Max Verstappen statement made by FIA after stewards investigate Belgian GP incident

World champion Max Verstappen has been summoned by stewards following an investigation into an incident involving the Dutchman during practice for the Belgian Grand Prix. Verstappen is in Belgium looking to extend his lead at the top of the drivers' standings, with the 24-year-old currently 80 points clear of second-placed Charles Leclerc.

After his exit during the second test at Spa, the world champion was summoned to the commissary room following an incident in the final moments of the session. Towards the end of the session, the pit lane was packed with drivers heading to the track for a final test start.

Verstappen - who was the fastest on the track on Friday - was charged with breaching "Article 12.2.1 i) of the International Sporting Code" and "failure to comply with the clerk of the course event (article 12, document 3)' following his restart in Belgium.

The FIA ​​confirmed in a statement: "The driver of car 1 overtook a car that was in line to make practice starts and crossed the line to make a practice start, thus not starting in the order in which it arrived."

Ahead of Sunday's race, the Dutch star is already well aware that he will start at the back of the grid after picking up an engine penalty. He is not the only driver to receive the sanction, his rival Leclerc also suffering the same fate, as well as Lando Norris of McLaren, Valtteri Bottas of Alfa Romeo, Esteban Ocon of Alpine and Mick Schumacher of Haas.

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The penalties were upheld by the FIA ​​on Friday, with Verstappen taking new internal combustion engines, turbochargers and MGU-Hs pushing him past the engine season limit. Verstappen's Red Bull boss Christian Horner has explained exactly why the team opted to take the power unit penalty, explaining the tactical reason for making the decision around the Spa track.