Max Verstappen's Controversial Grid Position: A Closer Look at Why He Wasn't Punished

This is why Max Verstappen wasn't penalised over his grid placement.

As the Australian Grand Prix reached its final restart, eagle-eyed social media users ignited a storm of controversy. TV footage and photographs shared by fans suggested that Max Verstappen's front tyres had been positioned too far forward in his grid box, potentially warranting a penalty.

Comparisons to Ocon and Alonso's Time Penalties

Recent events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia saw Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso receive time penalties for incorrect grid slot alignments. Thus, it seemed possible that Verstappen's position might attract similar scrutiny from the race stewards. With 7-time champion Lewis Hamilton so close to the race leader, this only fanned the flames. 

The Stewards Remain Silent: F1TV's Analysis

Surprisingly, no investigation ensued. F1TV's post-race analysis, led by Sam Collins, shed light on the situation. Collins acknowledged that Verstappen's grid position appeared problematic, stating:

"It did look like Max Verstappen was outside of his grid box, and this has been a story in all of the opening races of this season."

A Closer Examination Reveals the Truth

Collins conducted a more detailed examination of Verstappen's pole position start. He discovered that the television footage angle made it seem like Verstappen's front tyres were indeed outside the white grid box. However, upon further investigation, he concluded that it was an optical illusion caused by the angle of the camera. This sentiment was further confirmed by Mercedes chief Toto Wolff and Sky F1 pundit David Croft. 

"Max wasn't outside the grid box," Croft explained. "His tyres were making contact with the white line. If you are over the line, then it's a penalty. If you are touching it then you are fine. If you are outside it's a penalty."

The FIA's Sporting Regulations and Verstappen's Innocence

Article 48.1 (c) of the FIA's Sporting Regulations prescribes penalties for drivers whose front tyres' contact patches are outside the grid box lines at the start signal. Collins explained that the specific wording of the regulation was key to Verstappen's innocence.

"Actually, Max Verstappen's wheels, the front wheels, the front tyres, are in contact with the white line of the grid box, which is the important factor here," he said.

"The regulations state that no part of the tyre, the contact patch – that's the bit of the wheel that actually touches the ground, can sit forwards of that white line, but the contact patch is just, by a matter of probably a few millimetres, fully in contact with the white line."