(REUTERS) – Max Verstappen defended his driving after Components One stewards discovered him predominantly answerable for a collision with title rival Lewis Hamilton within the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday (Dec 5).
The 24-year-old Purple Bull driver was handed two time penalties totalling 15 seconds – a five-second sanction awarded throughout the race for operating off the observe and conserving the lead whereas defending towards Hamilton and a 10-second penalty after the race for a collision as he tried handy the place again.
“I went to drive to the proper aspect and I slowed down and I used to be braking, downshifting and he simply stayed tremendous shut behind me,” Verstappen stated, including he was simply attempting to let Hamilton cross.
Hamilton, who bumped into the again of the Purple Bull automobile, later accused his rival of “brake-testing”.
“I am simply going slower and slower, pulling the downshift after which we had a miscommunication or no matter and he bumped into the again of me and yeah that was it,” Verstappen stated.
Of their verdict, the stewards acknowledged that Hamilton may have pushed previous when he noticed Verstappen slowing.
However they understood why neither he nor Verstappen wished to be in entrance heading into the DRS zone, which might have made whoever was in entrance weak to affect from behind.
They discovered Verstappen braked immediately and erratically and decided he had been predominantly at fault.
Talking about his lap 37 defensive transfer, Verstappen stated he did not perceive why he had been singled out for the five-second penalty.
“I discover it attention-grabbing that I’m the one which will get the penalty when each of us run outdoors of the white traces,” he stated.
“You would clearly see each did not make the nook.
“I feel recently we’re speaking extra about white traces and penalties than really correct Components One racing.”
Verstappen retains his second place behind winner Hamilton regardless of the stewards’ sanctions.
The 36-year-old Briton’s win, together with the additional level he scored for quickest lap, sees him draw stage on factors together with his 24-year-old rival with solely subsequent week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to go.
The Dutchman is within the general lead, nevertheless, on account of getting gained extra races, establishing an attractive winner-takes-all finale.
