Fans call for Max Verstappen punishment after he 'breaks' strict F1 rule during Dutch Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has been given a warning by the FIA following a controversial pit lane incident during Saturday's third practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old Red Bull driver, who currently has a 78-point lead over McLaren's Lando Norris in the drivers' championship, is chasing his fourth consecutive title.

He remains the heavy favourite to defend his crown but Verstappen hasn't won since the Spanish Grand Prix – his longest winless streak since 2020.

And ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen appeared off the pace at Circuit Zandvoort, his home track.

In fact, nearest rival Lando Norris became the first person to beat Verstappen to pole position at the DGP after beating him by 0.356 seconds.

In the aftermath of Saturday's final practice session, one of the biggest talking points has been the FIA's decision to hand Verstappen a warning.

F1 journalist Chris Medland confirmed the news, saying: "Verstappen picks up a warning from race control for crossing the white line at the pit exit."

He added: "Keen to get going, he overtook Piastri on the inside of the pit exit and then Russell on the outside but crossed the line to do so."

As you can see from the footage below, the Dutchman forced his way through the pitlane to speed things up but crossed the white line at the pit exit; something that is prohibited.

The official rules state: "There will be a green light and a red light (or similar signs) at the pit lane exit. Cars may only leave the pit lane when the green light is on (or sign is displayed)."

The incident ahead of Sunday's race has got plenty of people talking on social media.

One fan said: "The rules don’t apply to Max Verstappen. Give him a grid penalty, he does this all the time," while another wrote: "Am I missing something here? Like is he allowed to do that?"

A third commented: "Genuine question. Regardless of him overtaking in a dangerous manner. He’s crossed the white line after the pit exit, how is that not a slam dunk penalty??"

A fourth wrote: "That’s a three place grid penalty if it were Hamilton," and a fifth added: "It shouldn’t be allowed."

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, has been given a three-place grid penalty after stewards deemed that he had unnecessarily impeded the Red Bull of Sergio Perez during Q1 of Saturday’s qualifying session.

A statement from the stewards read: “The driver of Car 44, being on an in lap, was informed by the team that Car 11 was approaching on a fast lap when he entered Turn 8.

"He then drove off line at the exit of Turn 8 with the intention to give way for Car 11.”

It added: “However, when Car 11 arrived, Car 44 had already entered Turn 9 and drove back towards the racing line at the exit of Turn 9, thereby clearly impeding Car 11.

“The Stewards determine that, whilst there has been appropriate warning by the team and albeit the driver tried to move out of the way, he could have slowed down more in order not to impede the other car and therefore consider the impeding to be unnecessary in the sense of the regulations. Therefore a grid drop is applied in line with previous decisions.”