Tuesday was a busy day in Formula 1 (F1) with sporting decisions and stories that continue to make headlines after Monza. Max Verstappen secured the coveted Category A license for the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Carlos Sainz had penalty points annulled by the FIA, Oscar Piastri surpassed Verstappen in a relevant mark of the season, and Lewis Hamilton revealed that he felt pain after the effort in the Italian Grand Prix. All this while the championship looks to return to action in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, next weekend.
Verstappen officially obtained the maximum permission to compete on the “Green Hell” after a Saturday of racing with a Porsche Cayman GT4 and a Friday of theoretical and practical exams. Despite a technical confusion involving a “sister” car from the team, the certification panel validated the required 14 laps and granted the document on an exceptional basis. With the license in hand, the Dutchman paves the way to compete in events such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and may return as early as the end of September with a GT3 car.
In another development, the FIA withdrew the penalty points imposed on Sainz for an incident in Zandvoort. The decision relieves the Spanish driver from Williams and closes the chapter opened after the Dutch stage, also important for the management of potential suspensions due to accumulation throughout the year.
On the tracks, Piastri continues to write strong numbers in 2025. After surpassing Verstappen in a highlighted statistic in today’s coverage – and still aiming for a historical record that belongs to Lewis Hamilton – the Australian reinforces McLaren’s momentum in the title fight. Even without revealing the “how” in the title, the article details the mark achieved and the next objective of the championship leader.
Hamilton also returned to the spotlight. In his first season with Ferrari, the seven-time champion said he felt pain after the physical effort in Monza, a sign that the high-speed circuit still takes a toll on drivers even in relatively short races. The British driver, however, remains confident for the upcoming stages.
Summary of the day: Verstappen expands his horizon outside of F1 with the Nordschleife license; Sainz gains regulatory breathing room with the FIA’s review; Piastri surpasses Verstappen in a relevant index and pursues Hamilton’s mark; and Hamilton reports discomfort after Monza, but aims for immediate recovery. Now, the spotlight turns to Baku: the Azerbaijan Grand Prix returns to host the category next weekend, promising a tight strategy, long straights, and decisive DRS in the battles for position.
