Helmut Marko has slammed Formula One’s governing body following Max Verstappen’s grid penalty in Qatar.
Helmut Marko, a Red Bull advisor, has slammed the FIA for the circumstances surrounding Max Verstappen’s grid penalty for the Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen qualified second for Sunday’s race, behind title rival Lewis Hamilton, but was penalized five positions for failing to slow down enough for the double-waved yellow flags that were deployed at the end of Q3 to cover Pierre Gasly’s damaged AlphaTauri.
With Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas, and Carlos Sainz all summoned to the stewards, it was originally unclear whether yellow flag circumstances were in effect as the drivers running behind Gasly completed their final laps.
However, after a thorough examination of the video, marshalling system, and telemetry evidence, it was determined that double waved yellow flags had been displayed at the flag point on the exit of Turn 16 when Verstappen finished his lap.
“It is completely incomprehensible”
In the immediate aftermath, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner expressed his anger by criticizing a “rogue marshal” for raising the double yellow flags, but he has since apologized and received a formal warning from the FIA.
In the midst of Red Bull’s close battle with Mercedes for both World Championships, Marko backed Horner’s comments by calling the situation “simply unacceptable.”
“It’s completely incomprehensible that the FIA does not have the whole marshal system in order,” Marko said.
“In the digital system, it suddenly gave no yellow flag, but an inexperienced marshal first shows a yellow flag, and then double yellow.
“This is at the expense of the drivers and in a billion-dollar sport. It’s simply unacceptable.”
Bottas and Sainz were summoned for alleged single yellow flag violations; Bottas received a three-place grid penalty, while Sainz was cleared when the stewards determined that he slowed down enough.
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