Max Verstappen was given a five-second post-race penalty at the Miami Grand Prix for crossing the pit exit white line during a Safety Car stop. FIA stewards said they initially lacked clear video evidence before confirming the breach after reviewing additional angles, but the sanction did not alter Verstappen’s fifth place.
Max Verstappen was handed a five-second post-race penalty after the Miami Grand Prix for crossing the pit exit white line during a Safety Car stop.
The FIA stewards said they initially did not have clear video evidence of the incident, but later confirmed the breach after reviewing additional angles. They ruled that the outside of Verstappen’s front-left tyre crossed the solid white pit exit line, which falls under the sporting regulations.
The sanction was not enough to change the final order. Verstappen still finished fifth because Charles Leclerc later received a 20-second penalty.
The ruling triggered immediate backlash online, with critics blasting the punishment as too weak for a high-profile incident in a race that had already produced post-race scrutiny.
The Miami Grand Prix took place on May 3, 2026, and the official FIA decision documents for the event were published on May 4, confirming the stewards’ verdict.
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