Max Verstappen is being investigated by the FIA, the governing body of F1, for a possible breach of Virtual Safety Car rules during the sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, finished third in this shorter race at Interlagos, where his title rival Lando Norris won with help from McLaren’s team orders.
The Virtual Safety Car was deployed late in the sprint after Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas car stopped on the track due to an exhaust issue.
As the race was about to resume, Verstappen briefly pulled up next to Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, as they approached Turn 4, a key overtaking spot. However, he backed off before making a move as they reached the corner.
Replays showed that the Virtual Safety Car signals were still active as Verstappen and Piastri approached Turn 4, with the race resuming moments later.
The FIA is looking into whether Verstappen’s actions violated the rules during the Virtual Safety Car period, where drivers must follow a specific ‘delta time’ to avoid giving an unfair advantage.
This investigation comes after Verstappen received a rare 20-second penalty at the previous Mexican Grand Prix, where he was involved in two incidents with Norris, resulting in two 10-second penalties.
The situation has sparked discussions about driving standards in F1, with many experts and former drivers, including Johnny Herbert, questioning Verstappen’s behavior during close racing scenarios.
Speaking on his own earlier this week, Mr. Herbert criticized Verstappen’s “horrible mindset” during races and called his actions against Norris an “absolute no no.”
Mr. Herbert is also part of the four-man stewards’ panel for the race in Brazil this weekend, where he, along with others, will decide if any additional action against Verstappen is necessary.
