By James Broughton, October 29, 2024
Max Verstappen is in trouble. For years, he has expertly pushed the limits of F1 racing’s rules of engagement—and at times, crossed them. Yet he has rarely faced penalties, as evidenced by multiple incidents during his intense 2021 title battle with Lewis Hamilton. According to F1 rules, forcing another driver off the circuit is penalizable, and a car width of space must be given when fighting for position.
However, Verstappen frequently skirts these rules, particularly in high-stakes battles for the drivers’ championship. His approach tends to target his closest rivals with ruthless, cutthroat maneuvers that bend driver guidelines. One such tactic is braking and steering late, which forces his car wide on exit, leaving his competitor with no choice but to follow suit or risk a collision.
The Verstappen Move
The “Verstappen Move” has been highly effective for Max, but during a recent meeting between drivers and the FIA at the Mexico Grand Prix, new rules were established to clarify engagement guidelines during wheel-to-wheel battles. These updates specifically aimed to address the “Verstappen Move.”
However, the updated guidelines did little to curb Verstappen’s tactics, as he proceeded to ignore them, driving his rival Lando Norris off track twice on lap 10. Verstappen’s intention is clear: to sacrifice his own position to force his rival further down the order with him.
The lower a driver finishes, the fewer points they earn—and with only four races remaining, Verstappen appears determined to maintain the points gap as wide as possible.
The New Rules Based Order
Verstappen’s tactic didn’t pay off; the new rules introduced at the Mexican Grand Prix were enforced, and Verstappen faced the consequences with a 20-second penalty. Many say it’s about time the “Verstappen Move” was finally addressed, as it has long undermined the rules and integrity of F1.
That said, it’s as entertaining as it is controversial, sparking endless debate. Nevertheless, Verstappen will undoubtedly reset and seek a new loophole, but for now, the “Verstappen Move” is well and truly dead.
Lando Norris, who finished second at the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix, shared his post-race thoughts on Verstappen’s penalty:
“It’s not my job to control him. He knows how to drive. And I’m sure he knows that today was probably a bit over the limit. It was not fair, clean racing, and therefore I think he got what he had coming to him.”
“I felt like I just had to avoid collisions, and that’s not what you feel like you want to do in a race. He’s in a very powerful position in the championship. He’s a long way ahead. He has nothing to lose.”
