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Controversial Start at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Piastri’s Triumph
During the intense opening moments of Formula 1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri quickly capitalized on his advantageous second position on the grid, outpacing polesitter Max Verstappen as they approached Turn 1 side by side.
Piastri held the inside line, though his car had not completely surged ahead. In a split-second decision, Verstappen made a controversial move, releasing the brakes to allow his vehicle to cross the curb and utilize the run-off area, ultimately returning to the track in the lead.
“He needs to give that back – I was ahead,” Piastri was heard expressing his frustration over the team radio.
In these situations, it is the responsibility of the team either to instruct the driver to cede the position or for the driver to choose to do so themselves. Notably, behind the leading pair, Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli also ventured into the run-off area but promptly allowed Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari to reclaim his position.
The rules are clear: if a driver fails to relinquish a position after gaining an advantage off the track, they risk incurring a five-second time penalty. This principle was reiterated by former F1 race director Niels Wittich, who was co-commentating on Sky Germany during the race.
“This subject has been discussed extensively over the years with all teams and drivers,” Wittich commented after observing the incident involving Verstappen. “Many will recall the 2021 Abu Dhabi finale, which stirred considerable debate regarding similar circumstances involving Lewis Hamilton.”
Niels Wittich
Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images
“One key takeaway is this: if you leave the track and gain an advantage, as Verstappen did by maintaining his position, that position should indeed be returned. It ultimately falls on the team to make that decision regarding their driver,” he added. “In this case, Verstappen was on the outside and needed to be either level or ahead to legitimize his maneuver — which he wasn’t. Honestly, if there were gravel there, the outcome would likely have been very different.”
Wittich emphasized, “It’s preferable to concede that single position than to risk a penalty of five seconds.”
The incident caught the attention of race control and was subsequently elevated to the stewards, resulting in a five-second penalty for Verstappen when he did not give up the lead to Piastri. Following this turn of events, Australian driver Oscar Piastri ultimately emerged victorious in the race.
In this article
Stuart Codling
Formula 1
Max Verstappen
Oscar Piastri
Red Bull Racing
McLaren
Source
www.autosport.com