BREAKING: Max Verstappen Under FIAInvestigation After... Read

Max Verstappen Under Investigation After Sprint Qualifying Incident with Norris in Miami

Max Verstappen could be facing a penalty at the Miami Grand Prix after Formula 1 stewards summoned him over a controversial moment during Friday’s sprint qualifying session. The three-time world champion is under review for a potential breach of racing rules following an incident involving McLaren driver Lando Norris during the first part of qualifying (SQ1).

The incident took place when Verstappen, in his Red Bull, appeared to hinder Norris while the latter was on a flying lap. The McLaren driver immediately voiced his displeasure over team radio, suggesting he was blocked at a crucial point of his timed run. Although the FIA’s statement regarding the summons did not name Norris directly, it did confirm that Verstappen and a Red Bull representative have been requested to meet with the stewards to address a possible infringement.

Verstappen is being investigated for a suspected violation of Article 33.4 of the FIA Sporting Regulations. This rule states that drivers must not drive “unnecessarily slowly” in a manner that could endanger other competitors. Additionally, the Dutch driver is also under scrutiny under Article 12.2.1 i) of the FIA International Sporting Code, which deals with general sporting misconduct.

This is not the first time Verstappen has been examined under this regulation. Back at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, he was penalised with a one-place grid drop after being found guilty of driving unnecessarily slowly in front of George Russell during qualifying. In that case, the penalty was relatively minor because neither Verstappen nor Russell was on a hot lap at the time. However, had one of the drivers been on a fast lap, the stewards could have imposed a much harsher three-place grid penalty.

In the Miami incident, Norris was indeed on a flying lap, which could prompt the stewards to take a stricter approach if they find Verstappen at fault. A penalty could significantly influence Verstappen’s grid position not only for Saturday’s sprint race but also potentially affect his overall weekend strategy ahead of Sunday’s main event.

Despite the incident, Norris managed to advance through all three qualifying segments and secured third place on the sprint race grid. Interestingly, he is set to start just ahead of Verstappen, who qualified in fourth place. The pair’s proximity on the grid could add further intrigue to what is already expected to be a competitive sprint.

As of now, no formal decision has been issued by the FIA stewards. The outcome of the investigation will be keenly watched, as it could carry implications for the championship battle and Red Bull’s race tactics going into the weekend.

Verstappen’s strong form this season has kept him at the forefront of the title race, but incidents like this could pose a challenge to his momentum. With Norris showing impressive pace and both Mercedes and Ferrari also in the mix, any grid penalty could make Verstappen’s task more difficult in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive Miami Grand Prix.