Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen does not have a grid penalty for overtaking Lance Stroll during Friday practice ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
Verstappen had to visit the stewards on Saturday morning ahead of final practice for overtaking Lance Stroll under red flags.
The Red Bull driver was on a flying lap and approached the Aston Martin, which was on a slow lap, on the back straight between Turns 10 and 11.
Verstappen was about to pass Stroll on the left-hand side of the track when the light panel on the left-hand side of the track turned red, and he completed the overtake after that.
Given the proximity of the two cars and the extreme speed offset it would have been difficult for Verstappen to react sooner and Red Bull said he backed off immediately when he saw the red flag.
The stewards agreed and after consulting all the available data concluded Verstappen slowed down in an appropriate manner at the earliest opportunity, and that the specific circumstances of the incident meant him completing the pass on Stroll was inevitable.
Their report stated that the red flag and red lights were initiated at 15:10:12.
As Verstappen was “within a few metres” of Stroll the red light on his steering wheel activated but he was travelling 150km/h faster than Stroll.
The telemetry showed Verstappen “immediately lifted and braked” but “because of the speed delta, Verstappen’s momentum carried him past”.
The light panel became visible to Verstappen at this moment.
“It is our conclusion that the driver of Car 33 took every reasonable action to comply with the regulations in that he immediately reduced speed in a safe manner at the earliest opportunity upon the first indication of the red flag, even before a red flag or red light panel was visible to him,” the stewards said.
