Max Verstappen is currently under investigation by the FIA stewards following an incident during the opening practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, alongside Carlos Sainz, has been summoned to appear before the stewards. The alleged infraction concerns erratic driving during the initial minutes of Friday’s first practice session at the Hungaroring.
The incident occurred as Verstappen was on a flying lap, having set the fastest times in the first two sectors. Sainz, driving for Williams, was reportedly moving slowly and failed to vacate the racing line on the approach to Turn 12. This forced Verstappen to take evasive action, diving to the inside of the corner.
Verstappen’s lap was compromised by the encounter. He subsequently slowed significantly through the corner before moving back across the front of Sainz’s car. It was later established that Sainz’s car had no radio communication at the time of the incident.
Despite the lack of radio for Sainz, Verstappen described the situation as ‘really dangerous’. Both drivers, along with representatives from their respective teams, are required to report to the stewards ahead of the second practice session to address the allegations of erratic driving.
This latest scrutiny follows an ongoing FIA inquiry into the safety of a controversial revolving rear wing design, which Red Bull and Ferrari introduced earlier this season. The ‘Macarena’-style rear wing, designed to invert aerodynamics for low-drag modes, has been a subject of discussion since its debut at the Miami Grand Prix.
Verstappen experienced issues with this rear wing, leading to high-speed incidents at both the Austrian and British Grands Prix. He crashed out of qualifying in Austria and retired from the race at Silverstone due to problems with the device.
The four-time world champion publicly voiced his concerns, labelling the situation ‘super dangerous’ after experiencing an airflow reattachment issue. Ferrari also employs a similar rear wing concept and is included in the FIA’s investigation, despite not having reported comparable safety issues.
Red Bull Racing’s team principal, Laurent Mekies, confirmed that the team is conducting its own internal investigation into the rear wing. He stated that Red Bull is leaving ‘no stone unturned’ to understand the cause of the problems.
The FIA maintains the authority to prohibit the participation of any vehicle deemed unsafe. This regulatory power could be exercised with immediate effect if relevant safety information emerges during a session.
Verstappen has also been a vocal critic of the 2026 technical regulations, particularly concerning the new power unit emphasis on energy management. He has highlighted how these rules have altered the driving characteristics of circuits like Spa-Francorchamps, leading to reduced power in certain sections.
