Verstappen summoned before Dutch GP stewards for red flag infraction

Max Verstappen has been summoned before the stewards at the Dutch Grand Prix, after allegedly breaking a red flag rule during Friday practice at Zandvoort.

During a red flag in FP2, onboard footage from Lance Stroll's Aston Martin showed Verstappen accelerating past the Canadian down the back straight out of Turn 10. The red flags were being shown for Lewis Hamilton's stricken Mercedes, which had stopped on track with a power unit issue.

A summons has been issued to Red Bull and Verstappen, who will face the stewards at 10:45 local time ahead of final practice. If found guilty, a grid penalty is the likely outcome – a disastrous verdict at a track where overtaking is set to be extremely difficult.

The footage may yet prove pivotal in the decision over whether to give Verstappen a grid penalty, as the closest red flag signal to the Dutchman was shown as he completed the pass on the Aston Martin – giving him very little chance to respond to the red flag until after the move was done.

"[An] alleged breach of Appendix L Ch IV Art 1, Appendix H 2.5.4.1.b of the FIA International Sporting Code and Article 50.2 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, alleged overtaking car 18 whilst red flags were shown at 15:10 between turns 10 and 11," read the statement from the stewards.

Article 50.2 of the Sporting Regulations states that, in the event of a red flag: "Overtaking is forbidden, the pit exit will be closed and all cars must proceed slowly into the pit lane. The first car to arrive in the pit lane should proceed directly to the pit exit staying in the fast lane, all the other cars should form up in a line behind the first car."