Verstappen pleased by FIA action with technical directives

Max Verstappen has shied away from making any further comment on Ferrari’s engine performance heading into this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix – but is pleased to see the FIA issuing technical directives clarifying the regulations.

Ferrari had enjoyed a surge in form since the summer break, winning three races, but finished over 50 seconds off the pace in Austin amid allegations it had been forced to make changes to its power unit.

Verstappen said Ferrari’s dip in performance was “not strange” after a technical directive relating to fuel flow systems was issued by the FIA in the lead-up to the race, and used the word “cheating” on Dutch TV, sparking an angry response from Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto.

Asked on Thursday at Interlagos if he was sticking to his original comments, Verstappen said: “I prefer not to comment on it.

“I think it’s much more important that we just look ahead and focus on the last two races, and just fight it out on-track.”

A fresh FIA technical directive has been issued ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix reminding teams they are forbidden from burning liquid from the cooling systems in the engine, seemingly aimed at Ferrari.

Verstappen said he was glad to see the FIA taking action to clarify the rules in this way.

“It’s good, the FIA is definitely on top of it, and it’s now very clear I think for everyone what is allowed and what is not allowed,” Verstappen said.

“I think from their side, it’s good that they wrote everything. Of course it’s a very complex regulation with everything.

“For them it’s also not the easiest job to be on top of everything straight away, because like I said, it’s a lot of rules.”

Additional reporting by Julianne Cerasoli.