A recent incident between Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly has put the F1 community in heated discussions. While for some it was a thrilling display of elite racecraft, for many others, it showcased a concerning inconsistency in race management. During the race, at the decisive third corner, Verstappen initiated a bold overtaking maneuver on Gasly.

This move, captured and tweeted by @AlexVangeen, depicted Verstappen leaving little room for Gasly, seemingly pushing the French driver towards the outer edge of the track, forcing him onto the white line. In a sport where precision, safety, and fairness are paramount, this move sparked immediate debate. Did Verstappen push the boundaries too far, or was it just a genuine racing incident?

The absence of any punitive measures taken against Verstappen by the race control has left many questioning the standards set by the FIA. With no shortage of controversial decisions in the past, this incident adds to the growing list of contentious calls (or non-calls) that have shaped the outcomes of races and, to an extent, championships. One fan went on to comment on what now seems to be a repeating pattern from the FIA’s side, “Races with different rules.”

Surprisingly, the person least upset by this action was the man on the receiving end, Pierre Gasly. In his post-race comments, Gasly seemed unperturbed by the whole ordeal. “It was just racing, close racing,” he explained. Despite finishing over five seconds behind Max, Gasly wasn’t fazed. He recognized the competitive nature of such wheel-to-wheel battles and acknowledged the tactics used by racers to gain an edge. “If I’ll be in this position and you got to pass a car, you’ll play with the limit,” Gasly said, defending Verstappen’s strategy.

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While it is undeniable that racers are in the business of pushing limits–of their cars, their competitors, and of the rules–it’s the role of the sport’s governing body to ensure that those boundaries are both clear and consistently enforced. The question, then, isn’t necessarily about Verstappen’s actions, but about whether the FIA is consistently applying its rules.

Fans react to the Max Verstappen – Pierre Gasly overtake ordeal