Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto, was left wondering why full points were awarded at the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend.
Max Verstappen went into the race 104 points clear of Charles Leclerc, and if he beat him by 12, he would secure his second world championship.
This meant to say that a win with the fastest lap would suffice, but things are rarely simple in Formula 1, and they certainly were not in Japan.
The race got underway in treacherous conditions on Sunday, and a standing start was called, with the drivers on Intermediates.
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Carlos Sainz aquaplaned into the wall on lap one, causing a lengthy red flag period, during which race control sent a recovery vehicle onto the circuit.
Pierre Gasly was almost struck by it, leaving questions as to why the crane was allowed to enter the racetrack in the first place, particularly after Jules Bianchi’s fatal crash in similar circumstances in 2014.
Verstappen had led Leclerc off the start despite a fine getaway by the Monegasque, and the stewards got the race going again on a rolling start with 40 minutes left on the race clock.
He squeezed 28 laps into the timeframe, reaching a little more than half distance, so it looked as though he was set to be awarded 19 points.
However, the regulations allow for an interpretation whereby full points can be awarded as long as the race finishes under green flag conditions, in reference to what happened in Belgium last year.
Therefore, after Leclerc was given a penalty for his defence of second at the end from Sergio Perez, Verstappen was crowned champion in a bizarre situation.
Binotto, who was back home in Italy last weekend, needs to go over the regulations with his team to establish how and why the rules were enforced in the manner that they were.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” he said.
“I think whatever I would answer would be wrong, so I need to double-check with our sporting guys what was the clear understanding and what has been the conclusion, the way that it has been written and interpreted compared to the intention.
“It’s a detail which I understand we somehow need to clarify as well for the future, what was the true intention? What should you do? Is that clear enough?
“But I’m not too concerned. I’m not too disappointed by it. I accept the way that the FIA has interpreted it and let’s review, let’s discuss, but I would not go to any conclusion yet on that.”
Though the Switzerland-born Italian was “confused” by the end of the race, he is aware that Verstappen is now a deserving two-time champion of the world.
“We were confused ourselves, we were confused and we thought it would not have been the full awards,” explained Binotto.
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“So initially, our calculation was such that he was not world champion but at the end, a clarification has been given which is an ok clarification.
“I think it is simply accepted as the way it is, he is world champion and it is clear enough.”
Red Bull must avoid being beaten by Ferrari by 18 points to win the Constructors’ Championship at the upcoming United States Grand Prix.