At the 2025 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, a peculiar and unexpected situation has stirred debate — the so-called “towel incident” involving Max Verstappen. During the Free Practice sessions, the four-time World Champion threw a towel onto the racing track, but the FIA chose not to issue any form of penalty. The act, although seemingly minor, has triggered criticism and reignited discussions about race regulation consistency.
The incident occurred when Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, launched the towel from the cockpit of his RB21 while navigating the early part of the circuit. The towel, which had been accidentally left inside the car by one of the team’s mechanics before leaving the garage, became a potential safety hazard. Verstappen opted to get rid of it quickly — an action that many considered controversial, despite his intentions.
It was a tough Friday overall for the Milton Keynes-based Red Bull Racing Team. During the second Free Practice session, Yuki Tsunoda finished only in ninth position, while Max Verstappen could do no better than fourteenth. As if performance issues were not enough, the team was also marred by operational lapses — such as the towel being left in the car.
The incident happened as Max Verstappen approached Turn 4. The Dutch driver veered slightly off the racing line and tossed the towel out of the car. A track marshal later retrieved the item, preventing any immediate danger, but the move quickly became a point of contention.
Max Verstappen defends his actions: “It was the safest way to get rid of it”
When asked about the event and the FIA’s decision not to impose any penalties, Max Verstappen offered his own justification. The reigning World Champion explained: “It was just a towel — the kind you usually use to wipe your face when you come back into the pit lane.”
He further elaborated, saying: “It was still inside the car when I left the garage. Instead of risking it sliding down toward my feet — which could have been genuinely dangerous — I moved off the racing line and got rid of it in the safest possible way. I think the stewards understood that.”
Controversy ignites: should Verstappen have been penalized?
Not everyone agrees with the FIA’s leniency. Among the critics is Sky Sports Formula 1 analyst Bernie Collins, who offered a more cautious interpretation of the event. “It’s not unusual for things like this to happen,” she said. “Those towels or rags are often used to clean parts of the car. Red Bull had applied a lot of flow-vis paint on Verstappen’s car, so it’s likely they were wiping that off — or possibly cleaning his visor or steering wheel. There are several reasons why a towel could have ended up inside the cockpit.”
She continued: “It’s just unfortunate. Verstappen tried to deal with it the best way he could, by throwing it out. But there’s a real argument to be made that it would’ve been better to return to the pits. Yes, it would have compromised his lap on the soft tyres, but if something affects your qualifying simulation, it’s not someone else’s fault — it’s your team’s mistake.”
Collins warned of the potential danger: “There’s a risk that the towel could have been sucked into another car’s brake ducts or radiator. That could completely disrupt another team’s run plan — or worse, cause damage. If it gets lodged and air no longer flows properly through the engine, you could even blow someone else’s power unit.”
Her final verdict: “Verstappen could have exercised more caution.”
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