Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen skipped the mandatory M…read more.
F1 NEWS:Max Verstappen skipped the mandatory M…read more.
Max Verstappen skipped the mandatory media day before the Miami Grand Prix to be with his partner, Kelly Piquet, as they await the birth of their first child. Despite missing the session, Red Bull confirmed Verstappen will still take part in the race weekend, and no penalties are expected.
At the same time, Lewis Hamilton has stepped up his push for more driver involvement in FIA decision-making. He criticized the lack of communication between the FIA and drivers, especially regarding rules that penalize political statements and swearing. Hamilton called for stronger collaboration and even proposed forming a formal drivers’ union, similar to those seen in other sports.
The debate over the harsh penalties for profanity or critical remarks — outlined in the FIA’s Appendix B regulations — has sparked backlash from several drivers. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has acknowledged this feedback and suggested reforms may be on the way.
Additionally, Hamilton has urged the FIA to set a fixed date, like August 1, for all teams to begin developing their next season’s car, aiming to prevent dominant teams from gaining early advantages. Verstappen pushed back on this idea, noting that no one raised such concerns when Mercedes was dominating, saying, “We didn’t talk about that when he was winning everything.”
As the Miami Grand Prix draws near, these issues highlight the growing tensions between drivers and the FIA, with ongoing calls for greater fairness and transparency in Formula One.
