Experts and Fans Divided on Max Verstappen Penalty As Horner Presents Photo Evidence in Defense

After a fierce battle on the track, the FIA handed Max Verstappen a five-second time penalty that cost him the win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

The incident occurred at Turn 1, where both McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen were side by side entering the corner. As the drivers reached the apex, Piastri held his ground and did not give an inch to Verstappen, forcing him to either fall behind Piastri or go off the track.

Verstappen chose to leave the track, a move which he felt justified in doing because he believed Piastri did not leave him enough space.

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Red Bull had the option to give the position back before being penalized, but the team refused, believing Verstappen was entitled to space.

Eventually, the FIA determined that Piastri was not required to leave Verstappen space and issued a five-second time penalty to Verstappen.

The penalty has prompted a lot of discussion about who was ahead at the apex of the corner. Both people in the paddock and on social media had strong opinions.

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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner printed out a photo showing Verstappen ahead at the apex and presented it at a media scrum while voicing his concerns about the penalty.

"I thought it was very harsh, we didn't concede the position because we didn't believe that he'd done anything wrong," Horner told reporters.

"You can quite clearly see at the apex of the corner, we believe Max is ahead and under the rules of engagement they discussed previously, it was a very harsh decision."

"If we'd given it up, the problem is then that you run into the dirty air and drop back and then risk problems with George [Russell, in third place]."

There have been several journalists/content creators who have chimed in on the incident, as well as fans who fall on boths sides of the coin.

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Expert Opinions

Max will definitely have to give that back. Oscar gets ahead, is ahead at the apex. Worth a shot from Max, but they'll swap them no doubt.
— Tommo (@TommoMcCluskey) April 20, 2025

Intriguing penalties in yesterday’s F1 race. Verstappen one a slam dunk to my mind. Zero wiggle room on that. But the Lawson one I cannot get my head around. The move for position was done and long since completed on the straight. Very odd.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) April 21, 2025

that's the only time Verstappen is ahead and the corner is long gone. Sorry Max. It didn't work this time https://t.co/qsevf30FkB pic.twitter.com/aFQZUMXRXC
— Spanners 🔧🔧 (@SpannersReady) April 20, 2025

Wish the stewards would just order the swap back rather than dishing out the penalty and letting Max stay in the lead
— Matt Gallagher (@MattP1Gallagher) April 20, 2025

7. Conclusion

This Controversial Moment was controversial simply because Stewards made it so. They followed completely different logic compared to Mexico 2024, the one that was convenient to lay the blame on Verstappen - there is no other explanation at this point

The fact they… pic.twitter.com/LxeGWcdxUp
— Vanja H (@AeroTechVH) April 21, 2025

Fan Opinions

The FIA give penalties based on drivers 🤦‍♂️. By their logic,the inside driver deserves space,but the outside driver doesn’t.They ignore Piastri missing the apex and drifting wide towards Verstappen.Had he left room,Max wouldve kept 2 tyres on the track. It’s bizarre #SaudiArabiaGP pic.twitter.com/tFQaoXp7lm
— GM (@f1vlogs) April 20, 2025

Just to clarify. Piastri did to Verstappen in the same thing Verstappen has done to others for years. Nothing wrong with it just don’t complain when someone gives you the same treatment that’s all pic.twitter.com/1notwnku1y
— Leo Polanco/LxHamilton44 (@lxhamilton44) April 21, 2025

What was Verstappen supposed to do with a car coming into his trajectory? Be stupid and crash with Piastri? This is not Drive To Survive. Stewards should know better!
— Rafael Ferreira (@laaaazygenius) April 21, 2025

Strong pace, clear step forward for Red Bull. And then… the penalty.

In my opinion, completely undeserved.⁰
Max was ahead into the apex, on the outside(see your own rulebook).

Oscar left him no space, forced him off track, and Max avoided a massive crash by going straight… pic.twitter.com/bIcNM999Fb
— Daniëlle van der Raad (@vd_raad) April 20, 2025

Yes, he gained a position by cutting the corner and going off track. If there were a wall there instead of run-off area he would’ve braked and slotted in behind Piastri rather than risking is car as he was behind him and gave up inside position. This is the reason for the rule
— Mackenzie Bishop (@abrazomack) April 21, 2025

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