How Verstappen was nearly caught out by F1’s cool fuel rule

Verstappen was the last driver to go to the grid before the pitlane closed at 2.30pm – leaving his garage just seconds after Pierre Gasly of sister team AlphaTauri headed out onto the track. Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull had set off only slightly earlier.

Red Bull has said Verstappen’s late arrival at the grid was due to DRS issues, and indeed the team was observed checking the rear wing before the pitlane opened.

However it’s understood that the cars of both…