Miami GP Heats Up: Max Verstappen and Haas Hit with Penalties After…read more
Miami GP Heats Up: Verstappen and Haas Hit with Penalties After Friday Fracas
The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix weekend has ignited with controversy as both reigning champion Max Verstappen and the Haas team faced penalties following a dramatic Friday at the Miami International Autodrome. The second sprint weekend of the 2025 season witnessed a series of incidents that triggered FIA investigations and subsequent sanctions.
During the intense sprint qualifying session, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen found himself in hot water after a contentious moment on track with another competitor. FIA stewards reviewed the incident, including team communications and onboard footage, ultimately deeming Verstappen’s actions “dangerous.” While the exact nature of the penalty remains undisclosed, it sends a clear message about the FIA’s dedication to safety and fair play during the high-pressure sprint events.
Meanwhile, the American Haas team also experienced a challenging Friday. Although rookie Ollie Bearman thankfully escaped injury after a practice session crash, his teammate Esteban Ocon was the focus of a separate investigation.
Ocon was penalized for impeding McLaren’s Lando Norris by driving slowly on the racing line, forcing the McLaren driver to take evasive action. The FIA scrutinized video evidence, team radio transmissions, and telemetry data before concluding that Haas and Ocon were responsible.
Consequently, the FIA issued a financial penalty to the Haas team, emphasizing their failure to properly warn Ocon about the approaching Norris. This oversight, according to the governing body, could have led to a significant accident on the fast Miami circuit.
With limited track time due to the sprint format, the Miami Grand Prix weekend has already proven to be a demanding one for teams and drivers. These early penalties underscore the FIA’s commitment to holding participants accountable for their conduct, especially during congested sessions like FP1 and sprint qualifying where every fraction of a second is crucial.
As the weekend progresses, the impact of these penalties on team strategies and driver performances in both the sprint race and the main Grand Prix will be closely watched. Fans can expect a thrilling and potentially unpredictable remainder of the Miami GP.
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