Lewis Hamilton has voiced his frustration after the FIA cleared Max Verstappen and three other drivers of any significant punishment following an investigation into overtaking under Virtual Safety Car (VSC) conditions at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Warning for Max Verstappen, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon & Pierre Gasly for overtaking under VSC after the chequered flag byu/ICumCoffee informula1

Verstappen, along with Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hulkenberg, was summoned to the stewards for allegedly overtaking while yellow flags were still displayed after the race had ended due to a crash involving Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz. Despite the overtakes, all four drivers escaped with a warning, avoiding any major sanctions.

#F1 Max Verstappen is at Risk to lose his 5th place finish.

If he gets a 10 second penalty l, Fernando Alonso will go to P5 and Verstappen P6

Championship back on! pic.twitter.com/3r1aQRDI84

— WB Network (@WBNetwork72) September 15, 2024

Hamilton, unhappy with the outcome, accused the FIA of being too lenient in its decision. “It’s clear that Max broke the rules, and the FIA is being too soft. We’re supposed to follow the regulations, but it feels like the rules apply differently depending on who you are,” Hamilton remarked.

He went on to express concerns about the consistency of FIA rulings, saying, “We’re competing at the highest level, and there shouldn’t be exceptions. Safety and fairness should be prioritized, but this ruling sends a different message.”

Verstappen defended his actions, claiming he followed all procedures and had done nothing wrong, but Hamilton’s sharp criticism has sparked debate over the FIA’s enforcement of the rules in critical race situations.