The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has officially closed its investigation into reigning world champion Max Verstappen, deciding to take no further action against the Red Bull driver for his controversial actions in parc fermé following qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The drama unfolded when footage emerged showing Verstappen approaching and physically touching the rear wing of title rival Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes. The incident occurred after both drivers had qualified, when cars are under strict parc fermé conditions, forbidding any unauthorised interference.
Footage Sparks Immediate Scrutiny
The video, which quickly went viral on social media, shows Verstappen in the secure parc fermé area. He is seen running his fingers along the top of Hamilton's rear wing assembly and giving it a firm tap or push. The act immediately drew the attention of FIA officials and sparked a formal investigation into a potential breach of the sporting regulations.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was reportedly left furious by the incident, while Red Bull's Christian Horner quickly defended his driver, claiming Verstappen was merely inspecting a wing that looked 'bendy' and was therefore potentially illegal.
The FIA's Verdict
After reviewing all available evidence, including multiple camera angles and telemetry data, the FIA stewards released a statement confirming their decision. They found that while Verstappen did touch the wing, the force applied was minimal—estimated at no more than 10 Newtons, or roughly the weight of a one-kilogram mass.
Crucially, the stewards concluded that this level of contact was "not significant" and could not have possibly altered the material flex of the wing or given Mercedes any sporting advantage. They also noted that the rear wing of Hamilton's car passed all subsequent scrutineering checks without issue.
A Tense Championship Climax
This incident added yet another layer of intensity to an already fiercely contested championship battle. With only a few races remaining in the season, every point and potential advantage is under the microscope. The decision to take no further action means both drivers can focus solely on their on-track performance as the title fight reaches its dramatic conclusion.
