F1 commentator, Will Buxton, didn’t hold back in his critique of Red Bull’s penalties, deeming them too light for the seriousness of the situation. The controversy stemmed from instructing Sergio Perez to keep driving with a damaged rear wing during the Canadian Grand Prix.
Buxton’s criticism underscores a broader concern regarding F1’s enforcement of safety rules and consistency in dealing with race manipulation. Historical incidents like the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix’s “Crashgate” have shed light on the gray areas in F1 regulations.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the team’s actions, Buxton highlighted the risky decision made to maintain the race’s flow without triggering a Safety Car, potentially jeopardizing safety for the drivers involved, just to secure Max Verstappen’s chance at victory.
“Personally, I don’t think the team faced appropriate consequences,” Buxton stated on X (formerly Twitter). “They instructed Perez to break rules, endangering others to avoid safety cars and secure victory.”
This breach of safety protocols could have led to severe ramifications for the driver and competitors. Hence, Perez received a grid penalty for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix and Red Bull was fined €25,000.
Buxton advocates for stricter penalties in such instances, highlighting the need for more severe consequences for rule violations that compromise safety.
Referencing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix scandal, known as “Crashgate,” where Renault orchestrated an intentional crash to manipulate the race, Buxton pointed out the history of inconsistencies in penalties for similar violations within F1.
The upcoming Spanish Grand Prix will be critical for Perez, who recently extended his contract with Red Bull, to demonstrate the team’s faith in him was justified.