The FIA has issued a series of rule modifications and explanations regarding Verstappen’s tenure in Formula One.
During Max Verstappen’s Formula One career, the FIA made a number of regulation revisions.
The three-time world champion joined the Toro Rosso squad in 2015, becoming him the youngest driver in F1 history at 17 years and 166 days.
Verstappen was then promoted to the works Red Bull squad in the early stages of the 2016 season and has remained with them ever since.
Over the years, the Dutchman’s racing style has seen him push the boundaries, resulting in praise or condemnation, depending on the incident, leading the FIA to make following clarifications and revisions to
To avoid a repeat, they consulted their rules. Following the dispute involving Verstappen and Lando Norris at the US Grand Prix, Reddit users developed a list of Verstappen-related rule amendments, while there are a few others.
The complete list of rule modifications and/or clarifications is shown below: Verstappen joined Toro Rosso at the age of 16, and he obtained his super licence in time for the 2015 season.
However, in January of that year, the FIA brought up new regulations that required new drivers to be 18 years of age and hold a valid driving licence before they could receive a super licence.
Moving under braking
Verstappen avoided punishment for moving under braking while defending against Lewis Hamilton in the 2016 Japanese Grand Prix, despite the Mercedes driver’s need to take evasive action.
The FIA later prohibited drivers from changing direction while braking while defending, albeit the rule is subjective and thus not applicable in all cases.
Clarifications regarding unsportsmanlike behaviour
The FIA released a clarification on regulations governing unsportsmanlike behavior and physical altercations after an incident between Verstappen and Esteban Ocon following the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The pair clashed while Ocon was attempting to unlap his competitor, and Verstappen confronted him in the weigh-in area after the race in Sao Paulo.
Charlie Whiting, the then-FIA race director, branded Ocon’s attempted move as ‘inappropriate’, saying that while he had the right to unlap himself on faster tyres, it should have been done safely.
Overtaking and defending guidelines.
Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton engaged in a furious on-track duel in the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, with the Dutchman forcing Hamilton off the track on multiple occasions.
Following that, the FIA decided to release a new regulation for defending, which said that if an overtaking car is’significantly alongside, the defending driver must leave at least one car’s width’.
of space’. Parc ferme guidelines.
After the race, cameras recorded Verstappen scrutinizing Hamilton’s rear wing in parc ferme, which was illegal.
The FIA fined him €50,000 and increased security measures and monitoring for upcoming Grands Prix, warning that drivers who violated regulations in the future could face time penalties.
Post-race celebration guidelines
After Verstappen celebrated his victory at the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix with burnouts crossing the line, the FIA issued new limits for post-race risky driving.
After finishing each Grand Prix, drivers must now return safely to the pit lane without endangering
Other drivers.
Pit Lane Guidelines
Drivers were instructed not to cross any portion of their car over the pit exit line when resuming the course.
Verstappen did it throughout the race, but he avoided a penalty. In the future, however, any infringement will result in a driver being sanctioned.
New safety car rule.
The FIA intervened following the 2022 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, when Verstappen drew up alongside Charles Leclerc before a safety car restart.
A clarification was introduced to the rulebook, stating that drivers could not have any component of their vehicle alongside another car before the safety car restart line.
Track limit clarification
After Verstappen overtook Kimi Raikkonen while off the circuit to finish third in the 2017 United States Grand Prix, he was punished and demoted to fourth, the FIA issued a fresh explanation on track limitations.
Track limitations would then be specified by white lines, with the rule being modified and altered over time.
The rule came back into attention during the most recent United States Grand Prix weekend, when numerous drivers’ lap times were removed and fines were imposed for breaching the white line at the penultimate corner.
Update on the minimum age for super licences
Over nine years after their original rule, the FIA decided to alter their minimum super licence standards this summer. While the original rule required drivers to be 18 years old, the FIA inserted a discretionary clause to the wording, which they would have likely implemented had Verstappen been in such a circumstance in 2015. Following Mercedes’ application to allow Kimi Antonelli, who is 17, to drive in practice at this year’s Italian Grand Prix, the rule now states: ‘At the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition may be granted a super licence at the age of 17 years old’.
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