Max Verstappen raises middle finger during F1 testing: Who was it directed at and how did FIA react?. Max Verstappen’s middle finger gesture in the pit lane did not go unnoticed.

During testing in Bahrain, Max Verstappen’s middle finger gesture in the pit lane did not go unnoticed. Why did he do it? Who was it aimed at? Was he sanctioned by the FIA? Let’s answer all the questions arising from the incident that took place in Bahrain, where Max Verstappen was caught flipping the middle finger live.

In the final months of 2024, language and offensive gestures became a major topic of discussion. The debate continued during the winter break as the FIA tightened penalties for inappropriate expressions, even introducing suspensions from competition.

In the World Rally Championship, some drivers have already faced consequences under these new rules, while in F1, Verstappen recently found himself at risk. This week’s Bahrain tests were challenging for the Dutchman, as he struggled with a nervous car that left him dissatisfied.

Max Verstappen’s gesture explained
Many noticed that as Max Verstappen was exiting the pit lane, he raised his middle finger toward a garage—specifically, the Williams garage. The Grove-based team is determined to return to success, which is why they signed Carlos Sainz.

Initially, there was speculation that Verstappen had directed the gesture at a Williams photographer trying to capture technical details of the RB21.

However, this was not the case. The person actually targeted by the gesture was identified: Luke Browning. Browning is a member of the Williams Driver Academy and was in the Grove team’s garage at the time. He is also a friend of Max Verstappen, meaning the Red Bull driver’s gesture was not meant as an insult but rather as an unconventional way of greeting a friend from another team.

The FIA’s stance on Max Verstappen
The FIA has a strict policy against offensive words and gestures, so one might have expected a harsh penalty for Max Verstappen, even though his gesture was friendly.

However, no action was taken for a specific reason. The FIA clarified that Max Verstappen did not make the gesture during an official interview. He showed the middle finger while driving near the Williams garage, meaning he was cleared of any sanctions.