Verstappen and Sargeant were reprimanded, and Red Bull and Williams were fined for the Singapore Grand Prix after qualifying on Saturday. World Championship leader Max Verstappen received two reprimands after qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix, where he finished eleventh.
Placed under investigation after the session, the Singapore Grand Prix race stewards criticised Max Verstappen for initially blocking Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri on the track, as well as the Williams driven by Logan Sargeant.
A third investigation was also opened against the Red Bull driver who deliberately blocked the exit from the pit lane when the light was green.
In total, Max Verstappen received two reprimands: the first for blocking Yuki Tsunoda and the second for blocking the pit lane exit. With regard to the blocking of Logan Sargeant’s Williams, the stewards ruled that the Red Bull driver was not guilty and he therefore received no penalty for this particular incident.
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Red Bull fined
In addition to the two reprimands handed down to Max Verstappen, the stewards also imposed a fine of 5,000 euros on the Red Bull team, deeming that their driver had not been sufficiently warned of the presence of Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri on track.
Williams fined
In the case of Logan Sargeant, the race stewards criticised the American for blocking Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin on the track during qualifying and gave him a reprimand. The Williams team was fined €5,000 for failing to give its driver sufficient warning of the presence of Stroll’s car on the track.
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Folklore suggested Ferrari may ruin Red Bull Racing’s perfect season last time out in Monza. Back in 1988 it was there Ferrari ruined McLaren’s winning streak which meant they won just 15 of the 16 races that season.
Yet it wasn’t to be at this year’s Italian Grand prix. Carlos Sainz won the pole position and for 14 laps held off Verstappen before the inevitable overtake happened.
Ferrari 1-2 dominent pace
Red Bull eventually finished 1-2 with the Ferrari’s behind. However, those in the know were looking to this weekends event in Singapore given the exceptional slow corner traction the cars of the Red Team have demonstrated this season.
In practice one it was the Ferrari’s sitting at the top of the time sheets the chequered flag fell, then as the night closed in and the thousands of lights lit the Marina Bay circuit, the expectation was that Red Bull would show their true pace.
Red Bull need to finish the race with a 1-2 to have any hope of claiming a record constructors’ title with seven races remaining. McLaren and Mercedes have won the title with five to go, but it is at the behest of Mercedes to prevent the world champions claiming another historic F1 record.
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Russell looked to have a better handle of the tricky W14 Mercedes car as Lewis Hamilton was around half a second off the pace as the Friday practice session closed.
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