Verstappen infuriated several drivers in the closing stages of FP2, following the end of a second red flag.

The second practice session of the weekend was initially stopped after Carlos Sainz crashed heavily, before it was then halted not long after it had resumed due to Nico Hulkenberg crashing at the first corner.

With Verstappen having sat out Free Practice 1 so that Red Bull could field two rookie drivers, the 26-year-old was desperate to get back out onto the Yas Marina Circuit.

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He was arguably too eager, though, as he overtook both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in the pit-exit tunnel.

There was barely enough room to get past, with him having brushed the wall of the underpass as a result.

His actions infuriated his opponents, who complained to race director Niels Wittich.

As a result, Wittich announced ahead of FP3 that overtaking in the underpass would be banned from then on, unless a car has a problem in the tunnel.

Croft revealed that the drivers complained to Wittich about Verstappen, which is why a rule change was introduced mid-weekend.

“At the driver’s meeting last night, I’m told the drivers said to the race director Niels Wittich, no this can’t happen, we don’t like this, this is going to cause a bit of an accident,” Croft told Sky Sports F1 viewers at the start of Free Practice 3.

“Which is why Niels Wittich has now said, yeah, qualifying, you can’t overtake in that pit lane exit.

“Why he hasn’t done it for practice Niels Wittich knows, I don’t.”

READ: Unusual voice heard over Max Verstappen’s radio

The rule change ultimately had no impact on Verstappen’s performance on Saturday, as he stormed to yet another pole position.

He’ll start from the best position to try and claim a record-breaking 19th win of 2023, in what would be the perfect way to end what’s been a dominant season for him.

Given that he’s won the last three races in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen is the clear favourite on Sunday.

The post Drivers led to Max Verstappen ban appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

For the Formula 1 paddock, the last few weeks have been relentless.

A triple-header in Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo was followed by a week off, ahead of last weekend’s first Las Vegas Grand Prix since 1982.

Several drivers on the grid used the week off between Sao Paulo and Las Vegas to take a short break, to mentally and physically prepare themselves for Sin City.

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Given that he’s already sealed the title, some would suspect that Verstappen would be the first to take a holiday; however, this isn’t the case.

Croft revealed that he spoke to the three-time World Champion at the United States Grand Prix and asked him if he was planning on having a rest ahead of Las Vegas.

Verstappen informed the commentator that a rest wasn’t on the agenda; instead, he would head straight back to Milton Keynes to prepare for Sin City.

“I said to Max, I had a little chat with him in Austin, I said: ‘What’s your schedule like for the next few weeks?’ and he was telling me he was going here, going there. I said: ‘Bit of a rest though between Brazil and Las Vegas?’” Croft told Sky Sports F1.

“He said: ‘No, I am going back to Milton Keynes. I am going to be in the sim for a couple of days.’ I said: ‘Why? You’re world champion.’ He said: ‘I would kick myself if I didn’t do it, if I didn’t put the effort in and I came to Vegas and I didn’t win’. And that’s the dedication that makes you a champion.”

READ: Mercedes announce partnership with WhatsApp

Verstappen’s preparations for Las Vegas were clearly effective, as he recovered from a five-second time penalty to claim his 18th win of 2023.

The Dutchman was slapped with the penalty for forcing Charles Leclerc off the circuit at the first corner, although this didn’t stop the Red Bull driver from being victorious.

After the season he’s had, Verstappen certainly deserves a lengthy holiday after this weekend’s season finale in Abu Dhabi, although he’ll likely be busy preparing for 2024.

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Following the recent Italian Grand Prix, Wolff threw shade at Max Verstappen’s record-breaking 10th consecutive win and insisted that it was just “for Wikipedia” anyway, a comment he was heavily criticised for.

During the Singapore GP on Sunday, Mercedes had both drivers chasing after the podium places in the latter stages, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton having shown excellent pace.

Wolff was seen smiling in the Silver Arrows garage, given that a win was looking on the cards.

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Croft saw this as an opportunity to make a joke at the expense of Wolff, and made the most of the moment.

Whilst Russell and Hamilton were charging after the podium places, Croft joked: “I haven’t seen Wolff smile much recently but if they win this I bet he will read the race report on Wikipedia afterwards.”

Hamilton ended up finishing third at the expense of Russell, who crashed from P3 on the final lap.

The seven-time World Champion had been in fourth but right behind his team-mate, who was challenging Lando Norris for second.

Russell ultimately made a mistake at Turn 10 and went straight into the wall, something which absolutely devastated the British driver who started the race on the front row.

Russell’s error was Hamilton’s gain, with the 103-time race winner having completed the rostrum being race winner Carlos Sainz and Russell.

