Max Verstappen Slams FIA with Explosive “It’s Not Fair” Outburst After Spanish Grand Prix Penalty
Max Verstappen has unleashed a scathing attack on the FIA, accusing the Formula 1 governing body of unfairly targeting him throughout the 2025 season, with the recent penalty at the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1 serving as the tipping point. The Red Bull driver, who has now dropped to third in the drivers’ championship, labeled the FIA’s decisions as “not fair” in a shocking statement that has sent shockwaves through the F1 paddock, reigniting debates over officiating consistency and bias as of 3:35 PM +07 on Monday, June 2, 2025.
The controversy stems from a dramatic late-race incident at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Verstappen collided with Mercedes’ George Russell after a safety car restart triggered by Kimi Antonelli’s retirement. On hard tires, Verstappen struggled for grip and clashed with Russell at Turn 5, following Red Bull’s instruction to cede position after an earlier off-track moment at Turn 1.
The FIA handed Verstappen a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points, dropping him from fifth to 10th and bringing his super license tally to 11 points—one shy of a race ban. Verstappen’s frustration boiled over post-race, with the Dutchman declaring to the media, “It’s not fair. They [the FIA] keep making things difficult for me in every race, and this penalty is just the latest example. I can’t even speak my mind without risking more trouble.”
Verstappen’s outburst echoes earlier sentiments this season, such as his reluctance to criticize a penalty in Jeddah in April 2025, where he sarcastically remarked over the radio, “bloody lovely,” after a five-second penalty cost him the win to Oscar Piastri. The four-time champion has repeatedly hinted at feeling constrained by the FIA’s tightened misconduct rules, which penalize drivers for criticism or swearing, as seen when he served community service for profanity in Singapore last year. Posts on X reflect a divided fanbase, with some praising Verstappen’s candor as a stand against inconsistent stewarding, while others view his comments as petulant, noting his history of on-track incidents, like forcing Lando Norris off in Mexico 2024.
The Spanish Grand Prix penalty has broader implications. With McLaren’s Piastri and Norris dominating—securing a 1-2 finish in Spain and a 10-point championship gap—the pressure is mounting on Verstappen, now 49 points behind Piastri. Red Bull’s Christian Horner called the penalty “very harsh,” questioning the FIA’s abandonment of the “let them race” philosophy, a sentiment Verstappen’s father, Jos, amplified earlier by criticizing the FIA’s delayed front wing flex rule as benefiting McLaren unfairly. As Verstappen heads to Canada and Austria, he must tread carefully to avoid a ban, but his latest statement risks further FIA scrutiny. Is Verstappen a victim of biased officiating, or is this a champion struggling to adapt to a tighter regulatory era? The F1 world awaits the next chapter in this escalating saga.
