SINGAPORE: Formula 1 fans and pundits were left scratching their heads as AlphaTauri chose not to attend the hearing into Max Verstappen’s impeding of Yuki Tsunoda during qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix. The decision, described as a “sporting disappointment” by Martin Brundle, added intrigue to a weekend already marked by surprises.
Max Verstappen’s day took a turn for the worse during qualifying at the demanding street circuit when Liam Lawson bumped him down to 11th on the timesheet, preventing him from participating in the pole position shootout.
Even more concerning were the three stewards’ investigations that loomed over Max Verstappen, one of which centered on his actions during the session.
Onboard footage showed Max Verstappen obstructing Tsunoda, forcing the AlphaTauri driver to abandon his lap. While stewards deemed it impeding, Verstappen received only a reprimand, leaving Brundle and many in the paddock astonished.
In his column, Brundle expressed his surprise, stating, Max Verstappen didn’t get a penalty for impeding Yuki Tsunoda in qualifying when considering other penalties applied to other drivers this season.
Adding to the intrigue, AlphaTauri opted not to attend the hearing, citing a lack of a formal summons and the absence of a complaint lodged with the FIA. The decision left Brundle disappointed, especially considering their status as the junior Red Bull team.
However, the weekend held more challenges for Red Bull than just the hearing. Carlos Sainz seized the opportunity, ending Red Bull’s 15-race winning streak and Verstappen’s 10-race run. A perplexing handling issue with the RB19 left Verstappen in fifth place, while Sergio Perez managed eighth.
Despite the setbacks, Red Bull remains in contention for the Constructors’ Championship, needing just a one-point advantage over Mercedes in the next race in Japan to clinch the title.
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