FIA have confirmed a post-race penalty for Max Verstappen following the Miami Grand Prix, after reviewing an incident that occurred during the race.
Verstappen had been under scrutiny for a potential breach at the pit exit, specifically for crossing the white line—a rule violation that typically results in a standard five-second time penalty. Due to limited camera angles during the race, officials postponed a final decision until after the chequered flag, when additional footage became available.
Once the stewards examined the expanded video evidence, including in-car footage and alternative trackside angles,g they concluded that Verstappen had indeed committed the infringement. As a& result, the Red Bull driver was issued the expected five-second penalty.
Despite this, the sanction ultimately had no impact on his finishing position. Verstappen crossed the line in fifth place, and while the penalty would normally have dropped him behind Charles Leclerc, circumstances worked in his favor. Leclerc, who had been trailing him, was also penalized—this time for repeatedly exceeding track limits and gaining an advantage while nursing a damaged Ferrari car in the closing stages.
Because of Leclerc’s own penalty, Verstappen retained his fifth-place finish in the final standings. It was a fortunate outcome for the reigning world champion, whose mistake could easily have cost him a position.
The situation appeared even more unusual given that Verstappen exited the pits under safety car conditions, when drivers are typically expected to exercise heightened caution. This added to the surprise that such a basic rule was breached in those circumstances.
In their official statement, the FIA stewards explained why the matter was not resolved during the race itself. They noted that initial footage was inconclusive, making it difficult to determine whether a violation had occurred. Only after reviewing clearer and more comprehensive angles post-race were they able to confidently issue a ruling.
According to the report, Verstappen stated that he was rejoining the track under full course yellow conditions at the time of the incident. However, the additional evidence ultimately confirmed that he had crossed the pit exit line, leading to the penalty being applied after the race concluded.