Inconvenient truth on penalties
Was it annoying that Formula 1 fans didn’t get to see Max Verstappen start alongside title rival Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix? Yes. Was his five-place grid penalty correct? Also yes.
There seems to be a feeling in some quarters that penalties should be overlooked for the entertainment factor, particularly in the closing stages of one of the most engaging F1 championship fights in years. On the face of it, that appeals – we all want to see the protagonists battle it out – but it’s a flawed position.
