Real reason for Max Verstappen's 'middle finger' gesture towards Williams team revealed amid FIA penalty decision

The real reason for Max Verstappen's 'middle finger' gesture towards the Williams pit wall during the final day of F1 pre-season testing has been revealed.

The Dutchman made the gesture as he was exiting the pits to perform a practice start at the Bahrain International Circuit on Friday.

Fans questioned whether Verstappen would receive a punishment from the FIA, given the governing body's clampdown on swearing over team radio and in press conferences.

But a spokesperson confirmed to Motorsport.com that the reigning four-time world champion would not be investigated over the gesture.

A statement read: "This happened 'on the field' and is therefore different from an official interview setting."

It was initially claimed that Verstappen's gesture was made after he spotted a Williams photographer attempting to capture the front of his Red Bull car.

But Motorsport-Total now report that the Dutchman was instead gesturing towards another member of team personnel.

Williams reserve driver Luke Browning was the intended target, with the Brit sat on the team's pit wall in case of regular drivers Alex Albon or Carlos Sainz being unable to drive the car.

There was no malice involved in the gesture as Verstappen and Browning are close friends, having competed in a number of sim races both with and against each other.

In an interview on Williams' official website in 2023, 23-year-old Browning revealed that Verstappen was one of four F1 drivers that he respected and took inspiration from while rising through the junior ranks.

He said: "The racecraft from Verstappen when he first came to F1 was incredible - that aggressiveness, that anger - I think I have a certain bit of that in me.

"But then you've got to think about the consistency of Lewis [Hamilton], for example - being able to hold on to it for so many years and to keep his mental headspace is really impressive.

"The raw pace of [Ayrton] Senna was amazing and looking back at [Michael] Schumacher too."