Verstappen and co. criticize penalty points system after Hamilton’s offense

After the FIA ​​stewards decided to give Lewis Hamilton penalty points for the test start incident, the discussion started. Drivers did not agree, and are now also extremely negative about the penalty point system.

Just before the start of the Russian Grand Prix, Hamilton decided to make a number of test starts. However, he did not use the right place for this and received two times a five-second time penalty, plus penalty points on his license. Most thought this was very exaggerated, after which the stewards revoked the decision. The penalty points were converted into a fine for Mercedes. The incident did cause a point of discussion, because many drivers thought the penalty was too exaggerated. Max Verstappen reasoned that Hamilton had not put anyone in danger, and that the penalty points were therefore unnecessary.

Daniil Kvyat is also not a fan of the penalty point system. He was in Hamilton’s shoes in 2017, when the Russian was on ten penalty points. If he had gotten two more, he would have been suspended from a race. “That was not very comfortable,” the AlphaTauri driver recalled. “Penalties are justified when there is dangerous driving, but often not at all. In Formula 1 you have to be able to push, it is simply not a public road,” Kvyat is quoted as saying. RacingNews365.

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Alexander Albon agrees, as the six-time world champion did not create a dangerous situation. “And if it is not dangerous, for example if we do not step aside in time for blue flags, then it should not result in penalty points,” says Albon. Romain Grosjean also has a lot to say about it. He states that as a Formula 1 driver you really know how to race and that making mistakes is part of it, as a person. “Anyway, I’m glad I’m not a flight attendant,” Grosjean concludes.