Verstappens grid penalty too low: 'Hamilton could have died'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
It keeps the minds busy again. The crash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in the first chicane at Monza has stirred up a lot of dust. The two title rivals met when Hamilton came out of the pits and Verstappen was on his fast lap.
Low penalty for Verstappen
In the first chicane, the two collided and the Dutchman ended up on top of Hamilton's Mercedes. Video footage clearly showed Verstappen's rear-wheel hitting Hamilton's helmet. The halo ensures that it didn't end very badly for the British title rival of Verstappen.
Ultimately, Verstappen was blamed for the crash and with it a grid penalty of three spots for the Russian Grand Prix. According to former Formula 1 driver Jackie Stewart the penalty was too low. Daily Mail. "The stewards have more information, but if they were so sure that Verstappen was completely guilty, why does he only get a penalty of three places?"
Stewart does not have a good word to say about the race direction. "Without the halo, Lewis could have been dead and the alleged culprit just gets a slap on the wrist," said the 1969, 1971 and 1973 world champion.