Verstappen Claims 'Half the Grid' Is Running Illegally

Max Verstappen has made a stunning claim that widespread rule-breaking is prevalent in Formula 1, suggesting that "half" of the grid would be found illegal if cars were inspected every weekend. The comments come after a season where random checks led to several high-profile disqualifications, including one that directly impacted the title fight. Verstappen argues the current system of random scrutiny is unfair and creates winners and losers by chance rather than by engineering excellence.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's comments strike at the heart of F1's sporting integrity, suggesting the championship battle is influenced as much by luck as by on-track performance. The claim shines a light on the "grey areas" teams constantly exploit for marginal gains, raising questions about the effectiveness of the FIA's regulatory enforcement. For fans and teams, it fuels the debate over whether the sport is a fair contest or a game of who can best bend the rules without getting caught.

The details:

• The 2025 season saw multiple disqualifications for technical breaches, most notably McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Las Vegas. Their rear skid blocks were found to be thinner than the 9mm legal limit, a penalty Verstappen called an "early Christmas present" that aided his title charge.
• Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were also disqualified in China for separate technical infringements, while Alpine's Pierre Gasly fell foul of the minimum weight rule, establishing a pattern of infractions throughout the season.
• The Core Complaint: Verstappen's frustration isn't just with teams pushing boundaries, but with the randomness of the FIA's checks. "I don’t like that it’s random," he stated, arguing it creates a lottery rather than a fair competition where everyone is held to the same standard.
• The Proposed Solution: He suggested checking all 20 cars every weekend for a "fair game," but immediately acknowledged the logistical impossibility, stating, "you’d need a lot of people; that’s just not possible."

Looking ahead:

Verstappen's provocative claim may be a strategic shot across the bow of the FIA, putting pressure on the governing body to reconsider its policing methods ahead of future seasons. While his "half the grid" figure may be an exaggeration, it underscores a fundamental truth in modern F1: the relentless pursuit of performance will always push teams to the very edge—and sometimes beyond—the regulations. The debate over how to enforce rules fairly in a sport built on pushing boundaries is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.