Max Verstappen demands F1 rule change as Las Vegas GP penalty handed out
Max Verstappen demanded a change to Formula 1 rules in the wake of the very harsh penalty handed to Carlos Sainz at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Spaniard was second quickest in qualifying in a Ferrari one-two alongside pole-sitter Charles Leclerc. But that is not where Sainz will be starting when the lights go out for the race.
Instead, he will have to serve a 10-place grid penalty for taking an energy store for his car beyond his annual allowance. That was made necessary after extensive damage was done to his car in practice.
But it was a difficult pill for Sainz to swallow given it was not his or his team's fault. A loose drain cover was sucked up from the ground and smashed into the car, with the driver powerless to stop it happening.
Ferrari pleaded with the stewards for the usual penalty that comes with extra engine components to be waived. And they pored through the regulations in a bid to grant that request but, in the end, came to the conclusion that there was nothing in the rules that allowed them to show mercy.
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Verstappen, always happy to say what he thinks, believes his rival was harshly treated. Asked about it after qualifying, the Dutchman told reporters: "The rules have to change for that. It's the same if you get taken out and you have a big accident, you can lose engine parts, the energy store and all these kinds of things.
"First of all, that needs to change so that these things can be taken into consideration. Besides that, I think teams should not be allowed to have a say in these kinds of things because, of course, they are going to vote against that.
"Personally, I do think it's very harsh on Carlos, but in this political environment we're in, every team thinks about themselves and they are of course going to say, 'No, he has to take a penalty'."
He was sat next to both Ferrari drivers as he gave that opinion. Both Leclerc and Sainz were asked if they had anything to add on the issue, but both of them chose not to get involved - perhaps in fear of saying too much that might land them in trouble.
Leclerc picked up his microphone to quickly say: "I agree on everything [that Verstappen said]." And Sainz showed he clearly has a lot to say, but decided against it, adding: "I want to add many things, but I will try to control myself a bit."
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