Russell and Hamilton had been running third and fifth in the opening stages of the race, before it all changed on Lap 21.

A Safety Car was required to collect debris from Logan Sargeant’s Williams, which gave the majority of the drivers a chance to pit.

Ferrari and Mercedes decided to double-stack, something which saw Russell and Norris overtake Leclerc.

Hamilton then also got past Leclerc and Sergio Perez when the race restarted, with the latter having stayed out.

Russell was also quickly into second after overtaking Verstappen, who was another driver not to pit.

Once the race settled back down and those who hadn’t pitted got overtaken, Sainz led from Russell, Norris and Hamilton.

However, it was all change on Lap 45, when a VSC was needed to recover Esteban Ocon’s stricken car.

READ: ‘Over the top’ Max Verstappen gets torn apart

Mercedes opted to pit both drivers again, to give them fresh tyres to fight through to the front.

The plan ultimately didn’t work, although Wolff’s face on Lap 52 suggested that the Austrian was expecting a Mercedes victory to occur.

Had Russell not crashed, then he would’ve claimed third ahead of Hamilton in fourth.

The post David Croft mocked Toto Wolff as George Russell eyed victory appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

Verstappen has admitted that he could retire from F1 at the end of 2028, when his current contract expires.

He’s revealed his displeasure at the format being constantly changed, with Verstappen having been against sprint races in particular ever since they were initially discussed.

The reigning World Champion has also voiced his unhappiness at the calendar being expanded, whilst he also doesn’t like the increased amount of marketing work he has to do.

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On top of all of that, the 25-year-old has admitted that if Red Bull become a midfield team when the new power unit regulations are introduced in 2026, then he’d either look for something new or retire.

Whatever happens with Verstappen, Red Bull need a “big star” ready to take over from him.

Norris could be that man, especially with his McLaren deal expiring at the end of 2025.

This would allow him to move to Red Bull in 2026, should a seat be available.

He could then partner Verstappen for a few seasons, before taking the lead role in the team should the Dutchman retire.

Croft admits that it’s a “big story”, with a lot of it depending on what sort of car McLaren can offer Norris.

“The more Max says, ‘I might not be around after 2028, I might retire early and do other things’, the more Red Bull feel, ‘We need a big star to be alongside Max for a couple of years, three years, then be our big star to carry on into the future’,” Croft said.

“That suits Lando Norris’ star billing, at the moment. Will he stay around at McLaren longer than his contract? It depends if they give him a car which can challenge for a championship. It’s a slow burner, but it’s a big story.”

READ: Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz involved in scary incident

Norris is loving the attention but is insistent that he’s focused on his current task with the Woking-based team.

“It’s nice that a lot of people believe that I should have an opportunity to be able to do better than what I’m doing now, or fighting for higher positions that aren’t what I’m fighting for now,” Norris said, as reported by the Mirror.

“If I look at it from that perspective, it’s a compliment that people are saying it.”

The post Lando Norris to replace Max Verstappen at Red Bull appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

At the front of the grid, this season has been criticised for a lack of competition, with Max Verstappen taking first place becoming a given. 

Red Bull has won 12 out of 12 races – the longest winning streak in the sport’s history.

Croft believes that the drivers of the fastest vehicles – Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez – are heavily aided by the blue flags.

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These flags are raised to warn a driver that they are about to be overtaken, meaning they have to make way.

Red Bull’s RB19 has had no trouble getting past the back markers time and time again so far this season.

While Red Bull’s first-placed podium finish is currently a near-certainty, there are other interesting battles occurring on the circuit.

McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Aston Martin have all duked it out to be the “best of the rest.”

The four worst teams on the grid are neck and neck on the Constructor Standings and have provided some exciting battles.

Croft believes if the blue flags were removed, these clashes could create some “much-needed jeopardy.”

This jeopardy may cause Red Bull to lose out on a pole position.

When asked about what changes he’d make to F1, Croft replied: “I think a simplification of the rules because they’re getting a bit too complicated.

“We need to find a way to simplify it and just put the show first occasionally.

“Ban blue flags because if you’re good enough to be leading a race, you’re good enough to pass a driver who’s not leading the race.

“They’re (already) last without them having to jump out of the way.

“It might make things a lot more interesting as well.

READ: Sebastian Vettel reveals how his children convinced him to quit F1

“You could do that without any investment in the sport, without any engineering challenges whatsoever.

“With the wave of a flag, you could get rid of something I just think is unnecessary.

“Other motorsport categories don’t have blue flags.”

The post David Crofts’ simple solution to hurt Red Bull, increase overtaking appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

Croft’s insights add to the ongoing debate surrounding the governance of the sport and the dynamics of its rule formulation.

