Verstappen Disqualified from Qualifying Amid Controversy at Miami GP
Miami, FL – Max Verstappen qualified fourth for the Miami Grand Prix, overshadowed by an incident involving potential rule violations regarding slow driving. The Red Bull driver was summoned to the stewards after being accused of driving unnecessarily slowly, which may have jeopardized safety on track.
The FIA’s regulations are clear: "At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers." This is further clarified in the race director’s notes, specifically addressing in-laps and out-laps during qualifying. For the Miami event, a maximum lap time of 1:45 was established to ensure competitive pacing.
In the first qualifying phase, Verstappen clashed with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, who criticized the maneuver as “dangerous.” Stroll, who had to alter his line while approaching a corner, expressed his frustration, stating, “We just had traffic the whole way through the lap… Verstappen was completely in the middle of the track.”
Both the incident and the subsequent scrutiny highlight growing tensions in the tightly contested qualifying sessions, where every millisecond counts. Stroll’s lap was hampered, and he suggested an investigation into Verstappen’s actions might be warranted.
As the Miami GP weekend unfolds, teams are keenly focused on maximizing performance amidst strict adherence to regulations. Further developments are anticipated as the incident is evaluated by the stewards.
