WATCH: “Send them my regards”- Max Verstappen gives a sassy response to the 5s penalty at the Las Vegas GP
The Dutchman Max Verstappen responded hilariously to the penalty radio from his race engineer.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen. (Via IMAGO)
The five lights went out at the Las Vegas GP, and the drivers immediately responded to the lights. Max Verstappen, starting in second position, was quick to react to the lights and gain pace over Charles Leclerc in the pole position. However, both drivers were involved in an incident at Turn 1.
Max Verstappen took the inside line of the Monegasque driver and attempted an early overtake into turn 1. However, during the overtake, Verstappen pushed Leclerc too wide for his comfort, leading to both drivers leaving the apex and outside the track.
Both the drivers luckily recovered from the incident and continued the race in the first two positions without damaging the cars. However, Leclerc reacted to the incident and asked for a look into the matter. Subsequently, It was revealed to Max Verstappen about the 5s stop-and-go penalty due to the racing incident.
"Send them my regards" ?
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) November 19, 2023
Max Verstappen's reaction to hearing he's received a five-second time penalty for forcing Charles Leclerc off the track ?? pic.twitter.com/68YvbXcnhV
Max Verstappen reacted hilariously to this penalty radio. The race leader, who already held a 2s lead to Leclerc, wasn’t much worried by the 5s penalty. This was evident from his response as well where he added that it was fine and asked to pass forward his regards.
Yeah, that’s fine, send them my regards!
Verstappen said to his race engineer, as reported on X.
The race leader subsequently served his stop-and-go penalty
Soon after receiving the penalty, Max Verstappen complained about the lack of grips on his tires. Therefore, the team asked the race leader to pit in the 15th lap of the race, aiming for a different race strategy and to serve the penalty. The team prepared for a quick pit stop for the penalized driver, concluding the pit stop in just 2.2 seconds, excluding the penalty.
The Dutchman preferred the long-stint with the Hard compounds as the 26-year-old now sets to finish the race in this compound. The pit stop was an astonishing 7.7 seconds, including the 5s stop-and-go penalty. The driver quickly fell to the 10th spot soon after the pit and had already started to gain positions after the pit.
Verstappen is currently in the 7th position as most drivers ahead are yet to pit. The Dutchman aims to regain the leadership of the race and cross the chequered flag in the first position to continue his dominating streak this season.
In case you missed it:
- WATCH: Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc go off track in a chaotic start to the Las Vegas GP
- $400 Million worth NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal spotted at the Las Vegas GP
Aditya Pandya
(1460 Articles Published)