F1 Miami GP: Verstappen and Haas Penalized After Controversial In… read more
F1 Miami GP: Verstappen and Haas Penalized After Controversial In… read more
The 2025 Formula 1 season continued with high drama at the Miami International Autodrome, the site of the sixth round and the second sprint weekend of the year. Friday’s action-packed schedule was disrupted by multiple incidents, leading to official investigations and penalties from the FIA.
The most high-profile incident involved Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during the sprint qualifying session. Verstappen was summoned by the FIA stewards following a controversial on-track moment with another driver. After reviewing the situation, including radio communications and in-car footage, the stewards reached a verdict and issued a formal punishment to the Dutch driver for what they described as a “dangerous” incident. However, the specifics of the penalty were not disclosed in detail, although it served as a reminder of the FIA’s intent to maintain safety and fairness during the highly competitive sprint weekends.
In a separate but equally concerning incident, the American team Haas found themselves in hot water during the sole practice session on Friday. The session was cut short due to a crash involving 19-year-old Ollie Bearman, who thankfully escaped unharmed. However, the session was also marked by a dangerous moment involving Bearman’s teammate Esteban Ocon.
Ocon was found to have impeded McLaren’s Lando Norris by driving slowly on the racing line, forcing Norris to take evasive action to avoid a potential collision. The stewards launched an investigation into the matter and summoned representatives from both Haas and McLaren, as well as the drivers involved. After reviewing video footage, team radio, and telemetry data, the FIA concluded that Haas and Ocon were at fault.
As a result, the FIA handed Haas a financial penalty for their role in the incident. The governing body emphasized that the team failed to properly warn Ocon about the approaching McLaren car, which could have led to a serious accident on the high-speed circuit.
The Miami Grand Prix weekend has proven to be a challenging one for teams and drivers alike, with limited time on track due to the sprint format and increasing scrutiny over safety and on-track conduct. These rulings underline the FIA’s commitment to holding teams and drivers accountable, especially during congested sessions like FP1 and sprint qualifying, where every second counts.
As the weekend progresses, all eyes will be on how these penalties affect team strategies and driver performances in both the sprint race and the main Grand Prix event. Fans can expect more drama and close racing as the Miami GP continues to unfold.
Would you like a summary of the sprint race or the main Grand Prix afterward?
