FIA Issues Verdict on Verstappen After Miami GP Sp… Read more
Max Verstappen avoided a penalty after being summoned to the stewards following Sprint Qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, who secured fourth place in the Sprint Qualifying, was investigated for allegedly breaching FIA regulations during the session.
The issue revolved around a potential violation of Article 33.4 of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations and Article 12.2.1.i of the International Sporting Code. These regulations emphasize following the Race Director’s event-specific notes. In this instance, Verstappen was suspected of exceeding the maximum permitted lap time set by the Race Director, Rui Marques, in his pre-event notes. Specifically, drivers must stay under a 1:45.0 maximum time between the first and second Safety Car lines during Sprint Qualifying, full qualifying, and reconnaissance laps to prevent excessively slow driving.
Verstappen reportedly exceeded the maximum lap time by about six seconds during one of his SQ2 laps. The summons prompted an FIA review, during which Verstappen and a Red Bull team representative met with the stewards. The investigation included analysis of video footage, timing data, and telemetry.
Ultimately, the stewards concluded that while there had indeed been a breach, Verstappen would not receive a penalty. Instead, the team received a formal reprimand. The FIA explained that Verstappen drove with a constant pace during the lap in question and did not obstruct other drivers or create a hazardous situation.
According to Red Bull, the cause of the breach was an error in the car’s programming. The delta time displayed to Verstappen was offset by six seconds, leading him to manage his pace under the assumption that he was within limits. The team discovered the error at the end of the first cooldown lap and quickly informed Verstappen. After that, he adjusted his driving to remain at least six seconds below the displayed delta time, as confirmed by telemetry data.
The stewards acknowledged that Verstappen acted reasonably based on the information available to him and did not drive “unnecessarily slowly.” Consequently, they decided that punishing the driver was not justified. However, they reprimanded the Red Bull team for failing to provide accurate timing information to the driver, as teams are responsible for ensuring the correct delta is shown in the car.
Despite Verstappen being cleared of wrongdoing, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll expressed frustration over the incident. Stroll, who was eliminated in 16th place during Sprint Qualifying, claimed he lost three to four tenths of a second due to Verstappen driving slowly near the final corner. He criticized the incident, saying that such behavior impacts those on flying laps and hoped that the stewards would take appropriate action.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the Miami race weekend, Verstappen reflected on the challenges posed by the circuit. He admitted that his car struggled with understeer, particularly in the low-speed corners that dominate much of the Miami layout. While he performed well in the first sector, which features high-speed turns, Verstappen acknowledged that the Red Bull car lacked grip in the slower sections, making it difficult to be fully competitive.
Nevertheless, Verstappen was relatively content with his performance, saying that qualifying fourth wasn’t ideal but was still a respectable result given the car’s limitations. He remained realistic about Red Bull’s chances, especially with limited data due to the Sprint weekend format. With only one practice session available before qualifying, teams lacked extensive long-run information, making it hard to accurately assess competitiveness.
Verstappen emphasized the importance of managing the car’s balance and temperature in the Miami heat. He admitted that without a clear picture of how rivals were running their cars in terms of fuel loads and strategies, it was difficult to judge Red Bull’s true pace. Despite the uncertainty, he remained focused on maximizing performance and extracting the most from the car in the conditions.
Notably, Verstappen wasn’t the only driver to breach the minimum time regulation. Five other drivers—Alex Albon (Williams), Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), George Russell (Mercedes), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)—also exceeded the maximum lap time during SQ1. It remains to be seen if similar actions will be taken against them.
In summary, while Verstappen technically broke the rules during Sprint Qualifying in Miami, the stewards found no malicious intent or negative impact on other competitors. The Red Bull team received a reprimand for the technical error, allowing Verstappen to continue without penalty as the Miami Grand Prix weekend progresses.
