Source: REUTERS/Elisabeth Mandl
[Saba Sports News] Prior to the Austrian F1 Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, a driver for the Red Bull F1 team, failed to fulfill his media obligations, resulting in an investigation by the race organizers. According to FIA regulations, all F1 drivers are required to complete a certain amount of media work during the race weekend. This includes attending the official FIA press conference on Thursday, but Verstappen arrived 15 minutes late for the question-and-answer session. However, after a thorough investigation, the race stewards determined that although Verstappen technically violated the regulations, both the driver and the team took all reasonable measures given the circumstances, and thus no penalty was imposed. It was revealed that Verstappen encountered traffic problems on his way to the track. The Red Bull Racing Team promptly handled the public relations crisis and informed the FIA in advance. Verstappen remained unaffected by the off-field turmoil and went on to secure pole position in the sprint qualifying for the F1 Austrian Grand Prix.