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Fans criticized Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff for his statement supporting Max Verstappen's 20-second time penalty during the 2024 F1 Mexican GP. He mentioned that the driver deserved the "horrendous" penalty.
Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen was awarded two 10-second time penalties during the Mexican GP for his aggressive battle with Lando Norris. The Dutchman forced the other driver off the track twice, leading to accusations of dangerous driving. The penalties impacted his race hard as he finished P6 despite starting on the front row.
Reacting to the penalty, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that it was deserved and would set a precedent for future incidents of similar driving behavior.
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"The Dutchman forced the other driver off the track twice, leading to accusations of dangerous driving.I think that was a really good steward decision and that it will be clear in the future that this dirty driving is no longer allowed," he told oe24. "So a horrendous penalty of 20 seconds is the right precedent to ensure that something like this doesn't happen in the future."
Fans on social media were quick to react to the statement, leaving some hilarious comments. Like this user wrote:
"that one guy you rejected and then he starts calling you ugly."
"Says the guy who criticized the 10-second penalty given to Hamilton when he sent Max to the wall on a 51 G crash," wrote another user.
"says the person saying Silverstone21 was what Max deserved," a comment read.
Early in the season, when Red Bull's performance was significantly impacted, rumors circulated about Max Verstappen potentially moving to Mercedes. Speculation arose that both drivers might terminate their contracts with RBR and consider a move to the Brackley-based team. However, following Wolff's comments about the penalty, many fans began to doubt the likelihood of such a deal.
"Looks like Toto no longer wants Max at Mercedes," a fan wrote.
Max Verstappen likely to be hit with a grid penalty in the remaining races of the 2024 F1 season
Following his disappointing performance in Mexico, Max Verstappen may face a significant grid penalty for the upcoming race. He has already exceeded the allowed limit of 4 internal combustion engine units, having used 5 so far.
After the Mexican Grand Prix, Verstappen used 4 turbochargers, 4 MGU-H units, 4 MGU-K units, 2 energy stores, and 2 control electronic units.
Any additional usage will result in a 5-place grid penalty, but he may risk further penalties if he continues to exceed other component limits. Moreover, any penalty exceeding 15 grid places would force the driver to start the race from the back of the grid.
This might be a positive for McLaren's Lando Norris, who is battling Max Verstappen for the World Championship. The team has already taken the lead in the Constructors' World Championship, with RBR having dropped to third place.
