The technical checks carried out by the FIA at the end of each Grand Prix represent one of the most delicate aspects of modern F1, because the regularity of the cars and, in some cases, also the outcome of the race depends on these checks. After every weekend, the Federation randomly selects a very small number of single-seaters to analyzea system designed to ensure fairness but which inevitably raises questions.
FIA: too many cases of irregular cars in recent years of Formula 1
In an era like that of ground effect cars, introduced in 2022 and now in their last year of regulation, the wear of the bottom pad has become a determining factor. Increasingly extreme setups have pushed the teams to constantly work on the limit, making the line between aggressive interpretation of the regulation and technical irregularity extremely thin.
During this season it was Ferrari and McLaren who paid the consequences, with disqualifications arrived in China and Las Vegas respectively. Episodes that directly affected the results and brought back memories of what happened in 2023, when Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, then at Mercedes and Ferrari, were found irregular for the exact same reason.
Exactly those disqualifications led Formula 1 to review the Sprint format, introducing the reopening of parc fermé at the end of the Sprint Race. The objective was to limit the risks linked to wear of the surface and changes in set-up, demonstrating how technical controls can influence not only the rankings, but also the very structure of the race weekend.
Verstappen: “Sometimes you get away with it just because you aren’t controlled,” says Max…
At this point the question arises spontaneously: if out of four cars checked two are found to be irregular, what would happen if the sample was expanded? It is legitimate to ask whether a greater number of checks on the part of the International Federation, therefore, it would bring to light other borderline situations, fueling the idea that the legislative body of Formula 1 should control all the single-seaters, 20 up to yesterday, 22 from 2026.
A perspective which, however, clashes with obvious practical limits, linked to time, personnel and technical resources that the International Federation chooses to use. And it is precisely on this topic that Max Verstappen, four-time Formula 1 world champion, expressed himself, rekindling the debate in a moment already heated by the discussions on the possible irregularities of Red Bull and Mercedes with the 2026 power units, where the Ferrari alarm exists.
“Obviously we always try to find the limit, after all we all always do it, and sometimes we get away with it because we are not always checked. However, if we were checked at every race by the International Federation, I think without a doubt that half of the cars would be irregular at the end of the race”, explained the Dutchman. An opinion that doesn’t come out of nowhere, as a driver he is informed of the facts of every single race weekend.
Furthermore, Hasselt’s talent added that “checking all the cars isn’t really possible because it would require a huge number of people, while the disqualification of the two McLarens was almost an early Christmas present, because it made everything more exciting, and it was positive both for Formula 1 and for me”. And in fact you can’t blame him. A situation that underlines the operational limits of the International Federation.
Author: Andrea Bovone
Immagini: Red Bull Content Pool – Scuderia Ferrari – Mercedes AMG F1 Team – McLaren F1 Team
