Max Verstappen Has Forced FIA To Introduce 10 New F1 Rules

Max Verstappen has effectively forced the FIA to bring in 10 rule changes or clarifications during his F1 career.

Verstappen debuted in 2015 with Toro Rosso, before being promoted to Red Bull in 2016.

Since then, the Dutchman has won four Drivers' Championships and has 67 Grand Prix victories to his name.

He will continue to drive for Red Bull in 2026 after being linked with Mercedes midway through the current season.

One of Verstappen's main strengths as an F1 driver is that he constantly pushes the limits of what is possible - with the FIA occasionally taking action to prevent him from doing so again.

Here are the rule changes and clarifications that the sport's governing body has brought in since 2015:

New minimum super licence age

Verstappen was 16 years old when he entered into F1, becoming the youngest driver in the sport's history in the process. He also did not have a driving licence at the time.

His record as the youngest driver of all-time could stand for many years, as the FIA brought in a new rule in January 2015 which stated that new drivers had to be 18 years of age and hold a valid driving licence before obtaining the required super licence.

New minimum super licence age (again)

The FIA have since granted super licence exemptions to 17-year-olds Arvid Lindblad and Kimi Antonelli - though the governing body still bans those aged 16 or under, like Verstappen, from obtaining their licence.

An update to the FIA's initial edict on super licence rules now states: "At the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition may be granted a super licence at the age of 17 years old."

Unsportsmanlike behaviour

After being hit by Racing Point's Esteban Ocon at the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen had a physical altercation with the Frenchman post-race.

Ocon had attempted to unlap himself on Verstappen, who was the race leader, handing the race win to Lewis Hamilton.

The FIA clarified that, while Ocon had the right to unlap himself on newer tyres, the move should have been attempted safely.

Parc ferme

After the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen was fined €50,000 by the FIA after he was seen inspecting Hamilton's Mercedes rear wing in parc ferme.

The FIA introduced stricter security measures and monitoring for future Grands Prix, and warned that drivers could face time penalties if they broke the regulations.

Post-race celebrations

After winning the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix - Red Bull's home race in Austria - Verstappen performed a series of burnouts across the finish line.

The celebration was banned by the FIA, who clarified that drivers must safely return to the pits after crossing the chequered flag.

Track limits clarification

Verstappen finished in third place in the 2017 United States Grand Prix, and even entered the cooldown room before being informed that he had been demoted to fourth place.

The Red Bull driver overtook Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen while off the track, therefore incurring a track limits violation.

The FIA introduced brand-new white track limits lines to indicate the edge of the track, a rule still enforced at most Grands Prix.

Pit lane guidelines

At the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix, Verstappen forced a second rule change of the weekend when he crossed the pit exit line while rejoining the circuit.

Though he escaped a penalty for doing so, the FIA later re-iterated to drivers that they could not cross the line with any part of their car in future or they would be punished.

Safety car

The FIA added a new clarification to their sporting regulations when Verstappen pulled alongside Ferrari's Charles Leclerc before a safety car restart at the 2022 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

The clarification stated that no driver could have any part of their car alongside another before the safety car restart line.

Overtaking/defending guidance

During the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen forced Lewis Hamilton off the track during their battle for the lead, which was contested during the middle period of the race.

Though Verstappen again avoided a penalty, the FIA's new guidance published post-race stated that if an overtaking car is 'significantly alongside, the defending driver must leave at least one car's width of space'.

Moving under braking

Finally, Verstappen moved under braking while defending from Hamilton at the 2016 Japanese Grand Prix, with the seven-time world champion needing to take action to avoid him.

The FIA declared that there would be a subjective ban on drivers changing direction under braking while defending, though the rule is not always applied.