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FIA Issues Second Penalty After Eventful Spanish Grand Prix
The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix was packed with action, and post-race drama continued as the FIA handed out not one, but two time penalties that significantly reshaped the final classification. While Max Verstappen’s penalty was announced almost immediately after the chequered flag, a second, delayed ruling affected another driver later in the evening.
Max Verstappen initially crossed the finish line in fifth place, but was hit with a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Mercedes driver George Russell during the latter stages of the race. The FIA deemed Verstappen at fault for the incident and as a result, the Red Bull driver was demoted to 10th place in the official race results.
Later on, the FIA released a second penalty verdict, this time for Haas driver Oliver Bearman. The young British rookie was slapped with a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an unfair advantage during a wheel-to-wheel battle with Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls.
The incident occurred during an intense fight between Bearman and Lawson at Turn 1 of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. According to the FIA’s official report, Lawson (Car 30) attempted an overtake on Bearman (Car 87) on the inside line going into Turn 1. By the apex of the corner, Lawson was clearly ahead, but Bearman chose to take the escape road, rejoining the track at Turn 3 ahead of Lawson and effectively gaining a position by bypassing the corner.
The stewards noted that Bearman failed to give the place back voluntarily, which led to the enforcement of the penalty. Although Lawson eventually re-overtook Bearman on the following lap, the infringement had already been committed, prompting the FIA to act. “We accordingly imposed a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage,” the stewards confirmed in their statement.
Despite the penalty, the decision had little impact on Bearman’s final race result. He had already endured a difficult weekend, qualifying down in 17th place and finishing the race in the same position — last among the classified runners. His teammate at Haas, Esteban Ocon, didn’t fare much better, qualifying 15th and finishing 16th, just ahead of Bearman. The weekend marked another struggle for the American-owned team, which has continued to lag at the back of the grid throughout the season.
This latest post-race penalty adds to the growing list of regulatory interventions made during a tightly contested F1 season. The FIA has made it clear that any infractions, whether they involve top-tier drivers like Verstappen or midfield competitors like Bearman, will be thoroughly investigated and penalized if necessary. The double penalty decision further delayed the release of the official race results, adding another layer of drama to an already eventful Grand Prix.
With both Verstappen and Bearman penalized, teams and drivers will now be reviewing their race strategies and on-track decisions more carefully to avoid further disciplinary actions in upcoming races.
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