The FIA, as the sport’s governing body, holds a key role in creating the comprehensive rulebooks that govern various aspects of Formula 1. 

These encompass Technical Regulations, which govern the design of the cars; Sporting Regulations, which dictate the orchestration of Grand Prix events; and the relatively recent Financial Regulations introduced in 2021. 

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Additionally, the International Sporting Code oversees overarching principles for the F1 World Championship and other categories overseen by the FIA.

Despite the FIA’s extensive involvement in shaping and evolving these regulations, Croft argues that the time has come for a significant shift in authority. 

He emphasises that the FIA, with its historical significance, should cede its rule-making influence to the commercial owners, Liberty Media. 

Croft underscores that such a realignment could facilitate a more balanced and efficient decision-making process, enhancing the spectacle of the sport while catering to the commercial interests that underpin its global appeal.

Croft expressed his perspective during a recent episode of the Sky F1 podcast, remarking, “First and foremost, I’d have to stop the FIA being the rule-makers… the FIA does.” 

He suggests that the prevailing power dynamic should pivot towards Liberty Media, which currently holds a presence within the F1 Commission, though it lacks the final say in rule formulation. 

Croft believes that a closer collaboration between Liberty Media and the FIA could lead to an improved rule-making process that harmonises the interests of the sporting and commercial sides.

The commentator acknowledges that the existing regulations were established through a collaborative effort involving the FIA, the F1 Commission, and the teams. 

However, Croft contends that a recalibration is necessary to prioritise the commercial considerations without compromising the essence of the sport. 

“We need to think about the show and the spectacle,” Croft asserts, suggesting that marketing and entertainment should occasionally supersede pure engineering concerns, while maintaining a crucial balance.

Furthermore, Croft delves into the contentious topic of the expanding race calendar. 

READ: Zak Brown tears apart Max Verstappen concern

As Liberty Media has overseen the inclusion of new races and the introduction of Sprint weekends, Croft raises concerns about fan fatigue. 

He shares, “I think we’re getting there with the Sprint… but, personally, I think we’re at the limit for the number of races.” 

His commentary underscores the need for a measured approach, advocating for quality over quantity to safeguard the enthusiasm of fans while preserving the sport’s allure.

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The 2021 finale was completely overshadowed by former race director Michael Masi’s ‘human error’, which led to one of the most dramatic final laps in the history of the sport.

After Masi broke multiple rules, Lewis Hamilton lost an unprecedented eighth world title to Max Verstappen, who claimed his first crown.

A late crash for Nicholas Latifi resulted in a Safety Car with just the closing laps remaining, meaning Hamilton’s healthy lead at the time was destroyed.

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Hamilton remained on the circuit on an old set of Hard tyres, whereas Verstappen pitted for Softs.

Controversially, only the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were allowed to un-lap themselves, before racing resumed on the final lap.

Due to superior tyre grip, Verstappen dived down the inside of Hamilton at Turn 5, to win the race and the title.

Verstappen’s last lap overtake on Hamilton left everybody on their feet, as many couldn’t believe what was unfolding.

Croft admits that the final lap at the Yas Marina Circuit in 2021 is the most memorable moment of his commentary career to-date, and that he’d be amazed if anything ever comes close to beating it.

“I think, of all the races I have covered, and I could go on forever about the great races, but if anything ever comes close to the last lap of Abu Dhabi in 2021, I will be not only stunned but impressed that a sport can do that, to be honest,” Croft said in the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

READ: ‘Let’s face it’: Ex-F1 champion’s Sergio Perez message about Max Verstappen

“I was in the office one day, about eight races out, going, ‘This is going down to the wire. They’re going to have the same amount of points when we get to Abu Dhabi.’ I could just see it. It was just one of those seasons, and so it transpired.

“Did we think it was going to come down to the last lap? No, and certainly, for most of the race, it didn’t look like it was going to boil up into anything. But that is the beauty of live sport. Things change around in an instant.

“To be there at the centre of it and to be the lead voice alongside the man [Martin Brundle] who has brought F1 into the homes of people for a lot longer than me and will carry on doing so for many, many years to come, and for Martin and I to be there in that moment and to have the privilege of describing that action, that’s what any kid kicking a football around pretending to be Martin Tyler aspires to.”

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Sprint races were introduced in 2021 and have received a mixed reception, with some having praised the concept, whilst one driver has threatened to quit the sport over them.

That driver is reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, who’s been against the sprint format ever since it was first discussed.

Verstappen prefers the traditional format of three practice sessions, qualifying and then the race, something the sport are trying to change.

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At first, only sprint races took place; however, this season consists of six sprint events.

Most expect this number to further increase, especially as it is deemed by the sport as a way of increasing its entertainment.

