F1 Australian GP: Why was Max Verstappen not penalized for the second restart?

Know all about Max Verstappen's grid slot controversy at the 2023 Australian GP.

F1 Australian GP: Why was Max Verstappen not penalized for the second restart?

Max Verstappen (Credits: AutoSport)

Max Verstappen has won the 2023 Australian Grand Prix, despite questions getting raised around his grid position on the second restart of the race. The F1 World was taken by storm when images emerged of Verstappen’s grid slot positioning on the second restart, and many were asking for a penalty to be imposed on him. However, it was later cleared that the Dutchman was in contact with the white line at all times on his grid slot.

While Max Verstappen was a bit ahead of his grid slot, the first ground contact of the No:1 cas was on the white line on the final restart and, thus, avoided any penalty for the race. The win at Albert Park was the 25-year-old’s second triumph of the ongoing season. The final restart was a rolling one, and the Red Bull starlet just had to cross the finish line in order to secure the win.

YouTube video

However, despite everything, it can be said that the 2023 Australian GP was one of the most chaotic races to have ever taken place at Albert Park. The race had huge crashes, red flags, and close wheel-to-wheel action between the drivers. The race was a must-see event, and despite three chaotic restarts, the reigning World Champion could bring his RB19 safely across the finish line at the end.

FS Video

With his latest triumph, Verstappen has 69 points on the board and is comfortably ahead of the chasing pack. As things stand, Verstappen’s closest rival is his teammate, Sergio Perez, who scored 54 points after three races. Moreover, the way the RB19 has performed so far, it is the general consensus that the Championship fight would most probably be only a two-way fight.

Discover: F1 Australian GP: “Too harsh,” Fernando Alonso disagrees with the stewards on Carlos Sainz’s penalty

Max Verstappen is the favorite to lift the 2023 F1 World Championship

Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen, since lifting his first F1 World Championship in 2021, has been in lethal form. He was able to win the 2022 title as well and is looking like the favorite to secure his third F1 title in 2023. However, Sergio Perez would try his best to clinch the title away from the Dutchman and win his first Championship.

The 2023 F1 season is three races down, and the Red Bull duo has been the one who has secured the win in all the races. Max Verstappen has managed to win the Bahrain GP and the Australian GP, whereas his teammate Sergio Perez has managed to triumph in Jeddah at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, there are still 20 races left in the 2023 F1 calendar.

Considering this fact, how long do you think Sergio Perez could stay in close range of Max Verstappen? Many in the paddock consider that 2023 will again be the Dutchman’s year, do you also share the same line of thought? Or do you see Sergio Perez getting the better of his prolific teammate this year?

In case you missed it: