F1 NEWS:FIA CONFIRMS Penalty After Verstappen I…read more
F1 NEWS:FIA CONFIRMS Penalty After Verstappen I…read more
The FIA has officially ruled on an incident involving reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. The decision sees Racing Bulls fined €5,000 for an unsafe pit lane release that nearly resulted in a collision between the two drivers.
Racing Bulls Penalized for Pit Lane Mistake
During Q3, Racing Bulls—who had both Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda in the top 10—mismanaged Hadjar’s release from the garage, sending him directly into Verstappen’s path. The FIA launched an investigation, reviewing onboard footage and hearing from both teams. The governing body concluded that Hadjar had simply followed his team’s instructions and that the error lay with Racing Bulls.
As a result, the FIA imposed a €5,000 fine on the team under Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code, with Racing Bulls acknowledging their mistake.
Challenges Continue for Red Bull
Despite Verstappen’s strong sprint race performance where he finished third behind Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri he expressed frustration with Red Bull’s pace. His RB21 struggled in qualifying, with Verstappen only managing fourth behind both McLarens and George Russell’s Mercedes.
Adding to Red Bull’s concerns, Verstappen’s new teammate, Liam Lawson, had a disastrous weekend, finishing last in both qualifying sessions. His difficulties adapting to the second Red Bull seat have raised questions about his long-term future with the team.
As the F1 season progresses, Red Bull will need to address both car performance and internal challenges to maintain their championship aspirations.
