Max Verstappen has officially been promoted onto the podium following the Hungarian Grand Prix after the FIA confirmed the disqualification of a rival driver during post-race technical inspections.
The reigning world champion originally crossed the finish line just outside the top three after a tightly contested race at the Hungaroring. However, several hours after the chequered flag, FIA officials announced that one of the drivers who had finished ahead of Verstappen had been excluded from the final classification due to a breach of the Formula 1 Technical Regulations.
The stewards’ decision came after routine post-race scrutineering identified an issue that rendered the car non-compliant with FIA regulations. While the exact nature of the infringement was detailed in the official stewards’ report, the penalty resulted in immediate disqualification from the race, promoting every driver behind the excluded competitor up one position.
As a result, Verstappen inherited third place, adding another podium finish to his 2026 campaign and securing valuable championship points. The additional points could prove crucial as the title battle continues to intensify heading into the second half of the Formula 1 season.
The revised race classification also reshuffled several positions inside the top ten, with multiple drivers benefiting from the FIA’s decision. Teams quickly acknowledged the updated standings as the official results were published.
Speaking after the revised classification, Verstappen welcomed the extra points but admitted he would have preferred to earn the podium on track.
“You always want to finish in the top three by racing, but these are the regulations and every team has to comply with them. We’ll take the points and continue pushing,” Verstappen said.
Red Bull also accepted the revised result, emphasizing that every championship point could be decisive in what has become one of the closest title fights in recent years.
The disqualified team’s result has been erased from both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship standings, handing a significant boost to Red Bull’s campaign while also affecting the battle among the leading teams.
The FIA stressed that all Formula 1 cars undergo comprehensive post-race inspections to ensure full compliance with the sport’s technical regulations, adding that any breach—regardless of whether it provides a competitive advantage—can lead to exclusion from the results.
With the Hungarian Grand Prix now officially concluded, attention shifts to the next round of the championship, where Verstappen will look to build on his inherited podium and continue his pursuit of more victories as the 2026 Formula 1 season heads toward its decisive stages.
