The FIA has officially closed the investigation into the dramatic incident between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris during the Japanese Grand Prix, confirming that no penalties will be handed out to the Red Bull driver after the tense pit-lane altercation.
Drama beim Boxenstopp: Norris wäre fast an Verstappen vorbeigegangen. #JapanGP #F12025 #F1 #Formel1 pic.twitter.com/SoYdXCnVF1
— Christian Nimmervoll (@MST_ChristianN) April 6, 2025
The moment occurred on lap 21, when both Verstappen and Norris pitted for fresh tyres. A slightly slower stop from Red Bull allowed Norris to exit the pit box alongside his title rival. However, as they rejoined the track, Norris was forced onto the grass, prompting immediate frustration over the radio.
“He forced me off. Saw me alongside. I was easily alongside,” Norris told his team.
Verstappen, however, dismissed the accusation, saying, “He drove himself into the grass.”
The stewards reviewed the footage but ultimately ruled in favor of Verstappen, stating that the incident did not warrant further investigation. On Monday, the FIA released an official statement confirming the final decision.
“There was no clear breach of regulations in the pit-lane merge between Car 1 and Car 4,” said an FIA spokesperson. “While it was a tight and aggressive moment, both drivers maintained control, and the stewards determined it to be a racing incident.”
The ruling comes after Verstappen claimed a hard-fought victory in Suzuka, fending off the McLaren duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri. With this win, Verstappen moves to just one point behind Norris in the championship standings after three rounds, intensifying the battle at the top.
While Norris managed to reduce the gap in the final laps to within 1.3 seconds, he was unable to get close enough to activate DRS and launch a final attack. The result marked the third different winner in as many races in the 2025 Formula 1 season, with Piastri now sitting third in the standings.
Japanese Grand Prix Top 3:
1.Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2.Lando Norris (McLaren)
3.Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
With the FIA’s verdict now final, attention turns to the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, where the championship battle is expected to heat up once again.
