Penalty for Max Verstappen after the Miami GP? The FIA has officially confirmed the outcome of the investigation into the Dutch driver.
The Miami Grand Prix wasn’t over at the chequered flag, as stewards opened investigations into Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell for several controversial incidents. The Dutch driver was heard by the FIA, in front of a panel of stewards that also included Vitantonio Liuzzi.
Verstappen’s race was far from straightforward. At the start, he was overtaken by Leclerc while attempting a move on Kimi Antonelli, before spinning at Turn 2 and dropping to ninth place. A Safety Car, triggered by Isack Hadjar, gave him a second chance: a pit stop and a switch to hard tyres to attempt a recovery.
After around 40 laps on that compound, however, rear tyre degradation became evident. Verstappen gradually lost ground, first being passed by Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, and then becoming involved in a heated battle with Russell.
Read also: Formula One | Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen: “My mistake at the start, at the end I had no tyres left”
It was during this phase that the contact occurred: the Dutchman made contact with Russell’s Mercedes, damaging the front wing footplate. The incident led to his immediate summons by the stewards.
The FIA has now officially confirmed its verdict: Max Verstappen is not guilty in the incident with Russell. After a detailed analysis of the telemetry and discussions with the drivers, it was concluded that the contact at Turn 1 was a racing incident. Final decision: no penalty for Verstappen.
Photo credits Red Bull content pool
