Verstappen’s Belgian GP weekend started with the news that he would receive a 10-place grid penalty for the race on Sunday, after exceeding his internal combustion engine (ICE) allowance.
Despite this setback the Dutchman was on top form in qualifying, setting the fastest time and will start the race in P11 due to his penalty.
Qualifying was not all smooth sailing for Verstappen who was involved in an incident during Q1.
Verstappen was coming through Turn 17 during the final stages of Q1, where he met Zhou who was driving slowly on the racing line.
The Dutchman was furious over team radio, with the Sauber driver placed under investigation for impeding in the wet conditions.
“I got told he was in phase with me… but in the end he was on a flying lap, so yeah quite simple,” Zhou said to the media including GPFans after qualifying.
“They said he was in phase but he was on a flying lap.”
The FIA have since confirmed that Zhou will receive a three-place grid penalty for impeding Verstappen, and was found in breach of Article 37.5 of the regulations.
According to the Stewards the team informed Zhou about Verstappen, however their information was ‘not accurate enough’.
Nonetheless they deemed it the Sauber driver’s responsibility to not ‘unnecessarily impede’ others, which they believe Zhou did.
Therefore, he has been awarded the penalty but will still line up 19th on the grid in front of Yuki Tsunoda – who will start last as a result of a 60-place grid penalty.
