FIA Announces Late Canadian GP Disqualification as Verstappen Slams Decision…Full Details in the Comments
The FIA confirmed that Esteban Ocon would not face disqualification following a post-race investigation at the Canadian Grand Prix sprint event in Montreal. The Haas driver had come under scrutiny after officials detected a possible tyre pressure infringement before the race began at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit.
Ocon crossed the finish line in 13th place during the sprint race, ending just behind Liam Lawson and ahead of his Haas team-mate Oliver Bearman. However, shortly after the session, FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer referred the matter to the race stewards after concerns were raised over tyre procedures carried out on Ocon’s car before the start.
According to the FIA report, air had allegedly been released from the left rear tyre while the wheel was still attached to the car on the starting grid. Officials believed this action could have breached several sections of the FIA’s tyre operating regulations. Because tyre pressures are tightly controlled in Formula One for both safety and performance reasons, the incident immediately triggered an official investigation and created fears that Ocon could lose his finishing position through disqualification.
The French driver was subsequently summoned to meet with the stewards later in the afternoon alongside members of the Haas team. During the hearing, FIA representatives reviewed evidence from multiple sources, including video footage captured from the car positioned directly behind Ocon on the grid, as well as footage from FIA cameras monitoring the starting positions.
After examining all available evidence, the stewards concluded that the tyre pressure procedures had ultimately remained within FIA limits and regulations. As a result, Ocon avoided any punishment and retained his 13th-place finish in the sprint classification.
In their official statement, the FIA explained that discussions were held with Haas personnel, including the team’s sporting director and engineers, in addition to technical officials and the assigned grid scrutineer. The governing body confirmed that, despite the unusual circumstances, all tyre pressure checks complied with the required standards, leading to a verdict of “no further action.”
While Ocon escaped controversy, the sprint race proved frustrating for reigning world champion Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver endured a difficult outing and could only manage a seventh-place finish after struggling with balance and tyre wear throughout the race.
Verstappen appeared visibly disappointed after the session and openly criticised Red Bull’s ongoing issues. The Dutchman admitted that the team had been battling the same weaknesses for several years, particularly when it comes to tyre degradation and maintaining consistent balance during races.
At the front of the sprint field, Mercedes enjoyed a far more competitive performance. George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli fought near the front alongside McLaren driver Lando Norris, leaving Verstappen isolated further down the order.
The contrast highlighted Red Bull’s current struggles compared to their rivals. While Mercedes and McLaren showed strong pace and tyre management, Verstappen spent most of the sprint unable to challenge the leaders. His comments after the race suggested growing frustration within the reigning champions’ camp as the competitive balance in Formula One continues to tighten.
The Canadian Grand Prix weekend has already delivered major talking points, from technical investigations to concerns over Red Bull’s pace deficit. Although Ocon ultimately escaped punishment, the incident once again demonstrated the FIA’s strict oversight regarding tyre regulations and pre-race procedures.
For Verstappen and Red Bull, however, attention is now firmly focused on finding solutions to the performance issues that continue to affect their race pace. With rival teams closing the gap and internal frustrations becoming more public, pressure is beginning to build ahead of the remainder of the season.