The FIA punishes Verstappen for his incident with Hamilton in Jeddah

December 5, 2021

There were two races left, eight points separated them and the result of the Saudi Arabian GP could decide to leave everything open and even for the last round of the year or almost sentenced Verstappen . Faced with this situation, the two rivals for the title played their cards in their own way, and the thing ended in drama.

On the first start after the red flag, Lewis Hamilton overtook Verstappen and took the lead at times, but the Dutchman took him off the track to regain first place, which caused the stewards to force him to start behind the Englishman in third started at standstill

There, it was Max Verstappen who came out better to get back to the front, but later they would meet again and Hamilton, with more pace, saw again how the Red Bull man maintained the first position with excessive aggressiveness, forcing both to get out in curve 2.

Assuming that the stewards were going to impose a penalty, the energy drinks team asked Verstappen to let himself pass, and the #33 did so in a zone of the last sector where he could then return it to him using DRS . Thus, he slowed down and Hamilton ended up touching him from behind in an absurd maneuver.

At first it seemed that Verstappen had braked dry to look for the accident, but then the repetitions showed ( and Hamilton admitted it to the DAZN microphones ) that the Mercedes driver really did not want to pass his rival and then on the straight he would not be on disadvantage.

However, both were called to testify and the stewards, despite knowing that, finally decided that Verstappen was guilty of causing a collision, so they imposed a 10-second penalty for this race and two points on his license (he already has seven ). This penalty, applied to the final time, does not affect him (even so he finishes ahead of Valtteri Bottas) and keeps him in second place, so everything will remain the same for the last and final race.

In addition, those 10 seconds are added to the 5 that he received during the race for the second of the controversial actions of the day.

The decision of the stewards in Saudi Arabia in Verstappen vs Hamilton

“The stewards listened to the driver of car 33 (Max Verstappen), the driver of car 44
(Lewis Hamilton) and team representatives reviewed video evidence and telemetry
and determined that the driver of car 33 was predominantly at fault.”

“At turn 21, the driver in car 33 was instructed to give back one position to car 44 and was told by the team to do so ‘strategically’. Car 33 slowed down significantly at turn 26. However, it was obvious that neither of drivers wanted to take the lead before DRS detection line 3”.

“The driver of car 33 stated that he wondered why car 44 had not overtaken him and
The driver of car 44 stated that, not knowing at the time that car 33 was returning position to him, he was not aware of the reason why car 33 was braking.

“In deciding to penalize the driver in car 33, the key point for the Stewards was that the driver in car 33 braked suddenly (69 bar) and significantly, resulting in a deceleration of 2.4g.

“While it is accepted that the driver of car 44 could have overtaken car 33 when that car first decelerated, we understand why neither he (nor the driver of car 33) wanted to be first through the DRS point.”

“However, the Stewards determined that the sudden braking of the driver of car 33 was erratic and therefore the predominant cause of the collision and therefore a 10-second penalty is imposed, the standard punishment for this type of incident. “.

“Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the
Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and
Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Regulations, within the applicable time limits.”

Podium: Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Podium: Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Podium: Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Podium: Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Podium: Second place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Podium: Second place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Podium: Second place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Podium: Second place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Podium: 2nd place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Podium: 2nd place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 3rd place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: 2nd place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 3rd place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: 2nd place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 3rd place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: 2nd place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 3rd place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: 2nd place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 3rd place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: 2nd place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 3rd place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: 2nd place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 3rd place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: 2nd place Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 3rd place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Podium: Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Ron Meadows, Mercedes AMG Sporting Director

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Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Ron Meadows, sporting director of Mercedes AMG, and third place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Ron Meadows, sporting director of Mercedes AMG, and third place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Ron Meadows, sporting director of Mercedes AMG, and third place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, and third place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, and third place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, at the press conference

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, at a press conference

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, at a press conference

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, at a press conference

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, at a press conference

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 3rd position, at a press conference

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, at a press conference

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, at a press conference

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 3rd position, at a press conference

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, is interviewed by David Coulthard, TV presenter

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 3rd position, arrive at Parc Ferme

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 3rd position, arrive at Parc Ferme

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 3rd position, at Parc Ferme

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Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 3rd position, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, congratulate each other at Parc Ferme

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, at Parc Ferme

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 3rd position, arrive at Parc Ferme

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, celebrates with his team at Parc Ferme

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, celebrates at Parc Ferme

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, celebrates at Parc Ferme

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, celebrates his arrival at Parc Ferme

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, arrive at Parc Ferme

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, y Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, and the rest of the grid at the start

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and the rest of the grid at the start

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, battles Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, at the restart

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Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Ron Meadows, sporting director of Mercedes AMG, and third place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Podium: winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Ron Meadows, sporting director of Mercedes AMG, and third place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

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Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, at Parc Ferme

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Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, at Parc Ferme

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Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, at Parc Ferme

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Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, at Parc Ferme

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Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, at Parc Ferme

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Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, at Parc Ferme

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Third place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, and winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, at Parc Ferme

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, make contact as they battle for the lead

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, make contact as they battle for the lead

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Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, y Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, and Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, battle for the lead at the restart

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, and Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, battle for the lead at the restart

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, lucha con Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, lucha con Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, battles Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, and Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, at the restart

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, make contact as they battle for the lead

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, make contact as they battle for the lead

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Photo By: Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and the rest of the grid at the restart

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and the rest of the grid at the restart

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, and the rest of the grid at the restart

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B

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Foto de: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B

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Foto de: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, and the rest of the grid at the start

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Foto de: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, battle for the lead

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, battle for the lead

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, battle for the lead

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, battle for the lead

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, battle for the lead

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, battle for the lead

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, at the restart