The Grand Prix of Miami, which takes place on May 4, 2025, started with a striking incident during the sprint qualification on Friday. Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion and Red Bull driver, was examined by the FIA stewards for an alleged violation of the rules. The Dutchman is said to have driven too slowly during a spout in SQ2, with which he exceeded the maximum delta time between the two safety car lines. Although Red Bull and Verstappen were found guilty of breaking the rules, Verstappen escaped from a punishment, and the team only received a reprimand. The FIA pointed to a programming error such as the bizarre reason behind the violation, which caused a commotion in the Formula 1 world, as reported by Motorsport.com and GPFans.
According to FIA regulations, drivers are not allowed to drive unnecessarily slowly during qualifying sessions to prevent dangerous situations. The racing director had set a maximum lap time of 1 minute and 45 seconds between the safety car lines based on practice times for the Miami weekend. During one round in SQ2, Verstappen appeared to be above this limit for six seconds, which led to a call at the stewards. After conversations with Verstappen and a Red Bull representative, and after analysis of telemetry, video and timing, the stewards concluded that the violation was due to a programming error in Verstappens car. The dashboard showed a delta time with a six-second deviation, making Verstappen thought he was driving within the lines, while in reality he was too slow.
The telemetry confirmed that Verstappen was constantly driving, without hindering other cars, as if he managed the Delta time with a six-second difference. Red Bull discovered the error after the first cooling round and immediately instructed Verstappen to adjust his speed, so that he would stay under the Delta time shown for six seconds. He did this in all subsequent laps, which was supported by telemetry. The stewards ruled that Verstappen, based on the information in his car, was not “unnecessarily slow” and did not create a dangerous situation. That is why he was acquitted of a personal punishment. Red Bull was responsible for the responsibility, which received a reprimand because the team must ensure correct timing information. However, the stewards warned that a comparable violation can be punished more heavily, among other things.
This decision caused mixed reactions. On X, some fans praised the Fia for their clementia, with messages such as: “Max was unlucky with that mistake, good that he is not punished.” Others found the explanation strange, with a post that stated: “A programming error? That sounds like a weak excuse for a top team.” The reprimand for Red Bull emphasizes the high expectations of the FIA, especially after earlier incidents this season, such as Verstappens five seconds punishment in Brazil 2024 for a Virtual Safety Car-violation, as reported by Formula1.com.
The incident overshadowed Verstappen’s performance in Miami, where he finished fourth in the sprint qualification, behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli and both McLaren drivers. Verstappen complained about understeer in his RB21, which limited his speed in the slow turns, as he explained to Sky Sports. Despite the disappointing qualification, he remains the championship leader with 112 points, but the pressure is increasing with strong competition from McLaren and Ferrari. The programming error is a rare misstep for Red Bull, which is known for its precision, and raises questions about their preparation.
The case exposes a wider tension in Formula 1: the strict enforcement of rules versus human and technical errors. Verstappen, who has often bumped with the FIA about penalties, such as his community service in Singapore for coarse language, seems to be in the center again. The reprimand for Red Bull is mild compared to possible grid sentences, but the warning from the FIA suggests that future errors will not be so light. While Miami is preparing for the Sprintrace and the main race, Verstappen continues to maximize the maximization of his chances, despite the bizarre turn of this violation. His talent and resilience will be crucial to endure this storm and to keep his lead in the championship.
