The Formula 1 world is buzzing once again, and as usual, Max Verstappen is at the center of it all. During the final day of pre-season testing for the 2025 season, the reigning four-time world champion found himself in the spotlight—not just for his blistering pace in the Red Bull RB21, but for a cheeky gesture that raised eyebrows and ignited social media. As Verstappen exited the pit lane for a practice start on Friday morning, he appeared to aim a middle finger at the Williams pit wall. The move was caught on camera, and fans quickly took to X to speculate about potential consequences. Yet, in a surprising twist, the FIA has decided not to pursue any action against the Dutch driver, leaving the incident as another colorful chapter in Verstappen’s storied career.
The gesture, which Verstappen reportedly made in jest, came as he spotted a Williams engineer attempting to snap a photo of the Red Bull’s front end—a common practice in the ultra-competitive world of F1, where teams are always on the lookout for a glimpse of their rivals’ tech. “Max giving someone the middle finger 😭😭,” read a post from the fan account @verstappenews on February 28, 2025, racking up 1.9K replies and countless memes. For a driver known for his no-nonsense demeanor both on and off the track, it was a moment that blended humor with his trademark defiance.
Verstappen had been in fine form throughout the third day of testing, taking the wheel of the RB21 after sitting out day two. The Dutchman exuded confidence in the car’s performance, though he remained tight-lipped when pressed for details. “It’s just improved everywhere compared to last year,” he told reporters on Thursday. “I don’t want to go too much into details. It’s not necessary. We can keep that for ourselves.” His reticence only fueled speculation that Red Bull might have something special up their sleeves for the upcoming season.
Testing hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing for Red Bull, however. A water pressure issue hampered reserve driver Liam Lawson’s running on Thursday, and the young New Zealander also had a spin the previous day—though he managed to recover and continue. Verstappen’s stints, by contrast, were nearly flawless, with the middle finger incident being the only blip on an otherwise seamless day. That fleeting moment of controversy, however, was enough to get tongues wagging about whether the FIA would intervene, especially given their recent crackdown on driver conduct.
The FIA’s stricter stance on behavior has been a hot topic in recent years. Last season, Verstappen himself was slapped with a community service penalty after letting a swear word slip during a press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. The punishment saw him travel to Rwanda for the FIA’s prizegiving ceremony, where he worked with junior drivers in Motorsport Rwanda’s grassroots development program. The initiative, which uses the FIA Affordable Cross Car as an accessible entry point for young racers, aims to grow motorsport in emerging markets. Verstappen took it in stride, but the episode underscored the governing body’s commitment to policing language and conduct—making Friday’s incident all the more intriguing.
Fans and pundits alike wondered if the middle finger would land Verstappen in hot water again. After all, the FIA has been keen to maintain a polished image for the sport, clamping down on everything from team radio outbursts to press room antics. But in a statement to the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com, the FIA clarified their stance: “This happened ‘on the field’ and is therefore different from an official interview setting.” In other words, what happens on the track—or in this case, the pit lane—stays on the track. No investigation, no penalty, no drama.
For Verstappen, it’s business as usual. The 27-year-old has long embraced his role as F1’s enfant terrible, blending unrivaled talent with an unapologetic personality. Whether he’s dominating the stopwatch or flashing a cheeky gesture, he knows how to keep the sport’s pulse racing. As the 2025 season looms, all eyes will be on the Red Bull star—not just for his on-track exploits, but for the next unexpected moment that reminds us why he’s one of F1’s most electrifying figures. For now, the middle finger saga ends with a smirk and a shrug, leaving fans to wonder: what will Max do next?
