The FIA has dropped a bombshell decision regarding the recent Dutch Grand Prix, a race that saw fierce competition between F1 titans Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. In a dramatic turn of events, both drivers faced scrutiny for allegedly flouting crucial regulations during the high-octane showdown at Zandvoort.
Last weekend’s race was a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in Oscar Piastri seizing victory after an intense 72 laps. However, the day turned sour for Norris, who suffered an engine failure that forced him to retire. And he wasn’t alone: both Ferrari drivers also fell victim to the unforgiving track conditions. The tension escalated when seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton crashed out early, smashing into the barriers at Turn 3 and triggering a safety car that sent shockwaves through the paddock.
Adding to the chaos, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli collided with Charles Leclerc on lap 53, a move that raised eyebrows and resulted in a 10-second penalty for Antonelli, along with two penalty points on his license. But the real drama unfolded off the track, as Verstappen and Norris were investigated for potentially driving too slowly during reconnaissance laps — a violation that has previously earned Verstappen a penalty point.
In a thorough investigation, the FIA looked into the actions of Verstappen, Norris, and two other drivers — Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Williams’ Carlos Sainz — for breaching Article 33.4 of the FIA F1 Sporting Regulations and Article 12.2.1 i) of the FIA International Sporting Code, related to speeding limits between Safety Car lines.
After an exhaustive review involving marshalling data, timing logs, on-board footage, and CCTV footage, the stewards released a statement declaring: “All drivers concerned stayed at or above speeds necessary to stay below 1:26.0 around the vast majority of the circuit. However, the stewards determined that the drivers took appropriate actions to not impede others, slowing down significantly to allow other drivers to pass while ensuring they had a clear track.”
In a stunning conclusion, the FIA found that neither Verstappen nor Norris had committed any infractions that warranted penalties, clearing them of wrongdoing.
This latest development adds more fuel to the fire in an already contentious F1 season. As the dust settles on Zandvoort, all eyes will be on the upcoming races to see how these events unfold and whether the FIA will continue to enforce strict penalties in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing.
Stay tuned for more updates as we delve deeper into the implications of this ruling and its impact on the championship standings!
