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Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen will attend this weekend’s Marrakech E-Prix to serve part of his public service for shoving Esteban Ocon at last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
Verstappen was handed two days of “public service” at the discretion of the FIA for the altercation with Ocon, which followed their collision during the race at Interlagos.
The governing body has made the decision for Verstappen to visit the second race of the FE season as part of the educational philosophy it has regarding such incidents.
Autosport understands that attending the FE race was not selected as a “punishment” for Verstappen, but that it is the first suitable single-seater event of a high-profile nature for him to attend in this regard.
Verstappen would not have been able to receive the educational public service demanded by the FIA during a grand prix weekend due to his participation in the F1 sessions.
He will spend his time at the Marrakech event observing proceedings from the FIA stewards’ room in race control.
The FIA drivers’ steward for the race is former Red Bull F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi.
An FIA statement supplied to Autosport regarding Verstappen’s public service in Marrakech said: “Max Verstappen will attend the Marrakech E-Prix as a result of the stewards’ decision at the 2018 Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix.
“Verstappen will spend the day as an observer to the stewards, closely following their work at a top-level international motor sport event as part of the educational and informative approach taken by the FIA in this matter.”
It is yet not clear how Verstappen will be required to serve the second day of his public service.