Sky F1 Pundits Stunned by Verstappen Penalty in Miami – Cry Foul Over Possible FIA Bias following the in… read more
Max Verstappen found himself at the center of controversy during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, and not for the usual reasons. The reigning four-time world champion was scrutinized by fans and pundits alike after appearing to start the sprint race from a position slightly ahead of his designated grid box. Despite being noted by race control initially, the incident was not formally investigated, nor was any penalty issued by the FIA.
This decision raised eyebrows among the Sky Sports F1 commentary team, particularly Martin Brundle and David Croft, who both expressed confusion over the lack of action taken. During the live broadcast of the sprint race, Croft remarked on what appeared to be a clear infraction. “I’ll wait for the end of this race and then someone can tell me why Max Verstappen was further forward than his pit box but was okay and wasn’t noted for a false start,” he commented.
Brundle echoed these concerns and went a step further by questioning whether Verstappen may have gained a measurable advantage. “If he wasn’t [penalized], then they should all be that far forward at every start at every grand prix, as you can gain an extra third of a metre,” Brundle said. He suggested that although Verstappen might have had some part of his car touching the white line, the position still offered an edge that other drivers could theoretically exploit if left unchecked by officials.
This wasn’t the only FIA-related issue Verstappen faced during the sprint. Later in the race, he was involved in a pit lane incident with Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli. During a routine stop, the Red Bull team released Verstappen too early, resulting in a collision with Antonelli’s car. The contact caused visible damage to Verstappen’s front wing and led to an official investigation by the FIA stewards.
After reviewing the footage and telemetry, the FIA ruled that Red Bull had committed an unsafe release. As a consequence, Verstappen was handed a 10-second time penalty. This significantly affected his final position, dropping him to the back of the sprint race results and eliminating any chance of earning points.
The incident marked a forgettable outing for the Dutchman, who endured one of his more frustrating performances in recent memory. To make matters worse, McLaren continued their dominant form, securing another one-two finish. Oscar Piastri led the charge, further cementing his position at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. Verstappen, by contrast, fell nearly 20 points behind the Australian in the title race standings.
The controversy over the grid positioning, combined with the pit lane mishap, left fans and experts debating the FIA’s consistency in enforcing rules. Many argued that a clearer standard should be applied when it comes to grid starts, especially when even a small positional gain can have significant consequences in a race start. Brundle’s remark about the “extra third of a metre” highlighted a broader concern: if such a move is not penalized, other drivers might push the boundaries in future events.
In the aftermath, neither the FIA nor Red Bull issued a detailed explanation regarding the grid position decision, fueling further speculation. While Verstappen remains a title contender, the Miami weekend served as a stark reminder that even the smallest missteps—whether by driver or team—can have major repercussions in a tightly contested season.
As Formula 1 heads to the next round, all eyes will be on how the FIA enforces its regulations going forward, and whether Verstappen and Red Bull can recover their form amid growing competition from McLaren and others.
