What was supposed to be a high-octane showdown in Mexico City turned into one of the most chaotic, controversial, and infuriating races in recent F1 memory — and now, the FIA is under fire from nearly every corner of the paddock.
From the opening lap to the checkered flag, the 2025 Mexico Grand Prix was an officiating nightmare — a perfect storm of inconsistent penalties, near-misses, and questionable calls that left drivers, team bosses, and fans absolutely fuming.
The chaos began almost instantly. As the lights went out, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton charged into Turn 1 — and chaos ensued. Both Verstappen and Leclerc cut across the chicane, rejoining ahead, but neither received a penalty. Minutes later, Hamilton was slapped with a 10-second penalty for the same move.
The reaction was instant and explosive.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Hamilton fumed over team radio. “Same corner, same move, different rules!”
Even teammate George Russell couldn’t hold back his anger, describing the opening laps as “lawnmower racing” — a jab at the drivers bouncing across grass and curbs with seemingly no consequences.
The FIA’s decision-making only got worse from there.
Midway through the race, a terrifying moment unfolded when Liam Lawson narrowly avoided two marshals crossing the live track — a safety breach that could have had catastrophic consequences. The FIA scrambled to issue a statement calling it a “communication error,” but for the drivers, it was another sign that the sport’s governing body had lost control.
“We’re supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport,” one driver said afterward. “That was amateur hour.”
Then came the final insult. With just laps to go and a fierce battle brewing for P2, the Virtual Safety Car was deployed after Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari stalled on track. The timing couldn’t have been worse. The VSC neutralized the race just as Hamilton and Norris were poised for a thrilling duel — leaving fans robbed of a proper finish and fueling suspicions about why it was called so abruptly.
Online, fans erupted. Hashtags like #FIAFail and #MexicoMess trended worldwide within minutes of the checkered flag. Drivers, too, made their feelings clear — from Verstappen’s tight-lipped “no comment” to Norris’s blunt “it’s embarrassing for the sport.”
At the heart of the outrage lies one core issue: inconsistency.
For years, drivers have begged the FIA for clear, uniform enforcement of track limits, penalties, and safety procedures. Yet time and again, the rules seem to change depending on who’s involved, where it happens, or who’s watching.
“We’re not racing each other anymore,” one engineer told Sky Sports. “We’re racing the stewards.”
The Mexico GP was supposed to showcase Formula 1’s elite — instead, it exposed the cracks in its foundation.
Now, teams are demanding answers. Insiders report that at least five team principals have formally requested an emergency review of the FIA’s officiating protocols before the Brazilian Grand Prix. The calls for reform are growing louder, and the credibility of race control is on the line.
🔥 One thing’s clear: after Mexico, the FIA can’t just brush this off. The sport’s integrity — and the trust of its drivers — is hanging by a thread.