Verstappen has threatened to quit F1 should sprint races become too regular.

Under the current sprint format, half points are awarded following a 100km race, which takes place on a Saturday afternoon.

Free Practice 1 takes place Friday morning, with the traditional qualifying on a Friday evening.

A separate sprint qualifying then takes place Saturday morning ahead of the sprint race that afternoon, whilst Sunday’s main race remains unchanged.

The points awarded in the sprint race do count towards both championships, something Croft isn’t a fan of.

He wants to see a separate championship purely for the sprint points devised, with any sprint sessions to then take place on a Friday of a Grand Prix weekend, followed by a more traditional Saturday and Sunday.

READ: Sebastian Vettel reveals how his children convinced him to quit F1

“I think the Sprint concept is good, I like it, but I don’t like it being part of the world championship,” Croft told the Sky Sports F1 podcast. “I’d like two separate world championships, like cricket has T20, ODIs and Test match, and we’ll keep them separate.

“Have your Sprint day on a Friday maybe, rather than the Saturday. You could go into Sprint qualifying and then the Sprint, with maybe a 20-minute warm up in the morning – that’s your Friday.

“And then the cars are not in parc ferme for the rest of the weekend, because you then have your practice session on the Saturday morning, Saturday qualifying and then the race on Sunday. So you’re keeping the two very separate for different world championships.”

The post David Croft offers proposal to stop Max Verstappen from quitting F1 appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

Many have shared their frustrations online about Verstappen’s current dominance, with the Dutchman being in a complete league of his own.

He’s already won 10 races this season and is on a run of eight consecutive wins, which will likely become nine when the summer break is brought to an end at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Verstappen has overall won 25 of the 34 completed races since the new aerodynamic regulations were introduced, further highlighting his superiority.

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The two-time World Champion is all but set to become a three-time World Champion very soon, as he boasts a ridiculous 125-point lead over Sergio Perez.

Verstappen could effectively miss the next five races and still lead the championship.

He’s now claimed 45 wins in his F1 career and is closing down on four-time World Champion Alain Prost’s 51 wins.

Sebastian Vettel is just a further two wins ahead of the Frenchman, meaning Verstappen could very well move to third on the all-time winners list before the conclusion of 2023.

He still receives significant backlash despite his sensational form though, which has led to Croft insisting that for those who think Verstappen is making F1 worse, “really can’t” be helped.

“It is so so easy to run with the herd here and say ‘Oh, it’s boring because Max keeps winning’,” Croft said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

READ: Sergio Perez breaks his silence on Alpine sacking

“Why not marvel at the record? At the excellence? At the consistency and to be that good for so long?

“All I would say is if you think the sight of cars going at 200 miles an hour plus, or doing 170 miles an hour through Maggots and Becketts, or showing the most supreme engineering challenge, in the hands of some of the most talented human beings ever to grab hold of a steering wheel, where we’re at tracks where you’re millimetres away from ruining your afternoon for 70-odd laps in a race.

“If you think that’s boring, I can’t help you. I really can’t.”

The post David Croft vehemently defends Max Verstappen appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

The commentator believes that the budget cap has affected staff’s earnings and is “managed badly”, based on the fact it takes nearly a year to discover who’s breached the cap.

It wasn’t announced until October last year that Red Bull had exceeded the 2021 budget cap, whilst the 2022 results aren’t expected to be announced until September.

With inflation continuing to increase across the globe and with the budget cap itself being reduced, Croft is convinced that there’s an ongoing “brain drain” where staff are departing F1 to work elsewhere.

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“The cost cap is ruining a lot of things in F1,” said Croft on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

“Staff recruitment is being affected because teams can’t pay the money that business outside of the sport can.

“Inflation is going up and the cost cap isn’t. There’s a brain drain with people leaving to work elsewhere. CFO are scratching their heads wondering if they’ve got everything right.

“It is a hugely complex piece of mechanism that, does anyone actually understand.

“I also think it is managed badly – why are we waiting a whole year to have auditors bring out the results, do it quarterly so teams know what’s going on and can make changes.”

Chandhok, though, believes the budget cap has been “positive” for the pinnacle of motorsport.

READ: Christian Horner hits out at Alpine for ‘disrespect’

He also disagreed on Croft’s view about employees pay, with him noting that those working in F1 get paid more than any other motorsport.

“On the whole I think cost cap is a positive,” Chandhok insisted. “I get the reasons why we have it, I get the challenges of policing it.

“Crofty where I’d disagree with you is on pay – if you contrast what someone in F1 is paid, compare that with any other form of motorsport like IndyCar or Formula E and F1 is paid a premium. Also compare with Jaguar Land Rover or Nissan or anyone in road car industry, F1 is paid a premium.”

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