Controversy at Spanish Grand Prix: Verstappen Questions Leclerc’s Lenient Penalty After Parc Ferme Exchange with Norris

Max Verstappen seemed to doubt the Formula 1 officials' mild approach to penalizing Charles Leclerc during a conversation in parc ferme at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen has raised doubts about the Formula 1 officials' choice to merely issue a warning to Charles Leclerc for his aggressive driving during the last practice session before the Spanish Grand Prix.

Leclerc received a reprimand for veering into Lando Norris' McLaren towards the end of FP3.

The incident was deemed unnecessary by the stewards, who described it as "irregular" but not "hazardous," leading to their decision.

The officials reported: "The person behind the wheel of Car 16 mentioned he was hindered by Car 4 while approaching Turn 5, which caused him distress. Consequently, he had to cancel his fast lap attempt. He also argued that in his effort to move away from the main racing track before reaching Turn 7, he miscalculated his vehicle's placement and ended up lightly colliding with Car 4.

"Regardless of the underlying intention, the officials have deemed the maneuver executed by Car 16 as unpredictable, though not hazardous. Consequently, they have decided to issue a formal warning for the driving conduct, consistent with previous decisions."

Following their qualification, Verstappen and Norris were overheard discussing the aforementioned collision in the parc ferme.

The audio captured and broadcasted on television showcased a confidential conversation among the two drivers who are set to occupy the front row positions on the grid this coming Sunday.

Verstappen remarked, "It's pretty wild that he [Leclerc] received a warning."

Norris: "Is that really all he received?!"

Verstappen exclaimed, "Indeed, just a warning!"

Norris: "The entire front part of my car was completely ruined."

Verstappen: "Unbelievable, right?"

Leclerc explained the situation, referring to it as a "miscommunication".

"Absolutely, the explanation is quite straightforward," Leclerc explained to a group of journalists, including those from Crash.net, in Barcelona.

"Lando was leaving the pit lane, and I was trailing on a fast lap. However, when he decided to cancel his run, I did the same. I tried to slow down to get side by side with him, but I miscalculated the distance.

"I was positioned on the right side because I aimed not to block the cars trailing me. In attempting to avoid being in their way, I found myself somewhat caught between decisions, feeling annoyed and constantly checking the mirrors to ensure I wasn't causing any obstruction. Unfortunately, this led to a collision, which, in essence, was more about a miscommunication than anything else."

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