Red Bull describes Verstappen's middle finger as 'a joke'.

      The FIA will not be taking any action regarding Max Verstappen's recent misstep. The four-time world champion has been at the forefront of the strict new driver conduct regulations, completing community service for a 2024 outburst and, like his fellow drivers, facing a range of even harsher penalties this season. Nico Hulkenberg believes the FIA should ease up. "I’ve never heard complaints from either Formula 1 fans or casual viewers about drivers behaving poorly or setting a negative example," the Sauber driver stated. "In fact, I think people appreciate when athletes show their emotions." Verstappen demonstrated this during the Bahrain race last Friday when he gestured with his middle finger at the Williams pit wall. The team downplayed the incident. "The action was intended as a joke," a Red Bull spokeswoman told Bild, "toward a friend from a rival team. We don't anticipate any repercussions." It is thought that Verstappen was playfully 'greeting' his friend Luke Browning, a development driver for Williams. The FIA did not even look into the matter.