Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is under investigation by the FIA for driving unnecessarily slowly in qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Verstappen qualified third for his home race on Saturday behind the dominant McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. who claimed his fifth pole position of the F1 2025 season.
FIA launches investigation over potential Max Verstappen breach
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
The FIA announced after qualifying that Verstappen over an ‘alleged breach of Article 33.4 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations & Article 12.2.1(i).’
The charge relates to driving unnecessarily slowly ‘in contravention of the race director’s event notes.’
Verstappen and a Red Bull team representative are required to report to the stewards at 1645 at Zandvoort.
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Speaking to media including PlanetF1.com in the post-qualifying press conference, Verstappen declared himself pleased with third on the grid after a challenging weekend at his home event.
He said: “So far this weekend, we’ve been struggling for grip and general balance.
“And luckily in qualifying, it was the best that I’ve felt all weekend and that’s, of course, what you like.
“It all just felt a bit more normal, bit more together. Still not, of course, on the level of McLaren, but at least to be P3, I guess, is very good for us.
“So we did the right things in terms of setup direction, so I’m very happy with that.
“And it just made it also a bit more fun to get to push to the limit around here, which is an incredible layout.”
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Asked what he changed overnight to put the RB21 car in a better window, he said: “Changed a lot.
“Even this morning [FP3], it was still not good so then we changed other bits again and that made it feel a bit better.
“But it’s still quite tricky with the wind. It’s been very windy today and some corners you’ve been guided by what the wind is doing.
“The car is pushing or sliding and I guess there we’re not the strongest at the moment. But still, it was not bad.”
On the car’s race pace, Verstappen added: “It’s a bit unknown.
“But I do think that what we have on the car should be more stable.
“But this season in general, our race pace has not been the best if you compare it to a qualifying lap.
“But I just hope that at least we can keep the guys behind us – literally behind us – in the race.
“What happens in front of me, I have no control over. I’ll just try to do the best I can from from my side.”
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