Jos Verstappen was caught on camera fuming and slamming his fist in frustration following the red flag debacle during the Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying.
Outspoken Verstappen Sr was left seething after delayed red flags dashed Max’s chances of securing a high finish in qualifying in Sao Paulo. The Dutch star was 12th on the timesheets in Q2 when the red flags were finally raised in a chaotic session, but had the cars been stopped sooner, he would have secured the 10th spot and advanced to Q3.
Due to his five-place grid penalty for the start of the race, Verstappen ultimately had to settle for a lowly 17th position on the grid. Lance Stroll’s crash on the soaked track triggered the red flags, but drama ensued as they were not immediately raised, taking around a minute-and-a-half from the driver’s collision into the barriers and the decision to red flag the session.
FIA race director Niels Wittich tried to delay stopping proceedings to allow those on a flying lap to reach the finish line if possible, but eventually decided it was too dangerous to continue. However, the controversial hold up in making the call allowed enough action to knock Max out in Q2, reports the Mirror.
Verstappen Sr was livid with the outcome and was seen turning away from the monitor in disbelief and anger at what had just transpired, and it’s far from the first time this season he has been left raging. Max was also left fuming after missing out on Q3, unlike his world championship title rival Lando Norris.
The Brit was sitting in seventh when Stroll crashed into the barriers, yet managed to complete his lap and top the timesheets, before eventually securing pole and bolstering his chances in the title race against Max.
Verstappen Jr blasted the red flag chaos as “stupid” and “ridiculous” and he condemned the delay in ending the session with a red flag, allowing others to complete laps, branding it “bulls***”.
“A car hits the wall and it needs to be a straight red [flag]. I do not understand why it needs to take 30 or 40 seconds for a red flag to come out, it is just bulls***,” Verstappen said to Sky Sports F1 after his qualifying was cut short. “Honestly, I will let it go. It is so stupid anyway to talk about, it is ridiculous.”
The drama unfolded during a tumultuous and soaked qualifying session at Interlagos. Colapinto’s Williams was first to trigger a red flag in Q1. Lewis Hamilton also suffered, bowing out in Q1, while even Norris had a narrow escape. Carlos Sainz lost grip of his Ferrari in Q2, preceding Stroll’s crash, and a fourth red flag appeared in Q3 as Fernando Alonso smashed the other Aston Martin against a barrier.
Chaos ensued further when Alex Albon was involved in a huge crash, ultimately leading to his withdrawal from the race as his car was beyond repair. “I’m out, for sure, there’s no way. There’s no way,” Albon declared to Viaplay, confirming the extent of the damage to his vehicle.
Lando Norris secured pole position, with compatriot and Mercedes ace George Russell snagging second fastest, ensuring an all-British front row. Lights out is set for 3.30pm GMT, with Norris going into the race currently 47 points behind Verstappen with four races to go, including today’s.
