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Controversy Erupts After Verstappen’s Penalty at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has indicated that the team is not likely to challenge the penalty decision that affected Max Verstappen’s performance during the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who is a four-time world champion, began the race from pole position but ultimately finished second behind Oscar Piastri of McLaren. The pivotal moment came when Verstappen was handed a five-second penalty for an incident during the opening lap of the race.
Piastri attempted an overtaking maneuver on the inside at Turn 1, which led to Verstappen going off track at the next portion of the chicane in an attempt to maintain his lead. While Verstappen and his team believed that Piastri had forced him off, the stewards ruled otherwise, resulting in Verstappen serving his penalty in the pit lane and losing his position.
This decision effectively influenced the outcome of the race, causing disappointment within Red Bull Racing. Horner mentioned that although a request for a review was unlikely, the team might still present the stewards with new evidence.
“We had a conversation with the stewards post-race,” Horner stated. “They felt confident in their decision. If we were to file a protest, it’s probable they would stand firm in their ruling.”
“We’ll show them the onboard footage that was not available during the race, but I think it’s quite improbable that anything changes,” he added.
Horner explained that they were preparing to show screenshots of the onboard footage to support their stance, indicating that Verstappen was ahead at the apex of Turn 1. “I found it to be a very stern judgment,” he remarked. “We didn’t concede the position because we genuinely believed there was nothing wrong on our part.”
Horner elaborated on the situation, claiming that the evidence would clearly illustrate Verstappen’s priority at the corner. “The rules were discussed prior, and it felt like a very severe call,” he noted. “If we had relinquished the position, we would have dealt with dirty air and jeopardized our standing, especially with George [Russell] lurking behind. The best course of action was to focus on our race after the penalty.”
He continued, emphasizing the closeness of the contest, stating that without the penalty, they could have ended the race on a victorious note, finishing just 2.6 seconds behind Piastri after serving the penalty.
“There’s going to be varying opinions on such split-second decisions,” he acknowledged.
Further reflecting on the stewards’ decision to impose a five-second penalty rather than the typical ten, Horner suggested this indicated some uncertainty on their part regarding the incident. “It seems they had their doubts,” he mentioned. “When you analyze the evidence, it’s difficult to understand how they arrived at that decision. Max can’t simply vanish in that situation, so perhaps it’s time for a reevaluation of certain rules. It felt as though the standards for racing on the first lap were overlooked this time.”
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