash during the qualifying cost him the race!
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Max Verstappen was allegedly fuming with Sergio Perez following the Monaco incident
Despite sharing the same badge, Max Verstappen apparently lost his head at his teammate following the Monaco Grand Prix 2022 incident. Verstappen felt Perez had intentionally crashed his car during the qualifying race, giving himself an advantage. The Dutchman took matters into his own hands in Sao Paolo the same year, as he refused instructions by Red Bull to let Perez overtake him on the last lap of the race.
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Formula One F1 – Monaco Grand Prix – Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco – May 27, 2023 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during the press conference after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
Verstappen then added more fuel to the fire while asked if his actions were related to Perez’s crash in Monaco. The Dutchman claimed the media was free to feel what they wanted, and he wouldn’t comment. Perez then tried to de-escalate the situation with him stating what happened in Sao Paulo was discussed internally and the team wanted to move on from the situation.
It seems the two have repaired their issues and are now focused on taking Red Bull to new heights. Meanwhile, do you think Sergio Perez deliberately crashed during the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix? Sound off in the comments below.
