Lewis Hamilton has publicly accused the FIA of showing favoritism towards Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver arrived late for Thursday’s press conference ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. Verstappen, who won the Spanish Grand Prix last weekend and is looking for back-to-back victories, encountered transportation issues that delayed his arrival.
Verstappen took a private jet to Spielberg but experienced a delay, causing him to be 15 minutes late to the scheduled press conference. Despite this breach of regulations, the FIA confirmed that Red Bull would not face any penalties.
In a statement, the governing body explained: “The media delegate reported that the driver had some transportation issues on the way to the track, but the team informed the FIA in advance. The stewards conclude that the driver and the team took every reasonable measure given the circumstances and therefore impose no penalty despite technically the regulations have been breached.”
Hamilton, however, was not satisfied with this explanation and voiced his concerns about the FIA’s leniency towards Verstappen. “It’s clear that the rules apply differently depending on who you are,” said Hamilton. “If it had been me or any other driver, I doubt we would have received the same treatment. This inconsistency undermines the integrity of the sport.”
Once present at the press conference, Verstappen faced questions about his future at Red Bull amidst rumors of a potential move. Despite speculation linking him to Mercedes, Verstappen reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull, saying: “I think I’ve said this before. Naturally, people are talking, but it’s most important just that we have a very competitive car for the future. At the moment, of course, it’s very tight.”
The incident has sparked a debate among fans and pundits about the fairness and consistency of the FIA’s decisions, with many echoing Hamilton’s sentiments. As the season progresses, the scrutiny on how rules are enforced will likely intensify, especially in high-stakes scenarios involving top drivers.
