Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has sparked fresh debate over Formula 1‘s technical policing, claiming that “half the cars” on the grid would likely be in breach of plank wear limits after races.
His comments follow a chaotic season with four cars disqualified after grands prix for the technical breach, including a double DNF for McLaren in Las Vegas.
The paddock has consistently argued the trickiness of random FIA testing post-race, questioning the consistency and fairness of chance protocols. Each car is weighed after every race, but only a select few are taken for skid wear testing, meaning teams can gamble on their luck.
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Despite the controversy, Verstappen admitted that the Las Vegas disqualifications of his rivals were “positive” for his campaign.
The 2025 championship was blown open after McLaren’s double disqualification. Â Getty
With both McLaren drivers stripped of their points, the drivers’ championship was blown wide open, setting the stage for a showdown in Abu Dhabi.
Australian Oscar Piastri conceded second place in the championship to Verstappen, and the disqualification was one of the key points where he lost his edge to the Red Bull driver.
“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.”
But he also bluntly admitted that the reality of car setups suggested that teams frequently gamble on ride height to gain performance.
He said that if the FIA checked all twenty cars on track, rather than selecting only a handful for scrutiny, they would find more drivers with illegal wear on their skid blocks.
McLaren ended up with zero points scored in Las Vegas. Â LAT Images
“Of course, you always try to find the limit. We all do,” Verstappen said.
“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.”
But, while some have argued for every car to be inspected to ensure a level playing field, Verstappen conceded that the logistical burden of requiring a massive influx of technical personnel at every race makes a one-hundred per cent check-rate impossible.
“No,” he said of the FIA’s ability to check every car, “then you’d need a lot of people; that’s just not possible”.
But not all agree.
Williams driver Alex Albon spoke to media in the immediate aftermath of McLaren’s disqualification and admitted that the current system invites teams to risk illegal setups for gaining points.
The FIA scrutineering garage has been a mainstay in the Formula 1 grid. Â LAT Images
“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.”