Verstappen Claims 'Half the Field' Often Illegal, Calls McLaren DQ an 'Early Christmas Present'
Max Verstappen claims many F1 teams often race with illegal cars that go unchecked, citing limited FIA inspections. He labeled rivals McLaren's double disqualification in Las Vegas for excessive floor wear as an 'early Christmas present,' highlighting tensions between innovation and regulation in the sport.
Max Verstappen has provocatively suggested that a significant portion of the Formula 1 grid often races with cars that are technically illegal, stating that McLaren's double disqualification in Las Vegas was an "early Christmas present" for him. The Red Bull driver argues that teams constantly push regulatory limits, with many getting away with it due to the FIA's limited post-race inspection capacity.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's comments highlight a persistent tension in F1 between technical innovation and regulatory compliance. His assertion that widespread rule-bending goes unchecked questions the consistency and fairness of the sport's technical governance. The McLaren case in Las Vegas, where excessive floor wear led to disqualification, serves as a rare public example of a violation being caught, underscoring Verstappen's point about the potential scale of undetected infringements.
The details:
- Verstappen told Viaplay that teams are always trying to find the limit of the regulations, sometimes ending up just above or below it.
- He claimed weaker teams are generally checked less often than top cars, implying an inspection bias.
- The reigning champion laughed as he estimated that "if you check that every race – then half of them are definitely under" the legal limits, referring to teams at the back of the grid.
- He emphasized the practical constraints, noting the FIA lacks the personnel to thoroughly check both cars from all ten teams after every Grand Prix.
- The comments followed the post-race disqualification of both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, from the Las Vegas Grand Prix for excessive floor wear, a result Verstappen learned about while on a plane.
Between the lines:
Verstappen's framing of the McLaren disqualification as a gift reveals the high-stakes, gamesmanship aspect of a championship fight. While he acknowledged the drama was positive for F1, his broader point critiques a system where success can hinge on whether a technical infringement is discovered. His remarks suggest a belief that illegal performance gains are not an exception but a common, if hidden, part of the competitive landscape, putting the onus on the governing body to improve its detection methods to ensure a level playing field.