Verstappen under investigation following Sprint

Max Verstappen is under investigation for a virtual safety car infringement late in the Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Nico Hulkenberg stopped on track in the closing laps and the VSC was deployed to clear the Haas, with McLaren having swapped its drivers half a lap earlier to give Lando Norris the lead. Verstappen was close behind Oscar Piastri at the time and had radioed Red Bull to tell it to look out for Piastri dropping too far behind his teammate to create a buffer.

However, with the race resuming at the start of the final lap, it is now Verstappen who is under investigation for a VSC infringement. Verstappen had pulled alongside Piastri on the run to Turn 4 with the VSC panels still showing, but as the incident was noted after the checkered flag it is being investigated after the Sprint.

Verstappen originally finished third, but should he be hit with a time penalty he will lose at least one position, with Charles Leclerc – who Verstappen overtook mid-race – finishing within five seconds in fourth place. The gap to fifth-placed Carlos Sainz was 5.8 seconds adrift of Verstappen, meaning a 10-second time penalty would cost the championship leader two positions.

Any penalty would be applied to the race results. Verstappen already has a five place grid penalty for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday for taking an extra power unit component.