Max Verstappen appeared to breach the French speed limit by 18mph (30km/h) in a video filmed by one of his entourage during the summer break.
The Dutch driver was captured driving his Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar, steering the vehicle one-handed while playing with the settings and dials on the steering wheel. The video was posted to social media by a close friend of the Dutchman.
Since going viral, the clip has sparked some controversy. Upon closer inspection, it appears Verstappen was driving at a speed of 74mph (120km/h), 18mph (30km/h) above the speed limit for the A8 motorway, which stretches from Menton to Provence.
According to French publication Nice Matin, Verstappen may be in hot water should the authorities decide to take the matter further. The report suggests that a special unit of the General Directorate of the National Gendarmerie could investigate the viral clip.
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A couple of other issues were also brought to the fore. Verstappen was wearing a headset in the video, which is said to be prohibited and he was also staying in the left lane, which is not allowed in line with the Highway Code.
Express Sport has contacted Red Bull and Max Verstappen for comment.
The clip gained plenty of attention online after it was posted on social media with fans eager to get a taste of the Aston Martin Valkyrie in action. Only 150 units of the vehicle were ever produced with the first cars going on sale to a select group of buyers in 2021 at a price of £2.7million.
The Valkyrie, which was designed by legendary aerodynamicist Adrian Newey, was a collaboration between Red Bull and Aston Martin and played a key role in keeping the 64-year-old involved in the Milton Keynes-based team’s F1 operation.
Verstappen is preparing to entertain a bumper home crowd at the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend. The reigning world champion can equal Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine successive Grand Prix wins with victory on home soil.