In a highly charged qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring, the Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, clinched the pole position. However, the excitement was marred by several penalties issued for exceeding track limits. Adding to the drama, the FIA stewards, almost two hours after the session ended, announced that Verstappen was being investigated for an incident involving Kevin Magnussen.
According to a concise statement released by the FIA, Verstappen is accused of impeding Magnussen at Turn 1 during the initial phase of qualifying. Magnussen explained that the incident with Verstappen occurred at the beginning of his final run in Q1.
Onboard footage revealed Verstappen driving at a slower pace while exiting Turn 1, just as Magnussen was commencing his hot lap. Although Magnussen had to navigate around the Red Bull car, he later had his lap invalidated due to exceeding track limits.
Reflecting on the session, Magnussen, who ultimately ended up in 19th place, expressed, “The competition is incredibly tight right now. I encountered traffic with Verstappen at Turn 1 during the first lap of my final attempt, but that lap was nullified due to track limits. It wouldn’t have counted regardless.”
He continued, “On my second attempt, I faced a downshift issue. The gears wouldn’t engage, resulting in a slight time loss at Turn 3 as I found myself in the wrong gear. In such a close competition, even a minor problem like this incurs significant consequences. Typically, you can overcome such challenges, but today, we were unfortunately on the receiving end of it.”
Verstappen faces the possibility of a grid penalty if the stewards determine him to be at fault for the obstruction. The fact that Magnussen’s invalidated lap was deleted is unlikely to have a substantial impact on the stewards’ decision regarding potential action.
Should Verstappen receive a penalty, it would grant pole position for the Austrian GP to Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who finished qualifying in second place ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Austrian GP qualifying
What incident is Max Verstappen being investigated for in the Austrian GP qualifying?
Max Verstappen is being investigated for allegedly impeding Kevin Magnussen at Turn 1 during the first segment of qualifying in the Austrian GP.
What were the consequences of the incident?
If found guilty of impeding, Verstappen may face a grid penalty. Additionally, the deletion of Magnussen’s lap due to track limits infringement is unlikely to impact the stewards’ decision.
Who would benefit if Verstappen receives a penalty?
If Verstappen receives a penalty, pole position for the Austrian GP would go to Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who finished qualifying in second place ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz.
How did Magnussen describe the incident and its impact on his qualifying session?
Magnussen explained that he encountered traffic with Verstappen at Turn 1 on his final run in Q1. However, his lap was invalidated for exceeding track limits, rendering it inconsequential. He also mentioned a downshift fault during his second attempt, resulting in a time loss at Turn 3.
What are the key keywords/tags related to this text?
Verstappen, Magnussen, F1, Austrian GP, qualifying, grid penalty, investigation, track limits, pole position, Leclerc, Sainz.
More about Austrian GP qualifying
- Verstappen secures pole position in Austrian GP qualifying
- FIA stewards investigate Verstappen-Magnussen incident
- Track limits penalties overshadow Austrian GP qualifying
- Magnussen’s comments on the incident and qualifying session
- Potential grid penalty for Verstappen in Austrian GP
- Leclerc’s chances for pole position in Austrian GP
9 comments
verstaopen always breakin the rules, not fair for magnussen!
grid penalty for verstappen? that’s what happens when u block other drivers. follow the rules, man!
leclerc might get pole if verstappen punished. go ferrari! #ForzaFerrari
track limits, penalties, investigations – typical f1 drama. can’t wait for the race!
omg, magnussen got stuck behind verstappn? so unlucky! hope he gets a second chance.
leclerc deserves pole position. he’s been on fire lately. fingers crossed for him!
magnussen had a tough time, but we believe in you! bounce back stronger, kevin!
investigation? wat a jk! verstappen just tryin to mess with everyone. no penalty pls!
verstappen better watch out, don’t want him to ruin his chances. clean racing, max!