Max Verstappen has said “half” of the Formula 1 grid would be disqualified if all cars were checked regularly, as he claims “we’re all finding illegal performance”.
The 2025 F1 season delivered a grandstand finish at the Yas Marina Circuit as Lando Norris clinched his maiden title from Verstappen by just two points.
This came thanks to a resurgent run mounted by the Dutchman since the summer break, winning six out of the last 10 rounds, and a double McLaren DSQ in Las Vegas.
The MCL39s of race-winner Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri were randomly inspected by the FIA, with the stewards finding their rear skid blocks to be under the permitted width levels – stripping the duo of crucial points.
“That was an early Christmas present for me,” Verstappen told Viaplay. “It at least made it a bit more exciting. Otherwise you wouldn’t have talked about Abu Dhabi being so close.
“For Formula 1, I think it was positive – and for me.”
Post-race FIA inspections are not imposed on every competing car. Rather, these checks are randomly carried out on cars as per the stewards’ discretion.
The 28-year-old contended that every team on the grid was chasing performance to the very limits of the regulations, and if every car were inspected, almost half the grid would be disqualified every weekend.
“Of course, you always try to find the limit. We all do,” he explained. “And sometimes you get away with it… you’re not always checked.
“I think if you check that every race, then half of them are definitely under.”
Verstappen would prefer all cars ‘get checked every weekend’
Along with the McLarens, the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were also stripped of their race results at the Chinese Grand Prix. The Monegasque’s SF-25 was found to be underweight, whilst Hamilton suffered skid block wear akin to that of McLaren.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was also disqualified from the race at the Shanghai International Circuit after his car was found to be under the permitted minimum weight.
Verstappen revealed that he did not like the randomness of the FIA technical inspections. However, he did concede that the logistics involved in having all the cars checked every weekend would also render this endeavour impossible.
“I mean we could run these things to the deck if we wanted to and have no legality issues, but then we’re all finding illegal performance,” he said.
“I think the main thing for me is, I don’t like that it’s random. I’d almost rather have 20 cars get checked every weekend and then you’d have a fair game, but it’s that randomly selected version that’s a bit tricky. But yeah, I mean rules are rules.
“Then [if you were to check all 20 cars], you’d need a lot of people; that’s just not possible.”
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