BREAKING : FIA Clarifies Inspection Results After Verstappen’s Azerbaijan GP Triumph… Read more
FIA Clarifies Inspection Results After Verstappen’s Azerbaijan GP Triumph
The FIA have issued a statement confirming the outcome of several post-race inspections involving Max Verstappen’s Red Bull following his victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The checks were routine but closely scrutinised after recent high-profile disqualifications in Formula 1, and the governing body confirmed that Verstappen’s result stands.
The reigning world champion delivered a flawless performance in Baku, leading from start to finish in a race reminiscent of his dominant 2023 campaign. The victory marked his second consecutive win, following success at Monza, and brought his season tally to four grand prix victories. Despite the win, Verstappen still trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 69 points, meaning a fifth title remains a tall order with only seven rounds left in the season.
Ahead of the race, FIA officials carried out standard pre-event inspections on Verstappen’s RB21. Among the items checked were the dimensions of his rear wing gurney flap and the tyre temperatures across all four wheels. Verstappen, along with several other randomly selected drivers, was found to be fully compliant with the technical regulations before taking to the grid.
During the post-race procedures, further scrutiny was applied to an area that has caused controversy in recent seasons: plank and skid block wear. These components, fitted to the underside of the car, must maintain a minimum thickness of 9mm. Excessive wear has previously resulted in harsh penalties, including disqualifications. Lewis Hamilton, for instance, was stripped of his Chinese Grand Prix result earlier this year when his Ferrari’s skid block fell below the legal limit.
In Azerbaijan, however, Verstappen’s Red Bull, along with the cars of Carlos Sainz, George Russell, Charles Leclerc, and Liam Lawson, all passed the skid wear inspection without issue. This confirmed that their respective race results would stand, sparing them the fate of others who had previously fallen foul of this regulation.
Another key element of the post-race checks was the minimum weight requirement. Each car must weigh at least 800kg, including the driver, at the end of the race. Falling below this threshold has also triggered disqualifications in the past. Notably, Leclerc was excluded from the results at the Chinese GP when his Ferrari came in 1kg underweight, while Russell lost a hard-earned Belgian GP victory in 2024 when his Mercedes was found to be 1.5kg below the limit.
In Baku, Verstappen’s RB21 was weighed and, once again, was deemed legal. The car met the requirements, confirming that his dominant drive would be preserved in the record books.
The result means Verstappen walks away from Azerbaijan with his 67th career grand prix victory, consolidating his position as one of the most successful drivers in F1 history. While his chances of overhauling Piastri for the 2025 championship remain slim, the Dutchman continues to show the pace and consistency that defined his earlier title-winning campaigns.
The FIA’s statement effectively quashed any speculation of a potential disqualification and reaffirmed Verstappen’s Baku triumph. For Red Bull, who have faced turbulence in recent months with management upheavals, the confirmation was a welcome relief and a reminder that their champion is still capable of delivering on the track.
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