Verstappen handed reprimands but escapes grid penalty

Max Verstappen was handed a reprimand by the Singapore GP stewards for two of the three impeding cases involving the Red Bull driver in qualifying, but the Dutchman escaped a grid penalty.

Verstappen unexpectedly concluded Saturday's qualifying just outside the top-ten after he failed to set a time fast enough to make the final Q3 shootout.

The championship leader struggled during the evening session at the wheel of a car that he labeled as "undriveable".

But beyond the issues impacting his usually dominant RB19, Verstappen also landed himself in hot water with the stewards in three different instances.

• Read also: Verstappen admits to 'shocking experience' after Singapore Q2 exit

He was first seen as having potentially impeded the Williams of Logan Sargeant between Turn 17 and 18.

He was then accused of blocking cars at the exit of the pitlane for 14 seconds when he did not take to the track when the light went green.

Finally, Verstappen also had to answer to another potential impeding incident involving Yuki Tsunoda.

However, in the latter case, the FIA noted that no representative from AlphaTauri showed up at the hearing.

"The stewards reviewed a number of impeding and alleged impeding incidents from this current season and consistent with previous decisions in relation to the severity of the breach, impose a penalty of a reprimand on the driver and a fine [€5,000] for the competitor [Red Bull]," read a statement from the FIA on the Tsunoda case.

Addressing the second impeding incident and his "extraordinary" wat at the end of the pitlane, the FIA stewards noted the following:

"The driver stated that he waited (approximately 14 seconds) to leave the pit exit in order to create a gap to the cars in front.

"The team representative explained that his gap was negated by Turn 5 due to other cars slowing on the out lap, whilst the car behind [Verstappen] had increased its gap to 12 seconds.

"Whilst no obvious advantage was gained by the driver in waiting at the pit exit for what is deemed to be an extraordinary long time, the potential for this to negatively impact other drivers warrants a penalty.

"Whilst it is noted that the car behind could have overtaken [Verstappen], it is preferable that cars depart the pit exit in an orderly manner."

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