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Red Bull Chooses Not to Appeal Verstappen’s Saudi Arabia Penalty
Red Bull Racing has decided against formally appealing Max Verstappen’s controversial penalty from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, closing the chapter on an incident that had stirred considerable frustration within the team and its supporters.
The controversy erupted right from the start in Jeddah. Verstappen, who had claimed pole position after an impressive qualifying session, was immediately challenged by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri into Turn 1. In the heat of the battle, Verstappen left the track but rejoined ahead of Piastri. After reviewing the incident, the race stewards ruled that Verstappen gained an unfair advantage and handed him a five-second penalty.
This decision angered Red Bull, with Verstappen expressing clear dissatisfaction in his post-race comments. Team Principal Christian Horner criticized the ruling, suggesting Verstappen had limited options to safely yield the position. However, despite their discontent, Red Bull has now confirmed it will not pursue a formal protest, choosing instead to focus on upcoming races, particularly the Miami Grand Prix.
A Tough Start to Verstappen’s Title Defence
The 2025 season has been challenging for Verstappen and Red Bull. Unlike previous years of dominance, Verstappen currently finds himself trailing McLaren’s Piastri and Norris in the drivers’ standings, with only a single victory in Japan to his name. The Saudi Arabian penalty cost him a likely win, forcing him to settle for second place behind Piastri.
The team’s struggles are reflected in the constructors’ championship as well, with Red Bull now 99 points adrift of McLaren. Verstappen has been carrying the team’s title hopes almost single-handedly, while new teammate Yuki Tsunoda, promoted from RB, is still finding his footing and has yet to contribute meaningfully to the points tally.
Choosing to Move On
Red Bull’s decision to drop the appeal does not signal agreement with the stewards’ verdict. Internally, frustration remains, with Horner and other leaders believing Verstappen was in an impossible situation. However, the team deemed that challenging the penalty would likely be futile, costly, and distracting. Instead, they are focusing their energy on improving performance for the remainder of the season.
Looking Ahead to Miami
As the F1 circus heads to Miami, Red Bull is determined to bounce back. Engineers are working on crucial updates to the RB20, aiming to fix balance issues and tyre degradation problems that have hampered race performance. Verstappen remains upbeat despite the rocky start, believing there is still time to turn the season around.
With McLaren emerging as a serious title contender, Red Bull faces a new kind of pressure. The fight for the 2025 championship is heating up, promising an intense battle as the season progresses.
