Verstappen calls track limits rules “odd” after losing F1 fastest lap point

Red Bull opted to pit Verstappen for a second time in the final laps with the Dutchman well adrift of race-leader Lewis Hamilton in a bid to gain the extra point on offer for setting the fastest lap of the race.

Having switched onto fresh Soft tyres, Verstappen successfully set the fastest lap to snatch the bonus point away from Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, only to see his lap time deleted for running all four wheels wide at Turn 14.

“Really? That’s a good one,” Verstappen responded when informed that he had lost the fastest lap bonus point in the post-race interviews in parc ferme.

“That’s bit odd because they were not checking track limits at Turn 14, but whatever.”

However, Verstappen’s claim was wrong as the stewards had in fact announced they would be policing track limits at Turn 14  ahead of final practice on Saturday morning.

“The track limits at the exit of Turn 14 are defined as when no part of the car remains in contact with the red and white kerb,” the updated stewards notice read.

“Drivers must make every reasonable effort to use the track at all times and may not leave the track without a justifiable reason.”

A second-place finish behind Hamilton sees Verstappen fall eight points behind the Mercedes driver in the championship standings following the opening three rounds.

“It was pretty decent,” Verstappen said of his race. “I had a good restart and then of course I tried to put the pressure on Valtteri, but in the end, we just lacked a little bit of pace overall.

“Lewis got by again and after the pit stop, the warm-up is super hard on these tyres. Once we settled in second we could clearly see around here we were lacking a bit of pace compared to them, but still, second.”