Breaking:FIA issue Red Bull penalty verdict over… read more
FIA issue Red Bull penalty verdict over… read more
Max Verstappen avoided a penalty after being summoned to the stewards following an incident during Sprint Qualifying (SQ2) at the Miami Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver had initially come under scrutiny for potentially obstructing Lando Norris in SQ1, with the McLaren driver accusing Verstappen of impeding him on a flying lap. However, the FIA clarified that Verstappen was called to the stewards regarding a separate incident in SQ2.
The summons cited a possible violation of Article 33.4 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, which states that cars must not drive unnecessarily slowly in a way that could be deemed dangerous to others. Verstappen was also alleged to have breached Article 12.2.1 i) of the FIA International Sporting Code. This rule addresses any failure to follow the sporting regulations.
Notably, Verstappen had previously been penalized under the same article during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. In that case, he received a one-place grid drop for driving unnecessarily slowly in front of George Russell during a cool-down lap. However, that penalty was reduced because neither driver had been on a push lap at the time, preventing a harsher three-place grid drop.
In Miami, the FIA reviewed footage, telemetry data, timing information, and in-car video before reaching a verdict. Their investigation revealed that Verstappen drove approximately six seconds slower than the required minimum time between Safety Car Lines 1 and 2 during one lap in SQ2. However, he met the minimum time requirements on all other laps.
Red Bull explained that the slow lap resulted from a programming error in Verstappen’s car. Due to a fault in the system, the delta time displayed to Verstappen was offset by six seconds. Believing he was managing the pace correctly, Verstappen maintained a consistent speed throughout the lap. Once the issue was identified at the end of that lap, the team instructed Verstappen to adjust his speed to be at least six seconds faster than the incorrectly displayed delta time for the remainder of the session, which he did.
The stewards determined that although a breach of the regulation occurred, Verstappen did not drive unnecessarily slowly based on the information available to him, nor did he endanger or obstruct any other drivers. As a result, no penalty was issued to Verstappen. Instead, Red Bull received a formal reprimand for the error in the timing display system, as teams are responsible for ensuring their drivers have accurate information.
The FIA noted that under different circumstances, a more severe penalty could be applied for a simil
ar violation.
