Decision Car 1 Alleged Unsafe Release
Hungarian Grand Prix · 2025 · 1 August 2025 · Doc 15
- Driver
- Max Verstappen
- Team
- Warning.
- Session
- Practice 2
2025 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
01 - 03 August 2025
From The Stewards
To The Team Manager,
Oracle Red Bull Racing Document 15 Date 01 August 2025 Time 19:00
The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director, summoned (document 13) and heard from the driver and team representative, have considered the following matter and determine the following:
No / Driver 1 - Max Verstappen Competitor Oracle Red Bull Racing Time 17:29 Session Practice 2 Infringement Breach of Article 34.14 c) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations. Decision Competitor: Warning. Reason The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 1 (Max Verstappen), team representative and reviewed video and in-car video evidence. Shortly after Car 1 was released from its garage, the driver of Car 1 was observed to have thrown a towel out of the cockpit. The driver explained that while in the garage, the face towel had slipped from his lap to the side of the seat and the team was unaware that it remained in the cockpit. When the driver realised it was there, he moved to the far right of the track and attempted to throw it as far away from the car and the track as possible. The Stewards determine that the towel had the potential to have become lodged in the footwell and to interfere with the driver's ability to fully control the car and that therefore the car was released in an unsafe condition. The stewards consider this case to be distinguishable from a case where a hard (and therefore potentially dangerous) object is left in the cockpit and to be less severe than such a case. Hence a warning to the team is imposed. Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits.
Decisions of the Stewards are taken independently of the FIA and are based solely on the relevant regulations, guidelines and evidence presented.