The Formula 1 world is in turmoil after an unexpected announcement from Victoria Verstappen, the sister of four-time world champion Max Verstappen. On April 27, 2025, Victoria revealed via her Instagram account that she will release a documentary about her brother’s life, entitled Max: Beyond the Track . The announcement, which was accompanied by a teaser trailer, caused a wave of reactions among fans and insiders. However, the situation escalated when FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem reportedly threatened to ban her from attending Max’s races, due to alleged violations of FIA regulations around unauthorized media expression, reports RacingNews365 (April 27, 2025).
Victoria’s documentary promises an intimate look at Max’s life, from his early karting days to his dominant performances with Red Bull Racing. The trailer, which features snippets of personal interviews with Max, his father Jos, and team members, hints at revelations about the pressures of racing and the toll of the controversy surrounding Max’s run-ins with the FIA. “This is my brother’s real story, not what the media shows you,” Victoria wrote on Instagram. Fans on X praised the announcement, with @F1FanNL writing: “Victoria shows Max who he really is!” (April 27, 2025). Still, the timing, in the middle of a tumultuous season for Max, has caused a stir.
Ben Sulayem’s threat stems from the FIA’s strict rules on unauthorised publications that could bring the sport into disrepute. According to Motorsport.com (April 27, 2025), the FIA took offense to clips in the trailer in which Max criticizes the FIA for inconsistent penalties, such as the five-second time penalty in Jeddah (). A source close to the FIA reports that Ben Sulayem warned Victoria that she could be banned from the paddock if the documentary “undermines the integrity of the sport.” This has sparked outrage among fans, with a petition on X calling for Ben Sulayem’s resignation signed by thousands (April 27, 2025).
Max Verstappen himself reacted cautiously to the news. During a press conference after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he finished second, he said: “My sister is doing her thing. I focus on racing” ( GPToday.net , April 27, 2025). Nevertheless, the tension between Max and the FIA is palpable. The Dutchman has expressed his frustration about penalties several times this season, such as in Hungary, where he criticized the stewards via the on-board radio (). His earlier comments about not broadcasting on-board radios to avoid controversy became topical again after Victoria’s announcement ().
The documentary comes at a sensitive time for Red Bull, which is struggling with technical problems and internal unrest after the driver change from Liam Lawson to Yuki Tsunoda ( GPToday.net , April 27, 2025). Max, who is fighting for a fifth title despite a suboptimal car, is under pressure from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who is leading the championship. The chaos in Jeddah, with incidents such as Piastri’s pit lane maneuver and Norris’ yellow flag violation, has fueled calls for clearer FIA rules ( nos.nl , December 1, 2024).
Victoria’s project also has personal meaning. As a former racing driver and loyal supporter of Max, she wants to show the person behind the driver. “He is more than just a world champion,” she said in an interview with De Telegraaf (April 26, 2025). Yet her announcement has deepened the rift between the Verstappens and the FIA. Ben Sulayem’s threat is seen by some as a personal attack, especially after his earlier criticism of Max’s language ().
As Formula 1 prepares for its next race, Victoria’s documentary continues to stir up emotions. Fans are eagerly awaiting its release, scheduled for late 2025, but the threat of a paddock ban hangs over the project like a dark cloud. The saga underscores the tensionsавис
