Villeneuve: 'Not very clever' Verstappen set a bad example

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Jacques Villeneuve believes Max Verstappen set a bad example in qualifying in Mexico by not instantly complying with the yellow flag waved at the scene of Valtteri Bottas' crash.

Verstappen was on provisional pole in Q3 and attempting a second run when Bottas crashed at the final corner and brought out the yellow flags.

The Dutchman raced past the stranded Mercedes unabated, setting a better sector time than on his previous pole setting lap.

While his pole position did not appear to be in jeopardy, Verstappen was eventually summoned to the stewards for a potential yellow flag infringement.

Verstappen stripped of Mexican GP pole position!

However, the Red Bull driver's public remarks post-qualifying, when he admitted - with an air of confidence - to not slowing because he knew what he was doing, likely irked the stewards and landed him in hot water.

Ultimately, Verstappen was stripped of his pole and handed a three-spot grid drop for Sunday's race.

"I think he set a bad example," Villeneuve told Motorsport-Magazin. "He was on pole, he did not think and that really wasn't very clever."

Indeed, with no one else allowed to improve on their times, Verstappen could have lifted with no consequence on his pole position.

Villeneuve insisted the stewards had no choice but to punish Verstappen as giving the 22-year-old a free pass would have set a bad precedent and "would have been really bad for Formula 1".

Commenting on the incident before his hearing with the stewards, Verstappen argued that he felt the situation was safe enough for him to rush past the line without lifting. But Villeneuve also shot down that claim.

"The driver should never be allowed to decide whether it’s safe or not, because there could be something else behind the corner that he does not know about.

"He could get a puncture and crash into the car or break a suspension or a wing and crash. That’s not a good excuse."

Villeneuve also dismissed Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko's remarks claiming that the FIA hadn't activated the yellow lights, which also didn't appear on Verstappen's dashboard.

"What counts is the flag on the track, that’s the main rule," Villeneuve said. "You have to obey the flags, that's the first thing you learn in Formula 1."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.