FIA Summons Verstappen’s Car Amid Key Miami Grand Prix Weekend as Championship Battle Intensifies
Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, is once again in the spotlight as the Miami Grand Prix approaches—this time not for any controversy or incident, but due to a procedural measure carried out by the sport’s governing body, the FIA. In the lead-up to the high-stakes race weekend, Verstappen’s RB21 was selected for the FIA’s routine car display, a standard and scheduled process carried out at every Grand Prix.
The FIA issued a summons for the Red Bull Racing machine, along with the cars of Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine), to be part of the pre-event pit lane presentation. This process is intended to give media personnel, technical staff, and observers a closer, detailed view of selected cars, often highlighting specific design elements and technical features. The event fosters both transparency and engagement, aligning with Formula 1’s efforts to maintain openness around team operations and to offer the public and paddock insiders deeper access to the sport.
Verstappen’s car being called for display coincided with his own late arrival to the Miami paddock. The Dutch driver was absent from Thursday’s media obligations, which sparked mild speculation. However, his absence was quickly explained: he had stayed behind to celebrate the birth of his first child with long-time partner Kelly Piquet. The moment marked a significant personal milestone for the three-time world champion, and Red Bull confirmed that Verstappen’s travel plans had been adjusted accordingly.
Despite missing the Thursday press briefings, Verstappen’s participation in the race weekend is unaffected. He arrived in Miami around 8:00 PM local time on Thursday, comfortably ahead of the opening track session—Free Practice 1—scheduled for 12:30 PM on Friday. With plenty of time to acclimatize and prepare, there are no concerns within the Red Bull garage about his readiness for competition.
The FIA’s car display initiative, while drawing attention, should not be confused with an investigation or technical inspection prompted by suspicion. These selections are common practice and rotate from race to race. All teams are required to cooperate by sending representatives to the display and ensuring the car is presented in accordance with FIA expectations. For Red Bull, this merely meant presenting the RB21 in the pit lane under supervision—an uneventful task in the grand scheme of the weekend’s stakes.
What truly raises the pressure for Verstappen and his team is not the FIA summons, but the position they find themselves in heading into one of the most pivotal race weekends of the 2025 calendar. Miami is one of the limited sprint race events this season, meaning up to 33 championship points are up for grabs between the sprint qualifying, sprint race, and the Grand Prix itself. With the title fight heating up, every single point carries weight.
Currently, Verstappen is third in the drivers’ standings, trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 12 points. Piastri, who has demonstrated remarkable consistency and speed in the early part of the season, is proving to be a formidable contender for the title. Lando Norris, also in the McLaren stable, sits between the two in second place. A strong showing from Verstappen in Miami could see the Red Bull driver reclaim the championship lead—or at the very least close the gap significantly before the European leg of the season begins.
Conversely, should Piastri continue his upward trajectory and secure maximum points across the weekend, Verstappen’s task will become far more difficult moving forward. The fight at the top of the standings is poised to tighten, and every qualifying lap, sprint maneuver, and strategy call will carry added significance.
Red Bull Racing also finds itself under pressure in the constructors’ championship. The team currently lies third overall, a surprising 99 points behind a resurgent McLaren outfit that has taken early control of the standings. Mercedes holds second place and is also showing signs of renewed competitiveness after a difficult 2024 campaign. For a team that has dominated multiple seasons in the recent past, Red Bull’s position is unfamiliar—and increasingly precarious.
The team’s hopes in Miami rest largely on Verstappen’s shoulders, as teammate Sergio Pérez has struggled with inconsistency this season. A successful weekend could be the catalyst Red Bull needs to reignite its campaign and reassert itself in both championship battles.
In the midst of it all, Verstappen appears calm and focused. The timing of his personal life event and the procedural nature of the FIA summons have not disrupted his preparation. With the Miami International Autodrome offering a fast, complex layout and unpredictable conditions, Verstappen will look to use his experience and racecraft to seize the moment—and perhaps reshape the trajectory of the 2025 season.
