F1 News Today: Verstappen handed official verdict as FIA announce punishment over …read more
Formula 1 returned to the Miami International Autodrome for the sixth round of the 2025 season, hosting the second sprint weekend of the year. As the high-stakes sprint format resumed, teams were eager to make the most of the limited track time during Friday’s lone practice session. However, the session was cut short due to a crash involving 19-year-old Haas driver Ollie Bearman. Fortunately, Bearman was unharmed, but the incident brought early disruption to several teams’ qualifying preparations.
Later that day, attention shifted to a separate matter involving three-time world champion Max Verstappen. Following the sprint qualifying session, Verstappen was summoned by the stewards for a contentious on-track incident with another F1 driver. The FIA reviewed various pieces of evidence, including onboard footage, team radio transmissions, and video recordings, before reaching a decision. The incident was deemed serious enough to merit investigation, with concerns raised over whether Verstappen’s actions posed a safety risk. However, after careful review, the governing body announced its official verdict, though specific details of any penalty or warning remain undisclosed at this stage.
Meanwhile, Haas also found itself in the spotlight for a separate on-track controversy. During Free Practice 1 (FP1), Esteban Ocon was involved in a near-miss with McLaren’s Lando Norris. Ocon, who was driving slowly on the racing line, inadvertently blocked Norris, forcing the McLaren driver to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The stewards took the incident seriously, especially as it occurred at Haas’ home Grand Prix on American soil.
The FIA conducted a thorough investigation, interviewing both drivers—Ocon (car 31) and Norris (car 4)—along with team representatives. After analyzing video footage and other data, the stewards concluded that Ocon had indeed impeded Norris, compromising the British driver’s session. As a result, the FIA issued a financial penalty to the Haas team for their role in the dangerous incident.
This development adds to a busy and incident-packed start to the Miami Grand Prix weekend. The combination of sprint qualifying drama, practice session chaos, and team penalties has already provided plenty of talking points, even before the main race events unfold. With tensions running high and teams pushing the limits on and off the track, fans can expect more drama as the weekend progresses.
As the 2025 Formula 1 season continues to heat up, incidents like these highlight the fine margins and high stakes that define modern F1 competition. Will more penalties follow as drivers battle for supremacy? All eyes now turn to the remainder of the Mia
mi weekend.
