FIA concedes Verstappen should have been issued rare F1 sanction

The FIA has conceded that Max Verstappen should have received a black and white warning flag during the controversial Austrian Grand Prix collision with Lando Norris.

On lap 64 of the race at the Red Bull Ring on June 30th, Verstappen and Lando Norris collided at Turn 3 whilst battling for the lead, with the stewards adjudging Verstappen to have moved in the braking zone, leading to the contact.

He was awarded a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points as he finished fifth with Norris retiring after both received punctures.

However, Verstappen's conduct was called into question after a move earlier on in the battle when he again moved under braking - something that is frowned upon as McLaren boss Andrea Stella criticised the stewards for not stamping out such aggressive driving from Verstappen in 2021 against Lewis Hamilton.

At the British GP, both drivers insisted that the incident was behind them, with the matter raised in the team manager's meeting. 

It was here RacingNews365 understands that the FIA race director Niels Wittich conceded that the black and white driving standards flag should have been shown for the first move under braking from the Red Bull.

The flag serves as a warning to a driver that if they repeat an on-track manoeuvre again, the stewards would consider handing out a penalty. 

It was the flag shown to Charles Leclerc during the 2019 Italian Grand Prix during his battle for the lead with Lewis Hamilton. 

Leclerc squeezed Hamilton wide under braking for the second chicane, forcing him to take to the escape road. The Monegasque was shown the flag, but did not receive further sanction.